Orlando to Fort Lauderdale

OK folks this is our latest cruise but first we must get to Fort Lauderdale to meet Jacky and Paul as the cruise actually starts tomorrow on Kens 80th birthday. Myself and Lorna have been in Florida for a few weeks so far and Lorna’s parents Ken and Sandy arrived on Thursday evening to join us and travel down to FL to catch the cruise for Kens 80th birthday celebrations.
We set off this morning at 10am and took the boring drive down the Turnpike to our hotel for the night just a few miles from the cruise port. We arrived at the hotel at around 1:15pm and tried to check in but our rooms were not ready yet, so Lorna and myself left Ken and Sandy at the bar as we had to take the hire car back to the car rental return at Fort Lauderdale airport, it was only a few miles away and we were back in no time thanks to the hotels free shuttle, well we say free the phone call to the operator ended up costing around 10 dollars but anyway we were back for around 2 sat at the bar with Ken and Sandy. After a few drinks we got a text from Paul and Jacky who had just landed in Miami and were now on there way to us via a transfer, once they got there bags.
We estimated they would be with us for about 6pm, at this point our rooms became available and we all took our bags up to settle into our rooms. The girls wanted to go shopping (again) so me and Ken stayed behind and rested until they got back. Well as it turned out we got a message from Paul and Jacky saying they were downstairs waiting for us and where were we ??.
So I went down to see them and then shortly after Lorna and Sandy got back from the shops and we arranged to go out for drinks and a meal, we had seen some new restaurants earlier and settled on one called “Firebirds” it was really nice and it was a good thing we got there early because in no time the place was full with plenty of people waiting for tables. The meal was actually really nice. It was not late when we had finished but we were all feeling a bit tired especially Jacky so we headed back to the hotel for after drinks, we managed to stay up until about 9:30 and then Jacky Mum and Dad went to bed and then there were 3. We stayed for a few more drinks and then decided to go to bed. As per usual when me and Lorna got into our room we could hear loud talking so Lorna went next door to ask if they could be quiet and they obliged, so not a late night at about 11pm but early to bed makes for loads of energy for our cruise tomorrow night night.