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Tampa Overview
Tucked inside Tampa Bay on Florida's west coast, it's really no surprise that Tampa has evolved as a year-round bustling cruise port for mostly Western Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries. Its red-hot waterfront is jam-packed with sights, sounds and surf, and is just a hop, skip and a jump away from century-old St. Petersburg and from Clearwater, one of Florida's best beaches.
Historic sights can be found along the brick-lined walkways of the Cuban-influenced Ybor City, which is dotted with wrought-iron balconied buildings. You'll also spot flamenco dancers galore and old factories selling Florida's best hand-rolled cigars, not to mention plenty of Major League teams batting up for spring training. Finally, Tampa offers up award-winning beaches to perfect your glamour tan and more than 2,000 restaurants to soothe your hunger.
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Other U.S.A. Cruise Ports:
Baltimore • Boston • Charleston • Ft. Lauderdale • Galveston • Gulfport • Honolulu • Houston • Jacksonville • Key West • Los Angeles • Miami • Mobile • New Orleans • New York • New York (Brooklyn) • New York (Cape Liberty) • Norfolk • Philadelphia • Port Canaveral • Portland, Maine • San Diego • San Francisco • Seattle • Tampa
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Language
English.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money
The currency is the U.S. dollar. International visitors will find it easy to access cash at numerous ATM machines. Exchange bureaus so common in Europe are not in the U.S., but major banks also provide exchange services. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Some are open on Saturday mornings.
Getting Around
The Tampa International Airport (TPA) is five miles from downtown. Amtrak services Tampa, arriving downtown at Union Station on Nebraska Avenue. For more information, visit www.amtrak.com. Travel time from the airport via most modes of transportation is about 20 minutes. St. Petersburg is a 30-minute drive from the Tampa airport.
For seeing the sights, it's highly recommended that you rent a car. All the majors, such as Avis (www.avis.com) and Hertz (www.hertz.com), are at the airport in the Red Baggage Claim Area and across the walkway in the Blue Baggage Claim Area. Daily rental rates generally range from $50 to $75. Parking is relatively easy around Tampa, whether you choose street parking or the many garages. Municipal parking garages charge $1.25 per hour -- maxing out at less than $7 for 24 hours.
Shuttle vans, such as Bay Shuttle (www.tampabayshuttle.com) and SuperShuttle, (www.supershuttle.com) provide service 24/7, leaving from all four quadrants of the Baggage Claim Level and providing services to a number of outlying destinations. Fares range from $11 to $19 from the airport to the cruise terminal.
Taxis need to be called, though you'll generally see some lined up near the hotels, the performing arts center, and terminals. Two reliable taxi companies to call are Tampa Bay Cab (813-251-5555) and United Cab (813-253-2424). The initial drop is $1, then $1.50 for each additional mile. The flat fare from the airport to downtown is $20.
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) operates Tampa area buses, trolleys and the TECO Line Streetcar System. HART's Route 30 runs buses from the airport to downtown, leaving from the east end of the Red Baggage Claim area. One-way local fare is $1.50 for adults, or 75 cents for seniors and youths 17 and younger.
The TECO Line Streetcar System takes visitors back in time in replicas of Tampa's streetcars of the 1920's. The streetcar system whisks you on a 2.4-mile journey between downtown area hotels, the shops and restaurants of Channelside, the Port of Tampa and cruise terminals, the Florida Aquarium, and the Ybor City historic district. You can travel the entire line in only 22 minutes, giving you plenty of time to sightsee before your ship sails. The one-way fare is $2 for adults, $1 for seniors and youths. Children younger than 4 ride free.
The rubber-tire In-Town Trolleys circulate around downtown and the Hyde Park Village shopping area. The In-Town Trolley connects with the TECO Line Streetcar System at the striking Southern Transportation Plaza at the southern end of the streetcar line, only a short ride from the cruise terminals. One-way fare for the trolley is 50 cents.
Visitors can take advantage of the 1-Day Unlimited Ride Fare card, costing $4 for adults, or $2 for youths and seniors. If your stay in Tampa will last a little longer, you can purchase a 3-Day Unlimited Ride Visitor Pass for $9.75, available though HART facilities and select hotels.
Where You're Docked
Port of Tampa Cruise Terminal: Carnival embarks/disembarks at Terminal 2, Holland America at Terminal 6, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity at Terminal 3.
Hanging Around
The Channelside complex is just a short walk from the terminals. Everything you could possibly want is close at hand -- from multiplex cinemas to tons of shops, the Florida Aquarium and plenty of places to dine, be it fast-food or a waterside bistro. There's even a complimentary catamaran cruise around the port. There is an tourism information kiosk, a spacious passenger lounge, and plenty of parking for $12 a day.
City Attractions
 It may not be Disney World, but Busch Gardens is unquestionably just as good. It's got it all: thrilling coaster rides, great entertainment and food, and the state's largest zoo, where you can see lots of animals roaming freely. Take a monorail through the Serengeti Plain, sign up for an African Safari or head for the Great Ape Domain. The Rhino Rally -- a 10-minute off-road safari -- is one of the newest animal attractions. If you love TV's "Survivor," you're gonna be all over this. At the end of the Land Rover ride, there's actually a competition among the co-spectators. For extremists, there's the Montu -- the largest and fastest inverted steel roller coaster in the Southeast. For channeling your inner zookeeper, there's the six-hour zookeeper-for-a-day program, which is played out in the Serengeti Plain. You'll need a reservation (800-372-1797, ext. 7). Daily 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. (hours extended in the summer). Busch Blvd. and 40th St.
Try to find Nemo at the Florida Aquarium. With more than 5,000 aquatic animals and plants to choose from, you might get lucky. There's also the new Dive with the Sharks, which lets certified scuba divers swim with sharks for 30 minutes. Daily 9:30am - 5pm. 701 Channelside Dr.
Inside the old Tampa Bay Hotel is the Henry B. Plant Museum. This virtual Victorian palace offers up stunning European furnishings and art. Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday noon - 4 p.m. 401 W. Kennedy Blvd.
You'll find everything from contemporary art to an outstanding world-class collection of Greek and Roman Classical artifacts at the Tampa Museum of Art. Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 600 N. Ashley Dr.
See who's up at bat during spring training -- since some of the best teams call this part of the world home from October through March. The Devil Rays and Phillies are home-based in Clearwater and the indomitable Yankees have set up shop in Tampa.
The Ybor City State Museum offers one-hour tours of the Cigar Worker's House Museum (La Casita) as well as a walking tour of the district on Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. No reservations are taken. The museum complex includes the amazing Ferlita Bakery building, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and there is a lovely ornamental garden, too. Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 1818 Ninth Ave.
Been There, Done That
Kick back in Clearwater on its award-winning three-mile stretch of beach. Pier 60 Park is a wonderful family complex, offering not just the expansive beach, but also covered playgrounds, fishing, live music and a glorious Gulf of Mexico sunset any day of the year. In fact, find yourself here any Thursday through Monday and you'll enjoy the sunset amid artists, magicians, jugglers and musicians.
There's also the Captain Memo Pirate Cruise, which sets out from the Clearwater Marina for two-hour sails; kids don pirate hats and go out on a treasure hunt while moms and dads relax with complimentary wine, beer and such. Daily 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., 727-446-2587, www.captainmemo.com. You'll find it all at the intersection of Coronado Drive and State Road 60. Walk the trails and boardwalks inside the Moccasin Lake Nature Park. A 51-acre preserve, it offers bird-watching tours, workshops and guided group hikes. Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 727-462-6024. You'll melt when you see some of the rescued marine animals, such as Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles and otters, at the Marine Science Center. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 249 Windward Passage, 727-441-1790. For a casual repast, stop in at the legendary Waffle House on Gulfview Boulevard.
For leisure strollers, nothing beats the turn-of-the-century fishing village of John's Pass between Clearwater and St. Petersburg, where old tin-roofed wood shacks offer up art galleries, cute shops, beach bars and yummy restaurants.
For those desperate to speak to their inner deep-sea fishermen, there are the party-central boats at Hubbard's Marina on Madeira Beach.
Head to St. Petersburg. For antique buffs, it's a must to wander the aisles of the more than 100 antique shops along a five-block stretch of Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. For lovers of old books and first editions, we recommend stopping at Haslam's, which has been in business since 1933. Visit The Pier (that's the inverted pyramid that juts out a half mile into Tampa Bay). It's filled with shops, galleries, restaurants, a small aquarium, surrey bike rentals and a chance to sign up for dolphin-spotting cruises.
Stroll through the bloom-filled Sunken Gardens to see an exotic collection of more than 50,000 tropical flowers and plants. Don't miss the butterfly garden. Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, Sunday noon - 4:30 p.m. 1825 Fourth St. North, St. Petersburg. Lovers of anything Dali -- visit the Salvador Dali Museum. It's the world's most comprehensive and incredible collection of works by the famous Spanish master (there are more than 1,500 works of art here) Monday - Wednesday and Friday - Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sunday noon - 5:30 p.m., 1000 Third St. South.
Inside the St. Petersburg Museum of History, a 1929 Model A pickup truck outfitted for bootlegging and a gorgeous beaded flapper dress are just two of the amazing items you'll see. Call ahead for new hours. 335 Second Ave., NE. One of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, the Florida Holocaust Museum opened in 1992 as the Holocaust Center. Renamed in 1999, the museum played a critical role in shaping legislation that made Florida the nation's first state to mandate Holocaust education in public schools. Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday - Sunday noon - 5 p.m. 55 Fifth St. South.
For all things nature just 25 minutes from Tampa and close to Busch Gardens, take the two-hour or full-day Canoe Escape down the Hillsborough River through a 16,000-acre wildlife preserve. You'll paddle down"alligator alley", where dozens of gators, including some eleven-footers, sunbathe on logs and dive into the river from the river's banks. Tour guides also point out snakes, turtles, river otters, fish and birds of prey as they relax in their natural habitat. Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. 9335 E. Fowler Ave., Thonotosassa.
Bring your dancing shoes for Lindy in the Park inside Old Hyde Park Village. Every fourth Saturday of the month, make like Fred and Ginger and swing to live music. 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. W. Swann Ave.
We dare you to free fall at Skydive City. About 45 minutes from Tampa, this is one of the best places for skydivers -- even first-timers. Skydive Lane, Zephyrhills.
Aboard a 180-foot yacht, StarShip Dining Cruises has been taking visitors on made-to-order lunch and dinner cruises on the Bay since 2001. There are four dining rooms, plus an open-air deck for cocktails and dancing to live music. Sunday - Thursday 6:30 p.m, Friday - Saturday 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Sunday noon. Channelside.
Beaches
Best Beach for a Half-Day Visit: Indian Rocks Beach, along Gulf Boulevard, is convenient (and there are plenty of restaurants nearby).
Best Beaches for Watersports: There are two: Clearwater Beach is a gorgeous swath of sugar-fine white sand that offers everything from swimming to volleyball. At St. Pete Beach you can rent waverunners, or go scuba diving, parasailing or fishing.
Most Peaceful Beach: Caladesi Island State Park Beach is on one of Florida's last undeveloped barrier islands (you take a ferry to the three-mile beach from Honeymoon Island).
Lunching
Columbia Restaurant: Opened in 1905, this Ybor City place is one of Florida's oldest restaurants. Filled to the nines with kitsch and history, this huge eatery also has great food. If you find yourself here in the evening, get a table near the dance floor for up-close view of the colorful flamenco dancers. Per-person cost for three courses including wine will run about $25. Monday - Saturday from 11 a.m., Sunday from noon. 2117 E. Seventh Ave.
Fourth Street Shrimp Store: Don't miss this beloved eatery if you're in town. Boiled, fried, scampied -- doesn't matter. It's all good. So are the oysters. Per-person cost for three courses including beer will run about $15. Daily 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. 1006 Fourth Ave. North, St. Petersburg.
Mise En Place: This bistro serves up excellent New American cuisine that Zagat raves about. Per-person cost for three courses with wine will run about $25. Tuesday - Friday 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 442 W. Kennedy Blvd.
Skyway Jack's: A St. Pete's institution, this restaurant's huge menu features yummy orange Pecan French toast, their signature creamed chipped beef on toast and the freshest just-squeezed orange juice. Per-person for three courses including a great cup of coffee will run about $12. Daily 5 a.m. - 3 p.m. 2795 34th St. South, St. Petersburg.
Dinner Only
Bern's Steak House: Along with the usual meat-and-potatoes favorites, there's a long list of caviar dishes that'll knock your socks off at this very popular restaurant. Reservations highly recommended. Per-person cost for three courses including wine will run about $60. Daily 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. 1208 S. Howard Ave.
Chateau France: The setting is lovely given that it's inside a Victorian house. The homemade pate is divine. Per-person cost for three courses with wine will run about $50. Reservations highly recommended. Daily 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Reservations recommended. 136 Fourth Ave. North, St. Petersburg.
Accommodations
Closest to the Port: Tampa Waterside Marriott
Middle of the Road: Radisson Bay Harbor Hotel because it's on the waterfront and its pool is gorgeous. Hilton Garden Inn because its location in Ybor City can't be beat.
On a Shoestring: Red Roof Inn because not only are rates under $100 during the high season, but it's also less than a mile from Busch Gardens. Best Western because it's got a pool and a fitness center.
Best Overall Package: Quorum Hotel-Tampa because it offers a great package specifically for cruisers. The Sleep-and-Sail includes hotel pick-up upon arrival at Tampa International Airport, a one-night's stay in a traditional guest room, 15 nights complimentary hotel garage parking and one-way transportation from the hotel to the Port of Tampa. Offered year round with rates beginning at $119.
Staying in Touch
Bay Beans, 10020 Cross Creek Blvd, New Tampa.
Jim's Internet Cafe, 2602 N. 43rd St., Tampa.
Internet Cafe, 432 Poinsettia Ave., Clearwater Beach.
Globe Coffee Lounge, 532 First Ave. North, St. Petersburg.
Holiday Garden Inn, 1700 E. Ninth Ave., Ybor City.
Holiday Inn Tampa, 2701 E. Fowler, Busch Gardens.
For More Information
On the Web: www.visittampabay.com
Cruise Critic's Message Boards: United States
The Independent Traveler: Florida Exchange
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