Yeaaa, just booked on Ryndam out of Tampa

[fuzzywuzzy]

We couldn't pass up the deals that HAL are offering right now!! We have never sailed out of Tampa before. Does anyone have any advice about the cruiseport and parking? Cost? Is there a link for the parking? Do we have to book parking space in advance?

We will be sailing on the Nov. 15th sailing!! Any advice will be greatly appreciated. We have sailed on the Maasdam twice but this will be a first going to the Western Caribbean. We love the Maasdam and I understand this is its sister ship. :D

[catl331]

I found three sites that said parking is $10 /day, and one that said $14. I imagine the $14 is the current price. You don't have to reserve it.
See:
http://port.of.tampa.portofcallguide.com/
http://www.carnival.com/cms/FAQs/Cruise_Ship_Terminals__Parking__Directions_PORT_OF _TAMPA.aspx

:)

[JAMS1]

Congratulations - Have a great time!

[Cinndd]

We couldn't pass up the deals that HAL are offering right now!! We have never sailed out of Tampa before. Does anyone have any advice about the cruiseport and parking? Cost? Is there a link for the parking? Do we have to book parking space in advance?

We will be sailing on the Nov. 15th sailing!! Any advice will be greatly appreciated. We have sailed on the Maasdam twice but this will be a first going to the Western Caribbean. We love the Maasdam and I understand this is its sister ship. :D

We Love sailing from Tampa .... a small no fuss no muss kind of terminal. Parking Garage prices are average as far as I can remember. No need to reserve parking in advance this is a small port compared to Fort Lauderdale. Will you be staying at a nearby Hotel? Most of the local hotels offer extended parking at reduced rates some even free with shuttle service. I'll be sailing on the 22nd ...maybe I'll see you as you come off the ship! :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Congratulations on your booking the Ryndam.

Have a great cruise.

[moniquet]

Keep us posted how it goes. We have booked on her for Jan 3rd. Liked the idea of a smaller ship for a change.

[earl_m]

Congrats On booking a cruise. Have a great one!!

[RuthC]

You're going to have a lovely cruise. I took it earlier this year on the Veendam, and enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Yes, the Ryndam is a sister to the Maasdam. If you liked the first, you should like the second. When you board you will already know your way around! (This can get dangerous if you toddle home late at night and have a different cabin. ;))

[kakalina]

Goodie! The Ryndam is one of my favorite ships. I am sure you will have a lovely time. And as RuthC says it will be good to already know your way around. Have a lovely cruise.

[HMAHPJWT]

I am so glad to read this post. We are booked on the 12/27 sailing. Can anyone give me any information regarding the formal night and what special menu's there may be. Is there anyplace on line that gives a preview of the dinner menu's?

[WhoDat]

Hiya Fuzzy!

Parking out of Tampa is very easy. And it doesn't cost much more to Valet! A couple of years ago we compared prices with another couple who did not valet. At that time we determined it was $20 more to valet. They said if they had done their math homework, they would have valet'd instead.

Enjoy your cruise! And keep her nice for us. We'll be right behind you!

[MsSteinrunner]

Tampa is an easy port as it is not overwhelmed with ships and passengers like FLL. The website www.tampaport.com will fill you in on parking and location information.
If you plan to stay at a hotel and are looking for a package, take a look at the Florida departures area of the East Coast Ports on CC:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Incidentally, I've always wondered why CC does not list Tampa as a Gulf Coast Port!

[fuzzywuzzy]

Tampa is an easy port as it is not overwhelmed with ships and passengers like FLL. The website www.tampaport.com (http://www.tampaport.com) will fill you in on parking and location information.
If you plan to stay at a hotel and are looking for a package, take a look at the Florida departures area of the East Coast Ports on CC:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Incidentally, I've always wondered why CC does not list Tampa as a Gulf Coast Port!

Thank you everyone for your responses. This information is very informative.

[debshomespun]

It is really neat to cruise under the large bridge in the Tampa Bay area when you leave. Be sure to be outside on deck just to see how close you are to the bridge!

When we sailed out of Tampa, there was a large school of dolphins that escorted up out of the bay. Very interesting!

[SDakota Cruiser]

Congratulations on your booking the Ryndam out of Tampa. We're leaving on the same cruise on Nov. 1.

[fuzzywuzzy]

Congratulations on your booking the Ryndam out of Tampa. We're leaving on the same cruise on Nov. 1.

That's great. I will have to watch for your review. We have never been to these ports of call before so we are not sure which excursions to take. We are leaning towards something at Belize - the airboat tour sounds wonderful. Some of the other ports make me a bit nervous except for Key West of course.

[Randyk47]

The Ryndam is also one of our favorites and sailing out of Tampa a couple of years ago turned out to be very easy. We didn't drive to Tampa so no parking but there were a few couples at our hotel who got a package to leave their cars at the hotel during the cruise. Didn't talk specifics to them so can't comment other than we did that same kind of thing in Galveston a few years ago and really liked it. We deliberately picked a hotel with covered parking and they went as far as to put our SUV in a separate fenced off area within the parking garage especially set aside for cruise passengers staying at the hotel. Pretty neat deal and was included for free by simply staying at the hotel one night.

[CowPrincess]

That's great. I will have to watch for your review. We have never been to these ports of call before so we are not sure which excursions to take. We are leaning towards something at Belize - the airboat tour sounds wonderful. Some of the other ports make me a bit nervous except for Key West of course.

Santo Tomas is where "Go with Gus" tours is.... I think JimVrohovac (sp???) did a long, excellent review of their tour with Gus, and Pipedreams62 recently did a good one too. You should be able to find it using the Search function. I think Pipedreams62's had "Guatemala" in the title. Not sure about JimV's title. I'm pretty sure that is what we are doing in that port.

[StartrainDD]

Hi fuzzy!

We are on the Ryndam the week before you. We booked the first week of September, couldn't pass up the deal either. We were looking at going in February.

There is a roll call for the Nov 8 cruise, check to see if there is one for Nov 15 or start one if there isn't! Shore options are interesting if you do research on these boards - we are looking at the waterfalls where you can swim in Guatemala and the Cave Tubing in Belize. Snorkeling and beach in Costa Maya and Snorkeling in Key West.

Have a super cruise!

[RuthC]

We are leaning towards something at Belize - the airboat tour sounds wonderful.
It is! :D My grandgirl and I each had a blast on this tour. I thought it was the best tour we took on that cruise.

[CowPrincess]

RuthC, did you think that boat tour was environmentally responsible? I know some are, some aren't, so we tend to avoid them.... but it sounds pretty interesting!

[RuthC]

RuthC, did you think that boat tour was environmentally responsible? I know some are, some aren't, so we tend to avoid them.... but it sounds pretty interesting!
I don't know what you think would have to have happened to make it environmentally irresponsible. What exactly do you have in mind?

[CowPrincess]

I don't know what you think would have to have happened to make it environmentally irresponsible. What exactly do you have in mind?

Well, around here there used to be a boat tour operator who had staff deliberately get FAR too close to a Canada Goose nest, so that one of the adult geese would come out and charge the boat because it was intruding. We've seen whale watch boats get much too close to whales. We've heard of fuel spill incidents that have polluted water. We've heard of incidents where the long-term effect of having the bottom churned up regularly has had profound negative consequences on the critters living in the water. So unless we're going on a self-powered boat tour (canoe or kayak) we don't usually do boat tours.

So my question was not intended as a slam at this boat tour, just questioning whether this particular tour operator and tour seemed environmentally responsible or not, whether in your opinion they were respectful of the environment.

[RuthC]

just questioning whether this particular tour operator and tour seemed environmentally responsible or not, whether in your opinion they were respectful of the environment.
Well, we zipped along on a cushion of air, and made a great deal of noise; we had to wear ear protection. However, when we got to whichever of several destinations, the boat slowed considerably, and even stopped so we could see various wildlife. I did not see any birds taking off as if in fear. An alligator approached during one of the stops (at that point I closed my eyes in fear, although the thought of shoes and matching purse did run through my mind ;)).
This was a place where the residents were able to make a semblance of a living in a very poor country. I would say there was a balance of the needs of humans and those of the wildlife.

[CowPrincess]

:D at the matching shoes and handbag :D

I would say there was a balance of the needs of humans and those of the wildlife.


Thank you, that's a great description!

[Storylady]

Congratulations on sailing out of Tampa on the Ryndam. We sailed on the Ryndam in May. I thought she had one of the best crew that we have encountered on all the DAM ships we have sailed on---and that is saying something, because I enjoyed the crews on all of the ships. But I think the Ryndam's crew is one of the best.

You may want to go back and read Captain Albert's blog from when he was on the Veendam. It would be the winter months of last year and the year before. He talks about sailing in and out of Tampa and all your ports of call---it makes for interesting reading.

Sounds like you have decided on your tour for Santa Tomas. We took the ships tour to Quirigua and had one of the best guides that I have encountered in traveling. Her name was Carolina Aldana.