According to the Tampa Port Authority, Carnival Cruise Lines named the Port of Tampa their Port of the Year. Choose from cruises on the Carnival Inspiration or the Carnival Legend. Here is what Carnival cruise passengers need to know about cruising from Tampa, Florida.
Carnival Cruise Terminal at Port of Tampa
The Port of Tampa is conveniently located about 20 minutes from the Tampa International Airport (TPA), around 9.5 miles away. Cruise passengers can expect to pay about $25 for a taxi if they want to book their transportation independent of the cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Lines uses Terminal 2 at 651 Channelside Drive. The pier adjoins to the Channelside shopping and entertainment complex. Additionally, the Florida Aquarium is next door to Terminal 2. Cruise parking is located at 810 Channelside Drive, across the street at a cost of $14 per day.
Carnival Cruises from Tampa on the Legend
The Carnival Legend will offer their 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruise year round until 2012. The cruise features stops in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan and two days at sea. Alternatively, on select dates in 2011, the Carnival Legend will offer a 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise. Ports of call will include Half Moon Cay, Nassau, Key West and three days at sea.
The Carnival Legend is 88,500 tons and carries 2,124 passengers and 930 crew members. The ship features mini golf, a spa, a number of pools and a three deck high waterslide. The Legend offers a number of restaurants and bars including the specialty restaurant, Golden Fleece Steakhouse with a $30 per person cover charge.
Carnival Cruises from Tampa on the Inspiration
The Carnival Inspiration will offer their 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise until November 2011 on select dates year round. The itinerary includes a stop in Cozumel, Mexico and two days at sea. Alternatively, the 5-Day Western Caribbean Cruise from Tampa features a stop in Grand Cayman in addition the Cozumel and the two days at sea.
The Carnival Inspiration is 70,367 tons and carries 2,052 passengers along with 920 crew members. The ship features updated staterooms and suites, a spa and an adult-only deck area, called Serenity. Children and teens from two to 17 years old have their own facilities and activities as well. Children's facilities are located on deck four and five forward while Club 02 for teens is on deck 10 forward.
Furthermore, on December 3, 2011, the Carnival Inspiration will depart Tampa on a 14-day Panama Canal repositioning cruise to Los Angeles (Long Beach), California. The Inspiration will offer three and four-day Baja cruises for 2012 while the Carnival Paradise will take over the itinerary that was offered by the Carnival Inspiration for 2012.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
