I would first off like to say that the main reason I am writing this review is because I used the resources of Cruise Critic so much in the past year (seeing this was our first cruise and there is SO much information on this site) that I felt it was only fair to first say thanks to CC but also to post my information about our trip so hopefully other users will get as much benefit from the review as I did from others.

Like I said earlier this was my families first cruise. Myself(47), Wife(46), daughter(17) and son (15) had to wait a full year from booking time to actual cruise time, so I did lots of research to make this trip the greatest holiday ever.(and it was) We flew in from Calgary Canada two days early to try to see a bit of Tampa before our departure. We stayed at the La Quinta in near the airport. They had a free shuttle from the airport that was very easy to find and use. This hotel was clean quiet and well priced so all the reviews I read prior were correct. We got in to Tampa after dinner Friday so we checked in and just went to IHOP for a bite to eat which is in the same parking lot as the hotel. We got up Saturday morning, went and had the continental breakfast and then walked over to the International Mall which is a 5 minute walk. Later that day we took the bus downtown and went to a Florida Aquarium the Tampa Bay Lightning game in the evening with a cab ride back which was just over $20. A great day in Tampa.

Well Sunday was Cruise day!!! We were up early for breakfast at the hotel and then took a cab down to the ship terminal about 11:00am. From the time we unloaded our suitcases till the time we were on the ship was just over an hour. Read more