First Time Out of Tampa Questions

[kcwiak]

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

[All-ready2cruise]

You might want to ask this question on the Florida Departure board: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

 

[roger001]

49 minutes ago, kcwiak said:

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

Been about a year since Tampa, but yes, a suite waiting area.  We like to arrive no later than 10:30.  After security you will be directed to a suite check in area and then the waiting area...if they are not the same now.  As soon as the ship is ready for boarding, usually about 11;15/11:30, the concierge will escort all that are waiting on board.  If you are after the ship has begun boarding, then from the suite check in you will be taken on board up to the speciality restaurant for lunch if you wish.    We used Uber from an airport area hotel and was just fine.  

[tampadee]

We are schedule on the Dawn on the 24th.  That may be the same cruise you are taking.

 

We have left from Tampa on the Pearl.  The concierge said Tampa is his least favorite port to leave from.  This is because suite guests have to wait in line with everyone else to go through security.  It took a very long time to get through security.  We did not wait in the suite waiting area because we could just get on the ship and go to lunch. 

[kitty-sail]

Hi - we're going on the Dawn in 2 months out of Tampa. We're booked at Tampa Riverwalk and wondered about transportation from hotel to pier (about 1.4 miles). Our hotel doesn't have free shuttle service to pier. Is there another option beside uber?  Was it expensive?

Also in a suite and plan to arrive at pier around 10-10:30 also.

Edited November 17, 2019 by kitty-sail

[zqvol]

8 hours ago, kcwiak said:

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

 

Use Uber, or a cab unless you have a huge party. It is not worth paying for a car service.

 

Depending on which terminal you leave from in Tampa I recall seeing a suite waiting area, but it has been about 4 years since i sailed out of Tampa.

[fonekween]

5 hours ago, kitty-sail said:

Hi - we're going on the Dawn in 2 months out of Tampa. We're booked at Tampa Riverwalk and wondered about transportation from hotel to pier (about 1.4 miles). Our hotel doesn't have free shuttle service to pier. Is there another option beside uber?  Was it expensive?

Also in a suite and plan to arrive at pier around 10-10:30 also.

5 hours ago, kitty-sail said:

Hi - we're going on the Dawn in 2 months out of Tampa. We're booked at Tampa Riverwalk and wondered about transportation from hotel to pier (about 1.4 miles). Our hotel doesn't have free shuttle service to pier. Is there another option beside uber?  Was it expensive?

Also in a suite and plan to arrive at pier around 10-10:30 also.

 

[fonekween]

 

Hi Kitty! Depending on where you're staying, you might check into the streetcar which is free & goes to the port. We're staying at the Marriott in February and will be taking it as it stop in front of the hotel. http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/#/home

Hope you enjoy the Dawn as much as we did - we were on her to Bermuda for our 10th wedding anniversary.

[Lovetotraveltami]

We sailed from Tampa port last April.  We used a taxi from airport to hotel.  Our hotel arranged transportation to port. Upon returning, we had another company transfer us to St. Pete Beach.  While in Tampa, we used Uber and had no problems.  If you staying close to port and just a couple of you, take Uber.

[GeriatricNurse]

18 hours ago, kcwiak said:

Hi! We are leaving in a week and I'm now wondering a couple things about Tampa and the Dawn:

- We are in a suite so we do not have an arrival time. What time should we get there? Is there a suites waiting area in Tampa for the Dawn?

- Car services - Any suggestions? I'm not really feeling good about Uber so are there reasonable companies we could use? We need transportation from the airport, to hotel, to port and then the reverse. 

 

Any advice and tips/tricks would be great!

 

 

Be aware that there may be an 'issue' with FOG involving departure from Tampa, which 'may' affect the departure time causing potential delay!

[kitty-sail]

8 hours ago, fonekween said:

 

Hi Kitty! Depending on where you're staying, you might check into the streetcar which is free & goes to the port. We're staying at the Marriott in February and will be taking it as it stop in front of the hotel. http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/#/home

Hope you enjoy the Dawn as much as we did - we were on her to Bermuda for our 10th wedding anniversary.

We're on the Dawn Feb 2 and staying at Sheraton Riverwalk.  I did see the streetcar but with several pieces of luggage doesn't seem like a feasible option.

[kcwiak]

2 hours ago, GeriatricNurse said:

 

 

Be aware that there may be an 'issue' with FOG involving departure from Tampa, which 'may' affect the departure time causing potential delay!

Does this happen a lot?

[kcwiak]

19 hours ago, tampadee said:

We are schedule on the Dawn on the 24th.  That may be the same cruise you are taking.

 

We have left from Tampa on the Pearl.  The concierge said Tampa is his least favorite port to leave from.  This is because suite guests have to wait in line with everyone else to go through security.  It took a very long time to get through security.  We did not wait in the suite waiting area because we could just get on the ship and go to lunch. 

It is the same! 😄 

If we were to get to the pier about 11 would that help avoid long lines of standing around? I have a bad knee and standing for a long time is excruciating!

[kcwiak]

1 hour ago, kitty-sail said:

We're on the Dawn Feb 2 and staying at Sheraton Riverwalk.  I did see the streetcar but with several pieces of luggage doesn't seem like a feasible option.

That is what I was thinking! It is 4 of us and getting luggage and carry ons into a streetcar seems impossible!

[tampadee]

52 minutes ago, kcwiak said:

It is the same! 😄 

If we were to get to the pier about 11 would that help avoid long lines of standing around? I have a bad knee and standing for a long time is excruciating!

Don't know.   All I remember is it taking a very long time to get through security. 

[roger001]

Maybe it is depending on what security level we are at.  Tampa twice and no noticeable security delay.  

[fstuff1]

23 hours ago, tampadee said:

We are schedule on the Dawn on the 24th.  That may be the same cruise you are taking.

 

We have left from Tampa on the Pearl.  The concierge said Tampa is his least favorite port to leave from.  This is because suite guests have to wait in line with everyone else to go through security.  It took a very long time to get through security.  We did not wait in the suite waiting area because we could just get on the ship and go to lunch. 

 

yup, tampa port sucks. 

you queue up on the 1st floor to go up the escalator to the 2nd floor.

and there's line queue on the 2nd floor as well.

 

dont come early!

when i took a ncl cruise from Tampa earlier this year, it took 1 1/2 hrs to get to the metal detectors.

and i arrived early and was like 15th person from the escalator. (there were already people queued up on the 2nd floor.)

the line did not move because noone was allowed to go through the metal detectors.

i dont know why.

 

the line on the 1st floor queued out the door!

thankfully it wasnt raining outside.

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by fstuff1

[kcwiak]

11 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

yup, tampa port sucks. 

you queue up on the 1st floor to go up the escalator to the 2nd floor.

and there's line queue on the 2nd floor as well.

 

dont come early!

when i took a ncl cruise from Tampa earlier this year, it took 1 1/2 hrs to get to the metal detectors.

and i arrived early and was like 15th person from the escalator. (there were already people queued up on the 2nd floor.)

the line did not move because noone was allowed to go through the metal detectors.

i dont know why.

 

the line on the 1st floor queued out the door!

thankfully it wasnt raining outside.

 

 

What is considered early? We are having the car get us from the hotel at 10:30. Assuming we will get there about 11. Should we go later or is that ok?

[fstuff1]

11 minutes ago, kcwiak said:

 

What is considered early? We are having the car get us from the hotel at 10:30. Assuming we will get there about 11. Should we go later or is that ok?

i arrived a little before 11am.

remember, i was 15th from the escalator and it took 1 1/2 hr to get to the metal detectors.

those that were queued out the door waited ALOT longer.

i would say come  after 1:30pm if you dont want to queue up.

 

unless what i experienced was just a one time thing???

Edited November 18, 2019 by fstuff1

[kcwiak]

4 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

i arrived a little before 11am.

remember, i was 15th from the escalator and it took 1 1/2 hr to get to the metal detectors.

those that were queued out the door waited ALOT longer.

i would say come  after 1:30pm if you dont want to queue up.

 

oh good Lord. Well we can only stay at the hotel until 11 unless I can get a late check out.  Ugh. I have never had these worries at any other port. Even NYC. 🙄

[rluzius]

NCL shares Terminals 2 & 3 with RCCL.  Pray, Pray, and Pray some more that you will be departing from Terminal 3.  It is much larger and nicer.  It has a VIP area for Suites and above, etc.

 

Terminal 2 is a nightmare.  Much smaller and older.  They let 20 or so people at a time up the escalator so it doesn't get too crowded once you get upstairs (before even passing thru security).

 

Little tip.  I highly recommend the valet parking.  For only a few bucks more, you drop your car at the terminal and on return, they bring it right to you in just 5 or so minutes.  No circling the garage across the street looking for a spot, dragging your bags down possibly 3 floors of the garage and and then across the street, etc.

Edited November 19, 2019 by rluzius

[Laszlo]

23 hours ago, kcwiak said:

oh good Lord. Well we can only stay at the hotel until 11 unless I can get a late check out.  Ugh. I have never had these worries at any other port. Even NYC. 🙄

I've sailed out of Tampa 2 times, easy in and easy out. The trick or maybe not a trick is to arrive around 9am. We were thru security and checked in in about 15 minutes. Now you will have to sit in wait, but ask yourself would you rather sit in the terminal for 90-120 minutes or stand in line getting in? 

[kcwiak]

59 minutes ago, rluzius said:

NCL shares Terminals 2 & 3 with RCCL.  Pray, Pray, and Pray some more that you will be departing from Terminal 3.  It is much larger and nicer.  It has a VIP area for Suites and above, etc.

 

Terminal 2 is a nightmare.  Much smaller and older.  They let 20 or so people at a time up the escalator so it doesn't get too crowded once you get upstairs (before even passing thru security).

 

Little tip.  I highly recommend the valet parking.  For only a few bucks more, you drop your car at the terminal and on return, they bring it right to you in just 5 or so minutes.  No circling the garage across the street looking for a spot, dragging your bags down possibly 3 floors of the garage and and then across the street, etc.

How do I know which Terminal we are going out of? For some reason I thought 3 but I have no idea why lol!

[Laszlo]

48 minutes ago, kcwiak said:

How do I know which Terminal we are going out of? For some reason I thought 3 but I have no idea why lol!

NCL "Usually" goes out of 3....... see map

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9454667,-82.4437296,223m/data=!3m1!1e3

Edited November 19, 2019 by Laszlo

[rluzius]

If RCCL does not have a ship in port, NCL will get Terminal 3.  Otherwise it will be Terminal 2.

On our last cruise on the Dawn(March 2018), we left from Terminal 2 (even though Terminal 3 was clear) because they were expecting a RCCL ship later that day.

 

Your eDocs will give you the address to report to.

651 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 = Terminal 2

815 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602 = Terminal 3