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Beyond the Sea: Port Mini-Breaks
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Tampa: Pre- or Post-Cruise Mini-Break
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Blessed with year-round sunshine, a bustling waterfront and laid-back charm, Tampa deserves much more than a quick look on your way to your cruise ship. The historic streets of Cuban Ybor City are still steeped in Tampa's cigar-making past, while downtown you'll find a number of big-city attractions -- like Florida's oldest restaurant, a grand Victorian hotel-cum-museum and a gorgeous 1920's theater -- without the big-city attitude.
Tampa is steadily gaining popularity as a homeport for Caribbean cruises, with Carnival maintaining a year-round presence and other major lines, including Royal Caribbean and Holland America, moving in for seasonal sailings. The city has energized the area around the cruise terminal with the construction of Channelside, a shopping and entertainment complex opened in 2001. Also nearby is the Florida Aquarium, one of the city's premier attractions (and not just for kids).
But when you come to Tampa, you visit not only the city but the entire Tampa Bay region -- which includes nearby St. Petersburg's collection of fascinating museums, the theme parks of Tampa's northern suburbs and the wide white beaches of the Gulf Coast. With all these reasons to visit, why not stay an extra day -- or three!
--by Sarah Schlichter, Associate Editor for Cruise Critic's sister site, IndependentTraveler.com.
Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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Tampa: Family Mini-Break
With family-friendly attractions like Busch Gardens and the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Bay area is a fabulous place for kids (and their parents!) to learn and play.
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Tampa: Couples Mini-Break
Need a relaxing getaway for two? Tampa's soft white beaches, quiet tropical gardens and gorgeous sunsets are sure to please.
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Tampa: Senior Mini-Break
Take a trip into the past in Tampa's historic Ybor City neighborhood, where you can watch someone hand-rolling cigars or see a live flamenco show.
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