HALrunner

Thanks for the info! I didn't see where people reported that some of the J cabins were smaller on that link, was that on a different board?

Good point, thank you! We will be using the pull out sofa, and it appears that it may be easier to maneuver around the cabin in the Category E as well. I am pretty indecisive, but right now the pros are outweighing the cons for the Category E for me:)

Hope you are having a great cruise! I am faced with a dilemma. I am sailing on HAL NA in January on a 14 day caribbean. I booked a cat j main deck 1018 originally. Recently I was given the opportunity for a fair reduction on the cabin or an even great fair reduction to move up to a Cat E oceanview (1123). I impulsively took the greatest fair reduction and "upgrade" as the room size was quoted to be only 15sq ft (181 vs 196sq ft) difference per a HAL rep. Now fellow CC members are saying that the Cat J is actually MUCH larger than what HAL quotes. Do you have any insight? THANKS!!!

Trying to book flights out of FLL after our cruise. We are sailing on HAL and wondering how early of a flight we could realistically catch out of FLL. Any advice? Thanks!

Royalcruz, thanks for all your helpful info on the area! So nice to hear a local's insight and recommendations. I am sure there are a million chain restaurants surrounding the mall, but any local recommendations? While on vacation, we try to avoid restaurants that we could eat at back home:)

p.s. My parents will be flying into FLL the week after us and staying at the LaQuinta (the one all the cruisers stay at). My dad is a simple small town guy and loves to find "Mom & Pop" restaurants where ever they go. Any suggestions for somewhere to get a good burger and slice of pie near the La Quinta? Thank you!!!

After scouring these posts and various review sites I finally found our perfect hotel! Realized that the nicest hotels were already completely booked for my 1/8/2012 departure:( I jumped on booking the Hampton Inn Plantation as it was still available. Looks like a great area (near a mall and Whole Foods...can't be too bad), only good reviews and it has free shuttle service to/from port and airport:) It was MUCH less than other hotels I had been considering.

My head is spinning....to help me sort it out, does anyone know the answer to these questions?!?!

1) Embassy Suites, good, but no shuttles?

2) Hampton Inn Plantation vs. North?

3) Spring hill Suites, are there free shuttles to both the airport and cruise terminal? I have read conflicting posts.

Sorry to be annoying and probably ask the same question others have, but I am looking for a hotel for one night pre cruise for our family of 4 (including 2 preschoolers). A shuttle to/from the airport and cruise terminal and located close to a Target type store. Does such a dream hotel exist?!? Thanks!!!

First of all, congratulations and good luck JimSwims! Boston is quite the accomplishment!

Secondly, than you so much Crewsweeper! Your information was so helpful! Just what I was looking for:)

Any advice on sticking to half marathon training plan while on board? We will be on a 14 night Caribbean cruise in January and I am a little nervous about running safely in some of the ports (Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg (St. Maarten), AN; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Georgetown, Cayman Islands; Mahogany Bay, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico). Have any of you ran in any of these ports? Thanks!