Stayed at FL Embassy Suites precruise. Always stay there because we like the way all the stores and many restaurants are within 3 blocks each way of the hotel. We learned not to take the huge transfer bus to the port. People sit around the lobby just waiting to be herded on this large tour bus with luggage piled all over the parking lot - takes forever. We take a taxi or a small transport van ($8 each) IF and only IF the small van is ready to go as soon as we get in. Arrived at the port at 11:30 and we were in our stateroom by 12:30. All lines except the welcome aboard picture line moved in good time. Even that wasn’t that bad and instead of maneuvering our way through the person blockading the entrance around the pictures, we just did the picture thing as quickly as possible and moved on. It is just as easy to have the pictures taken than argue with the people. I did notice as the days went on that no one ever pressured us into having our picture taken even when getting off the ship in each port. Very low key and we appreciated that.

To us the balcony cabin was the same as any on other line. For some reason it did seem a little narrower but I think it was just the way the closet doors and bathroom doors were situated. We cruise for the itinerary so aren’t loyal to any brand and have only been on one other HAL ship and that was the NA. On the HAL ships we have to take zip ties to hang the over the door shoe holder as the bathroom door has clothing pegs so we can’t use the metal over the top part of the hanger – works just as well to make circles with the zip ties and put them on the pegs. We like the tub just because it gives more room to the shower and bathroom in general, but can see that it might be tricky for people with mobility issues to ever take a shower. I missed having drawers in the desk area. I ended up putting our snorkel supplies in the round vanity/desk seat which worked well.

We like to be near the elevators (the aft elevators) but this time I made a big mistake and booked a cabin near the front elevators. Turned out not to be that big of a deal as the ship is just the right size for walking from one end to the other. This is the first time on a ship where even though I never heard one peep from anyone in the halls, etc., I heard the elevator "beep" when it stopped on our deck. Not annoying but noticeable but not enough to ever hear when sleeping. Read more