Tampa

[cruisinmama0]

Just got off the Miracle this morning and wanted to report on what we experienced.

 

We had a mid afternoon flight and wanted to go to the aquarium. We debarked around 915 am and the aquarium opens at 930 am. It is about the only thing around there opened that early except for the coffee shop at Channelside. The Aquarium would check your baggage I was told, but we found the traveler's kiosk in the "port building" where you check in. They charge a $5 flat fee to store your bags. We also were able to buy discounted tickets for the Aquarium. He told us about the water park there so we unpacked my daughter's bathing suit. The Aquarium was top notch and the water park tons of fun. She spent about 2 hours there splashing around, going through the misters, water geysers and playing on the pirate ship shooting water out of cannons. They have a nice open air restaurant under a thatched roof with nice light lunch fare. It was a great way to relax before heading to the airport. We walked back across the street to get the luggage, got a cab and were at the airport within 20 minutes or so from leaving the aquarium.

 

We had flown in the day before embarkation for the cruise and enjoyed the stay at the Hampton Inn in Ybor city. The Saturday open air market at Centennial park and dinner at Columbia. We also rode around on the trolley several times along the entire route. We were going to use the trolley to get to the port, but they don't start running until noon on Sunday. Instead we used the complimentary transportation from the Hampton. Although we had to wait a bit because he could only fit about 3 or 4 people at a time and had quite a crowd going over to the ship.

[sanrionjb]

this is all really helpful info! I'll be cruising on the Miracle in January and our flight doesn't leave until around 7 pm. Was the place to store the luggage at right at the port? And did it seem like a pretty safe place?

 

Also, glad to hear you enjoyed the Hampton Inn in Ybor City. We'll be arriving in Tampa a couple of days before the cruise to spend New Years there and got a decent rate at the hampton inn.