JimMad

FYI...Fritz is closing Jan 2 for renovation (much needed) and rumor has it will not reopen till April. I am almost certain I heard that the rooms were going to be rehabbed as well... might be worth a call to see if there will be construction happening for your stay.

We were on the Royal Princess Thanksgiving week. Having read all the info here about booking the Sanctuary for the week we IMMEDIATELY upon boarding went there. We got there at 12:15 and there were 6-8 people already in line and a line quickly forming behind us. The Manager of the Sanctuary brings one couple/person in at a time to choose a lounger or cabana. The policy on this ship is to rent half the cabanas (2 of 4) and half the loungers (est. 16 of 32) for the week and leave the rest available for daily rentals. What you select is yours for the entire week. They began accepting daily rental requests at 2PM the day prior on a 1st come 1st serve basis.

Perks - Aside from the serenity, the Sanctuary has top notch service. Attendants bring drinks/food/cold towels/pool towels.....they also cover the lounger when it showers to keep it dry.....there are MP3 players available with Bose headsets as well. Each day at 3:30 or so they serve afternoon tea. Lounger guests pay the usual price for drinks and a small flat fee for food service ($3 I think). Each cabana comes with 2 loungers in front. Check out the Princess Sanctuary photos to see the cabana ...inside is a sofa, chair, TV and refrig. Cabana perks include all of the previously mentioned perks minus the $3 food fee. As well as a welcome cocktail, snacks (snack mix, dried fruit, fruit basket, candies), 4 bottled waters, 8 sodas, and liquor. The liquor had many options ie. 2 bottles of wine/champagne or 2 buckets of beer or a bottle of wine and a bucket of beer or hard liquor and wine or beer, etc. The liquor bottle was I am guessing a 1/2 litre and came with mixers of your choosing. You could have 2 of these. in place of beer or wine or mix match what you want. All of this is provided each day.

Having a cabana for the week was like getting an all-inclusive drink package as well as spectacular daytime accommodations to call yours for the week.

Southport Raw Bar. Casual, fun, water view and delicious!

www.southportrawbar.com

This restaurant and the Quarterdeck (across the street) . . . both on Cordova Road and only minutes from Port Everglades are 2 of my favorites for casual inexpensive dining in Fort Lauderdale. My mouth is watering for the Buffalo Shrimp at the Quarterdeck.. YUMM!

So excited to leaving next Thursday!

This 10 day cruise looks great to me... I am probably going to book soon. The weather is always perfect there July and August.;)

But who is counting?:)

Jim and Adel from Boston

My better half and I will be on the Royal Princess this Thanksgiving week... anxious to see this beautiful ship... who else is coming?