This was our fourth cruise. Our daughter got married on Royal Freedom, then we did Norwegian Epic to the Mediterainean, then Norwegian Sun to Alaska. We chose Celebrity this time because my sister told us Celebrity has the best food of all. We went with a group of 8 all between 63 and 75.
We flew Westjet from Toronto to Ft. Lauderdale worry free and stayed in Ocean Beach Club hotel in the north end. Although it is a half hour north of the port, the hotel prices are cheaper than near the port. This hotel was fine and friendly staff.
We didn't tour Ft. Lauderdale we just spent the night had a nice dinner in the hotel and grabbed a cab in the morning for the ship. We always arrive at the port city one day earlier than the cruise date in case of any bad weather or plane trouble from Toronto. (Lesson learned, it happened to us once where they couldn't get the cargo doors to latch and held us over 22 hours in Toronto because they had no other plane.)
We never did an excursion, just walked about the port area. Gift shops and people asking you to take their taxi.
Just walked about the gift shops and port area. Very friendly people. Enjoyed drinks in a bar.
Walked about the peir. Had drinks in a bar.
This place is still rebuilding from that tragic storm a few years back. We enjoyed eating at a restaurant and having a few drinks near the beach.