Boarding process out of Tampa for seven night cruise , what to expect

[PATRIOTSRULE]

I was just wondering what to expect when My wife and two kids get to Tampa to get ready for our cruise. I believe it leaves at 4:00 pm. Have not purchased airline tickets yet.What is the process and what to do 1st when we get on the ship. Do people go to the pool? Any help is great.Also what kind of beer does Carnival serve? Also, we are staying in cabin 7301 9B . Can anyone tell me more about this cabin and what we should bring that we mioght need?

[RaMar]

I was just wondering what to expect when My wife and two kids get to Tampa to get ready for our cruise. I believe it leaves at 4:00 pm. Have not purchased airline tickets yet.What is the process and what to do 1st when we get on the ship. Do people go to the pool? Any help is great.Also what kind of beer does Carnival serve? Also, we are staying in cabin 7301 9B . Can anyone tell me more about this cabin and what we should bring that we mioght need?

 

Let me try to answer you here. The embarkation process out of Tampa is well organized. Most people start arriving at the pier around 10:30 a.m. if not sooner. Once on board the majority of people go to have lunch. The cabins are not ready when you board so they will let you know at what time they'll be ready. If you want to hang around the pool, pack a bathing suit in your carry on and enjoy. I am not familiar with your cabin so hopefully others might respond. Have a great cruise!

[BeccaBecca1713]

It was a smooth process embarking in Tampa. Cruise check-in is kinda like airport check-in -- in reverse. You start by going through security then end up in the line that leads you to the desk where you get your sail and sign cards, then off to the ship you go! Your cabin won't be ready til around 1:30 pm, so once you board, head up to the Lido deck, eat some grub, get some sun, walk around the ship and check it out and just relax and enjoy!

 

I hope you are flying in the day before. Never a wise move to fly-in day of cruise. Too many things can go wrong and the ship absolutely will not wait on you.

 

Have fun!!!

[Eeyoregon]

I was just wondering what to expect when My wife and two kids get to Tampa to get ready for our cruise. I believe it leaves at 4:00 pm. Have not purchased airline tickets yet.What is the process and what to do 1st when we get on the ship. Do people go to the pool? Any help is great.Also what kind of beer does Carnival serve? Also, we are staying in cabin 7301 9B . Can anyone tell me more about this cabin and what we should bring that we mioght need?

 

Most important: FLY IN AT LEAST 1 DAY EARLY! We sailed a few weeks ago and met quite a few folks that didn't catch up to the ship until our first port day, which meant that they missed 2 days of the cruise. Some were stuck in Texas due to severe thunder storms and didn't get to Tampa in time.

 

We arrived at the port at 10:45 am and were on the ship by 11:30. Very smooth process. Make sure that any soda, water, wine, juice or champagne is in your carry-on bag. The only thing that the screeners were concerned about was open containers. They verbally asked if the lids were sealed and when we said yes, we were sent thru. They only seemed to be concerned about confiscating clothing irons, lol!

 

There were lot's of people sunning and swimming in the adults only area and a few kids in the main pool.

 

I took 2 bungee cords and was so glad that I did! We had a balcony so I would thread the bungee thru the arm/leg holes on my swimsuit pieces and stretch the bungee cord between 2 of the deck chairs. Swimsuits dried much faster than when you hang them in the shower which was nice since we had water activities in all 4 ports. This worked great for some mid-cruise sink laundry as well.

 

Not a beer drinker so I don't know what kind they serve. One of my friends brought her favorite ;).

 

Gina

[FlaGrl4Evr]

We were on the 10/31 Legend sailing. Our hotel shuttle got us to the port around 11:45 and the line at the port was outside and wrapped around the building. The line did however move very quickly, we did not stand still for one minute. The port process was very orderly and effecient. As soon as we received our s&s cards they were calling our Zone #. We were on board and having lunch by 1:10. Getting to the port later then we wanted actually worked out very well. Most folks were ready to sprint to their cabins by then so we had no problem finding a nice table out by the pool to have lunch. By the time we finished our lunch, the cabins were ready and the mad dash for the elevators was non existant. So don't worry if you happen to get to the port later.

 

As far as beer choices, They had Heinekin on tap out by the Avalon pool and Miller Lite on tap in the Casino bar and Piano Bar. As far as bottled and canned beer this is what I recall: Blue Moon, Amstel Light, Mich Ultra, Miller Lite, Bud and Bud Light, Heinekin Light. I'm sure there were a few others but I had mostly beer on tap and Mich Ultra in the big aluminum bottle by the pool. If one particular bar does not have your choice just try another bar. I found that sometimes their choices were a little different.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

BTW: we got a great cruise pkg at the Holiday Inn Rocky Point in Tampa. We booked early and paid $99 for a King room ( the 2 dbl rooms were $84) and it incl, airport pick-up, transportation to and from the port after the cruise and breakfast the morning of the cruise. I don't know what your pre cruise plans are but just thought I'd mention this as I see that you are new to these boards.

[jrmende63]

If you are interested in pre-purchasing your Beer or other alcohol you can do so by calling the Carnival Bon Voyage Dept. They charge your card right then. The beer/ alcohol will be waiting in your cabin. We do this and just take the hot unopened beers to the nearest bar and exchange them for cold ones. You can get a "lunchbox-type cooler" with Beer, hat and glass beer mug also from Bon Voyage. This cooler has 4 16oz beers in it as well. We always order this to have an extra ice cooler for our beer.

The glass beer mug would not be allowed by the pools for safety reasons, but it is great to have at home as a reminder of your cruise.

If you are interested in ordering alcohol this way, you need to order at least one week before sailing. Do a search here and you will find the price list and the phone #.

We sailed out of Tampa and it was by far the easiest embarkation we ever had.

[PATRIOTSRULE]

We are staying in cabin 7301. Thanks for your info.

[bondsman]

Check out my trip report at

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1304985.

 

I have a fairly detailed report on boarding. Have a great cruise.

[PATRIOTSRULE]

I checked out your report. It was great . We all can't wait toget on the ship!!

[SkyMaster]

Sailing out of Tampa? NO PROBLEM! Have a great cruise.

 

"SKY"