Help me to choose! Cruise from Tampa or San Juan?

[travellerin1984]

Thank you for the comments... Weather is definitely one of the aspects when you live in Nothern Europe and want to escape the winter. Suite life is very tempting so right now we are talking about booking the cruise from Tampa...

Puerto Rico is great and we’ve been there couple of times but this time I think we choose Tampa because of the possibility to experience the suite life. 5 sea days so we can eat at Luminae without rushing... 

 

I think we will be staying in Tampa for 3-4 nights before the cruise. Do you have suggestions which area we should stay.? We prefer not to rent a car (but if it is necessary we can do that) I love beaches but if the weather is so-so it might be wiser to stay near downtown? I like swimming so I want to find a heated pool... I suppose it wont be a problem.

[travellerin1984]

18 hours ago, wrk2cruise said:

The Suite experience on Celebrity is very nice.  Luminae is a very relaxed dining atmosphere where the tables are further apart than Blu or MDR and the service is many steps above.  I personally love the Retreat lounge where we have had a great time interacting with fellow suite guests.  Yes the drinks in Retreat lounge are complimentary but for us it's the social atmosphere that we really enjoy.  The Retreat sundeck would also be available.  It's a private sundeck with a hot tub where you can soak up the sun without crowds or chair hogs (well I'm sure there are hogs but theirs plenty of seating).

 

Both ships are very similar and will have both been Revolutionized by then.  Given your criteria I think it comes down to how much you want to try the suite experience.  Frankly the S2 Sky Suite rooms or balcony are not tremendously bigger than AQ on the "M" class ships, but for us it's Luminae and Retreat that really makes the difference.

 

The B2B out of San Juan you really lose a day due to the turn around in the middle but the weather will be warmer.

 

For me it would probably be the Tampa itinerary because I do like sea days.  Actually I'm booked on the 11 day Southern Caribbean from Tampa on January 4, 2021 in a Sky Suite.   If that's what you pick look me up in the Retreat!

 

 

Thank you for your answer! It sounds very tempting! We have actually tried all other cabin types but not suites so right now it is on the top of our list... We love good food and breakfast so sea days and long breakfast at Luminae sounds great! 

[travellerin1984]

17 hours ago, deliver42 said:

There should be no problem with the weather in Tampa in Jan. We live 50 miles from Tampa, and the winter weather is why we live in Fl.

 

Lucky you! Sweden is wonderful during summer but I could think of living in Florida during winter... 😉 

[travellerin1984]

12 hours ago, phoenix_dream said:

 My opinion is to book the Tampa cruise.  I generally go for more days rather than less, but the opportunity to cruise out of Tampa with great itineraries (especially the ABC option) is too good to pass by, especially in a suite.  We just booked a B2B on that ship as soon as we heard about the new deployment.  Also got a Sky Suite, which we are so looking forward to as suite prices have been outrageous as of late.  We got the Sky Suite, with all four perks, for roughly the same price as our original quote of AQ with four perks.  In fact, had we chosen and S2 if would have been $100pp cheaper!!

 

I love Tampa, and am glad to have an option other than FLL or MIA.  It is true that it will not be as warm as San Juan - if that is your primary factor pick SJU.  But it will definitely be warmer than Sweden!  It may or may not be warm enough to swim, but is rarely really cold.  There are a number of nice places to visit while you are there, so I suggest you come in a few days early.  In addition to what is already mentioned, they have a nice large amusement park there, an aquarium, a great casino (Hard Rock), and nice shopping.  I recommend a day trip up to Tarpon Springs, which is a Greek heritage town famous for it's gathering of sea sponges.  Very interesting and wonderful Greek restaurants.

Thank you for the advice. Tarpon springs sounds interesting!  Right now we are talking about booking the suite. It is so tempting! I am sure Tampa will be a nice pre-cruise destination for couple of days. 

[hcat]

Hotels in the city can be very high priced...esp right near the port.. we already looked and were surprised.  Area definitely seems better without a car ( we will be driving or take a limo )

 

If you look around there should be good choices..Check the Fla departures board for possible ideas.

[wrk2cruise]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

Hotels in the city can be very high priced...esp right near the port.. we already looked and were surprised.  Area definitely seems better without a car ( we will be driving or take a limo )

 

If you look around there should be good choices..Check the Fla departures board for possible ideas.

 

Really?  I was checking Tampa for early January this year and for example Embassy Suites is about 1/2 of what it is in FLL and San Juan for the same dates.  I was finding hotels in the city convenient to airport and cruise port for less than $200.

[hcat]

15 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

Really?  I was checking Tampa for early January this year and for example Embassy Suites is about 1/2 of what it is in FLL and San Juan for the same dates.  I was finding hotels in the city convenient to airport and cruise port for less than $200.

That's great.. I looked at a beautiful  hotel right on the waterfront for a Jan date this yr..not cruising til next ,,.and it was $400 plus with $35 parking. didnt even note the  name.  Embassy Suites or any Hikton would work.. thanks for the encouraging info!

Edited August 18, 2019 by hcat

[travellerin1984]

9 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

Really?  I was checking Tampa for early January this year and for example Embassy Suites is about 1/2 of what it is in FLL and San Juan for the same dates.  I was finding hotels in the city convenient to airport and cruise port for less than $200.

 

I agree! When I looked at the prices in Tampa in January I said to my husband the prices are much more reasonable in Tampa than what we are used to.

 

We booked sky suite this morning with non refundable deposit so we are trying the suite life for the first time. I am so excited! 

[wrk2cruise]

What date did you book?  We are on the Jan 4th Southern Caribbean in a great Sky Suite.  Love the ABC islands.

Edited August 18, 2019 by wrk2cruise

[travellerin1984]

Just now, wrk2cruise said:

What date did you book?  We are on the Jan 4th Southern Caribbean in a great Sky Suite.  Love the ABC islands.

 

We are on the same cruise! 🙂 

[wrk2cruise]

You can email me privately if you have any questions about the suite life or the Constellation.  Have been on Constellation a number of times and have been on Summit post revolution.  Email  is wrk2cruise@nc.rr.com.

[travellerin1984]

2 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

You can email me privately if you have any questions about the suite life or the Constellation.  Have been on Constellation a number of times and have been on Summit post revolution.  Email  is wrk2cruise@nc.rr.com.

 

Thanks! Very kind of you! I’ll save your email and get back to you if I have some questions. We have been cruising a lot but first time in suite. 

[DebInAntigua]

13 hours ago, calicakes said:

This year or next?  We're looking at the Dec 23rd, 2020 cruise from Tampa.  

Same one! We booked NRD so unless something really goes sideways in life, we'll see you there. 😁

[A Sixth?]

If you want the warm and best side of the Caribbean San Juan.

 

Need a Sky (bigger balcony cabin with Lumine) Tampa

 

Personally I would not go near Tampa near the Super Bowl. 

[Mr&MrsBee]

22 hours ago, MISTER 67 said:

We live 80 miles southeast of Tampa and have just about the same weather. January normally is cool and in the 70s but it can sneak into the low 80s or if a cool front moves in you can have frost in the AM with highs only in the low 60s. I wouldn't count on taking a dip in the gulf but if you just want to relax on the beach on a warm day your chances are pretty good. We love Tampa, lots to do and see and like others have stated it's a great sail from the port out to Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

We are originally from Chicago and have lived in Florida for 27 years but if we ever decided to move to large metro area, it would be in the Tampa Bay area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mister 67:  What a coincidence we live in Sebring also.  Have lived in Sebring 20 years and from Chicago area

[MISTER 67]

27 minutes ago, Mr&MrsBee said:

Mister 67:  What a coincidence we live in Sebring also.  Have lived in Sebring 20 years and from Chicago area

Cool, we live in Sun N`Lake, 10 years now after living 17 years in Naples.

[Mr&MrsBee]

We live in Sun n Lake.  Turtle run at the 150 marker on 18.

[ohiojohn]

I stand corrected, earlier I stated the Feb 2021 Super Bowl site is in LA and not Tampa.  The NFL held a meeting in Chicago this past May.  The May meeting decision was to move the Super Bowl site from LA to Tampa for the Feb 2021 event.   LA will now host the Super Bowl in 2022. I missed the May NFL meeting results.  My mistake.

[hcat]

On 8/18/2019 at 8:45 AM, wrk2cruise said:

 

Really?  I was checking Tampa for early January this year and for example Embassy Suites is about 1/2 of what it is in FLL and San Juan for the same dates.  I was finding hotels in the city convenient to airport and cruise port for less than $200.

Checked further.. Embassy Suites  and a nearby Hampton Inn look okay and affordable if we book early...maybe us Honors Points.  Both have parking which we need...   

[Oville]

38 minutes ago, hcat said:

Checked further.. Embassy Suites  and a nearby Hampton Inn look okay and affordable if we book early...maybe us Honors Points.  Both have parking which we need...   

There is also a Hilton Garden Inn nearby.

[C 2 C]

On 8/17/2019 at 8:42 PM, wrk2cruise said:

Superbowl for 2021 football season is held in 2022 in LA.

 

We were booked on the Friday Feb 31, 2020 Silhouette cruise out of FLL.   The SuperBowl is in Miami on Sunday Feb 2.  Hotels were VERY high. 

 

I hope that you won't miss your cruise.  However an extra three days on a ship in the midst of winter is a better deal than we can get...

[calicakes]

On 8/17/2019 at 5:42 PM, wrk2cruise said:

Superbowl for 2021 football season is held in 2022 in LA.

 

We were booked on the Friday Feb 31, 2020 Silhouette cruise out of FLL.   The SuperBowl is in Miami on Sunday Feb 2.  Hotels were VERY high.  The Embassy Suites on 17th street was $1400 starting Thursday night.  Delta flights were also 4 to 5 times higher than earlier in the week flying into FLL and the same for outbound flights Mon-Wed after the game. 

 

My point is that it's not just Sat/Sun of the game but prices will be 2-5 times normal from about mid week before to mid week after the game.

 

After doing tons of research and doing some creative travel plans like flying to Orlando and driving to FLL and finding a hotel who wasn't gouging pricing, Celebrity cancelled the cruise in May due to extending the drydock to accomodate taking the ship to Spain and back for the Revolution because of the drydock accident in the Bahamas.

 

 

On 8/17/2019 at 5:42 PM, wrk2cruise said:

 

I'm pretty sure you mean January 31st!! 

[wrk2cruise]

53 minutes ago, Arno. said:

I hope that you won't miss your cruise.  However an extra three days on a ship in the midst of winter is a better deal than we can get...

 

33 minutes ago, calicakes said:

 

 

I'm pretty sure you mean January 31st!! 

🙂🙂  Yes

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Oville said:

There is also a Hilton Garden Inn nearby.

We like those  as well..Hilton Honors perks and points are useful!

We also have a Marriot card but mostly use Hilton..just what we are used to.

Also found a route  going  north via I 75  that  does not involve the Skyway  bridge,

[Oville]

48 minutes ago, hcat said:

We like those  as well..Hilton Honors perks and points are useful!

We also have a Marriot card but mostly use Hilton..just what we are used to.

Also found a route  going  north via I 75  that  does not involve the Skyway  bridge,

We never go over the bridge, always I75, it’s shorter to go to the port.  Also belong to both hotel clubs and have plenty of points with each.

 

Edited August 19, 2019 by Oville