Move over Miami

Its that time of the year, Christmas has gone and its time to start planning for next year. We often host everyone at our house being that Chris is a chef its kind of expected. Well not in 2017, we have just booked a week on Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas. I cannot wait! I have been on Harmony and Anthem but always with work and only for 2 nights so its not the same experience as being on board with your family for the week.

Then comes the decision do we stay in Miami or Fort Lauderdale? Honestly there is no contest for me. I love Fort Lauderdale and would chose my pre or post cruise stay there over Miami any day. Dont get me wrong Miami is nice but its not for me. We first visited about 10 years ago way before Charlie came along. It was all bars, happy hours, shopping, mansions and South Beach. We found Miami very expensive and stuck up! The beach wasnt that great either.

Back in 2015 when we did our first Caribbean cruise on Celebrity Constellation we spent 3 nights before the cruise in Fort Lauderdale. We decided to stay here as Charlie was just 4 and we thought it was a much better place for a child. It was perfect. From our hotel we could walk all along the beach, Atlantic Boulevard with plenty of shops and restaurants along the way serving lots of seafood. Charlie loved all the little play parks dotted along the beach. It didnt seem so much a chore for him walking with the bonus of play parks!

We also spent a day along Las Olas Boulevard, lots of lovely little quirky shops and cafes. It was whilst we were here we stumbled on the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale & Bonnet House museum. A great area for a stroll in the sunshine we even found some Iguanas, Charlie was so chuffed to see these strolling alongside us.

 Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, the Riverwalk Linear Park and the Downtown Riverwalk District, a lush tropical waterfront in the downtown center of an urban metropolis.

We also took an airboat ride through the Everglades and a 3 hour sightseeing tour on the Jungle Queen Cruise tour down the ‘Venice of America’ The Jungle Queen is a traditional paddle boat.

There is also a trolly bus that runs the length of Atlantic Boulevard that takes you from close to Port Everglades right up to The Galleria shopping Mall.

Overall Fort Lauderdale is much better for us as a family. It offers so much more than just a cruise port. This year we will be spending Christmas in Fort Lauderdale and cant wait to go back. Next time you are thinking about a Caribbean cruise dont just automatically go for a stop in Miami look at the alternatives.