Background: This was our first cruise on CCL, and it definitely won't be our last. I am 25, and my husband is 26. Our cruising background: I have sailed with Princess twice before and my husband has sailed with Princess once before.
Hotel/Port of Tampa: We drove down from Ohio the day before the cruise and stayed at the Howard Johnson on S. Dale Mabry in Tampa, near the airport. I had originally booked a different hotel that had a "park and cruise" package so we could just leave our car at the hotel, but we ended up getting a new car two weeks before the cruise and just didn't feel comfortable leaving it in a hotel parking lot.
We chose to park at the port for the $12/day. It was worth it - they lock up the parking garage when the cruise leaves port until you get back, so nobody else was in and out of the garage. We also did the valet parking once we got to the port and for the extra $15 it was completely worth it. Took us less than an hour to get onto the ship after leaving our car with the valet and waiting in a short line to check-in, and merely minutes to retrieve it from valet upon our return. Shore excursions: All excursions were booked through Carnival.
Great cabin - great location, great view and wsa pretty quiet. Lots of closet space!