This was the family's 3rd cruise, 2nd on Carnival (Triumph Western Carib. 2003) and one prior on RCCL Explorer (Eastern Carib. 2004)

Pre-cruise - We flew into Tampa on Saturday (direct flight from Phoenix) and we started off a little rocky. A 2 hour delay in Phoenix (plane mechanical problems), 20 minutes to circle Tampa due to lightening, and an extra ½ hour waiting for luggage due to the storm. That's where the most negative part of the trip ended. We stayed at the Woodfin Suite Hotels with a cruise package....$149 for a 2 bedroom suite (a townhouse type set up) with pick up at the airport, transport to the dock and pick up at the dock a week later all included! They pulled up to the airport terminal as I walked out with the family and our many bags!

Hotel was very nice with a nice "continental-type" breakfast thrown in the next morning. We walked over to the Bahama Breeze restaurant ½ block away for dinner. http://www.woodfinsuitehotels.com/ta...ials/index.cfm Read more