ewanko

Ken,

Thanks for all that info. We just came back from our cruise, it was so goooood that we wanted to stay for more,but need to face reality.

We stayed at Wyndham Westshore, very convenient, no need for rental car, mall is just accross the road, shopped for what we need for the cruise, clothes, watershoes, water, ponchos etc.

On the day of the cruise, we took a cab to the port (about $20), we arrived around 11:00am, didnt get a chance to leave again, chk in was a breeze, we were eating lunch at Horatio's around 12. Upon return, found out that there is a car rental (Hertz) at the port itself, chked them if I can pick my rental from there, my reservations has Marriott Waterside for p/u, they did not have available car at the port, but provided a shuttle to Marriott which is like 2-3 minutes ride so it wasnt bad at all. Drove from Tampa to Orlando, reached in an hour or so.

Sorry for the delays folks. I'll try to catch up today.

 

ewanko - You may be able to check your luggage before embarkation begins, or before you go inside to get in line. If you were to get there earlier, say around 10:30-11:00, you could check your luggage with the porters, then walk around and check out Channelside for a while before getting in line. You could even do the Channelside area, take your time, and go inside to check-in after the first rush subsides. I don't know of anywhere else that could hold your luggage, unless you check it at the bell station at the hotel and come back to get it later. I wouldn't be bashful about hiring a cab to go down to the port. They do it all the time. If the street car schedule is convenient, you could go back and forth to the Channelside/port area on the street car a lot cheaper than a cab. You may even be able to use the street car to get to the port when you are ready to do embarkation. The street cars are never too full that your luggage could be an issue.

 

Terri102066 - The closest hotel to the Channelside area would be either the Embassy Suites-Convention Center or the Marriott Waterside. Next, and somewhat cheaper, would be the Hampton Inn-Ybor City. The street car terminal is right between the Embassy Suites-Conv Center and the Marriott Waterside. The street cars run from there through the Channelside District by all of the cruise terminals, and on up to and through Ybor City. The street car runs right by the Hampton Inn in Ybor City too (the main station is next door).

 

Here's something y'all can try to get a good idea of the area:

 

Click here: http://maps.google.com/maps

 

Search on this: Channelside Drive at Franklin Street, Tampa, Florida

 

When the map pops up, you will see the bottom of the downtown Tampa area. Click on "Satellite" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and it will give you a nice picture of the area. You can zoom in and out, move up, down, left and right, by clicking on the screen controls on the left side of the screen. There will be a bright rectangle shape object down by the channel running left and right. That's the Ice Palace, also known as the St Pete Time Forum (Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey team). Along the channel, and to the left of the Ice Palace, near a small bridge, is the Marriott Waterside Hotel. The street car terminal is in front of the hotel. The Embassy Suites is just N. of the street car terminal. The picture is older, and the Embassy Suites isn't there yet. A shadow covers most of the street car station. If you look to the right down the channel, you will see a cruise ship at dock. That's the Channelside Complex and Terminal 2. Just around the curve to the N is the Florida Aquarium and Terminal 3. Just little further N in the channel (running N and S, Ybor Channel) is Terminal 6. The ship that's sitting at a diagonal to the right of the cruise ship is a retired US Navy ship on display. This should give you a good idea of the layout.

 

FlashbackAlternatives - I don't recall any negative posts on the Double Tree Westshore, from anyone posting on this thread. If there is, I don't remember. Double Tree doesn't have a reputation of having trashy hotels.

The reviews on some of those web sites have to be taken with a grain of salt, just like many cruise reviews. You will see some folks rave about the hotel and praise it, then someone will pop up and trash it, same with a number of folks on the same cruise. Satisfied people rarely go to those websites and put their comments in writing.

 

LHP - Thanks. You actually did quite well with your descriptions.

 

Jessemon - Yo! You still out there? Hope all is well on your side of town.

 

Ken

Thanks Ken

So it should be an easy walk from Port to Marriott coz i dont think the cab will take us for a short ride like that? I chk your photos, they're really big help to a lot of posters. Do you think if we go early early to the Port, knowing that we cannot embark that early, any place we can leave our luggage, while we stroll along channelside before embarking.

Unfortunately to date there are no car rental agencies that have a drop off at the port. But, a while back in this thread a poster from out of town mentioned they had found 2 agencies that would either pick you up at the port coming in. Or drop you off at the port when you return your car going out. I can't remember which ones they were though.

seems that there is a Hertz at Marriott Waterside, this is what i am getting for p/u place when i booked my rental, and it is very close to the port.

ewanko - It's a mile, maybe less, depending on which terminal. In any instance, it's close, but much to far to walk.

 

Ken

thanks ken

changed plans, taking a rental car instead, Hertz at Marriott Waterside, is it far? how much for a cab.

Goin' to Orlando after our cruise, chk Amtrak website, found a train schedule from TPA to ORL for $ 27, 2 Adult, 2 C, how far is the station from the Port. Seems to be a very good deal.