Open the curtains this morning to see the sunrise over Fort Lauderdale. We have to wait til 10.30am to disembark but we need to be out of our room by 8 so it's just shower and go to breakfast. It's a beautiful day, sunny with a nice breeze. We will get a transfer to our hotel (which we can see from the ship) this morning and then decide what we do from there. There is a water taxi that's a Hop on Hop off trip up and down the waterways so that's one option or a trip to the Everglades to see the alligators etc. We are now on our bus to the hotel but as check in time is not until 4 we have no expectation that we will get into our room. No time to waste so we book a tour to the Everglades leaving in just over 1 hour. It's about a 45 minute drive to the Everglades which is the swamp lands and home to Alligators and a variety of bird like and fish. We have a 1 hour airboat ride through the waterways and see 4 alligators just going about their day. Alligators can live under the water and like to conceal them selves in the silt at the bottom of the river so while we can't see too many it is apparently home to thousands. As well as the alligators we see fish large and small and a blue crane, vultures and other pesky birds that like to steal food from humans. After the boat ride we see a show put on by one of the Gator Boys where he is in the enclosure with the alligators and interacts with them to demonstrate and educate the audience about these reptiles. It is said you will see alligator wrestling but we were lucky enough to see Steve air win with the crocs and this is very tame compared to that. Alligators while quick and deadly are not as aggressive as crocodiles. Back on the bus and back to the hotel. Our room is ready 2238. It's about 6pm so we get the water taxi for a ride through the waterways of Fort Lauderdale. The stop is alongside the hotel and will take us on a 2 hour trip up the river past the multi million dollar homes and yachts. We get off at one stop to change taxis to the double decker one complete with a bar and popcorn! It's a great view from up the top deck and even though this is a public transport system the crew take it upon themselves to give a bit of a commentary about the houses and the area which makes for an interesting trip. We get off at the 15th Street Fisheries which is a restaurant recommended to us by some passengers on our last cruise. It's a fish cafe downstairs and restaurant upstairs. We wait 20 minutes for a table downstairs as it is so busy. The food is nice, yummy prawns and cod with fries and salad . We can see our hotel next door but because we are separated by a canal it takes us about 30 minutes to walk back. It is a nice night, warm with a nice breeze so it's good to stretch our legs. Tomorrow is cruise day!