We are in our early 50s and this is our 6th cruise, our 4th with Carnival, & our 2nd in a Spirit class ship. We choose Carnival because of the night life.
Firstly for those who travel by car stay at the Chase suites on the Causeway in Tampa. It cost $155 with tax, & includes a small suite, a good breakfast, and you leave your car there, they take you to/from the port. Though they did could not pick us up at the port they fully paid for the taxi.
We arrived at the port @10:30, fully checked in by 10:45 & having lunch by 11:45. Leaving the ship was amazing they do not go by colors they announce that you can disembark now & you leave at your convenience. We took our time, found our luggage quite easily & was by our car before 10 A.M. For those who are in a rush & are willing to carry their own luggage you can be off the ship by 8 A.M. All in all no muss, no fuss, no stress.