We did fly down but we went down two days before we got on the ship. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't of done it like that. I thought I would like to relax a few days before the cruise and just hnag out at the hotels, but it was a lot of money that we didn't need to spend. So I would fly down the morning of the cruise if I had to do it again. We got on the 10:20 shuttle from the Radisson. This was a perfect time to arrive to the terminal for boarding the ship. We waited in line, but we were probably about the 12-15 family in line for boarding. It filled up pretty fast after we got in line. When you get on the ship you aren't allowed in your stateroome until 1:30. So right when you get on the ship (the doors opened about 12:10) lunch is served and you go do that. Then to your stateroom.
Movies that were on-- I figured we would go see a few movies, but we were just BUSY. I mean I can't believe what all there is to do on that ship. It is almost overwelming. We didn't go to any- they showed Tuck Everlasting, Sweet Home Alambama, Signs (late night show), and quite a few more, I'll have to check my papers I brought home. I forget.
We did not go to Palo's. But the other person on these boards did- her name is Wendy, they went the first night on board and then I seen them dressed up again I think on the last night, so they must've went twice there. Looked like a very nice place. Didn't do spa either, sorry.
Excursions, I personally was disappointed with the Dolphin encounter. We had a real dud for an instuctor and I thought they would let each kid get in the water kinda one at a time and touch the dolphin and stuff, but they pull about 5-6 kids in the water and they all stand on this platform and they all have their backs to the parents and then they bring the dolphin in so they could touch it and stuff. So I would not do this agian for the money I spent on it. I really wouldn't even recommend it to anyone unless you have kids that are say between 4 and 7. Mine are 10, and they just thought it was "alright". I cannot tell you how much fun we had at Stingray City and snorkeling with the stingrays. Now that was really neat. For $15 we my daughters enjoyed that more than the $113 each dolphin encounter. Stingray City is really neat. Lots of underwater pics that are great.
Anything else you can think of let me know- this was our first cruise too, and boy did I have questions before we left too.
