My wife, adult daughter, and I just completed a one week cruise on Vision of the Seas. All and all the cruise we well. We flew on Southwest from Phoenix and had not issues with the flight either way. I consider Southwest to be a bus with wings, but the price was good.
We went a day early, (highly recommended) and stated at the Homewood Suites near the airport. The hotel was very nice and we had a two bedroom suite. The only restaurant within walking distance was across the street at another Hilton property. The service was very slow the food was bad and the price was high. If I had to do it again I would have taken a cab to one of the better restaurants in the area.
We hired a van service that was recommended by the hotel and they took us to the cruise ship and picked us up at the end of the cruise. The price was much lower that anything offered by the cruise line and it worked out well.
Large, good storage, large deck. Please be aware that the restaurant is above your head and you will hear the rumble of carts being rolled all day and night. If you're a light sleeper, find another cabin.
We did a shopping trip here and my wife and daughter left a little money at Diamonds International. All in all the port was fine, but it was like many ports of this type. It was a very long trip by tender because of the shallow water.
We did nothing in Tampa but spend the night and get on the ship. The Homewood suites was nice and the airport clean and well laid out. I'm sure there were many things to see and do, but we didn't have the time or energy.
We didn't get of the ship here. We've been to Cozumel several times and didn't see the need to fight with the spring breakers for space. I have no issues with the port, it just didn't interest us.