Tampa - recommendations on hotel and things to do

[Tiggertastic]

Hi

 

were coming in the day before cruise and staying 2 nights after. Please recommend to us hotels and things to do. We’ve never been to Tampa and coming from U.K. usually sail from Miami or FLL but doing something new.

 

 thanks in advance 

[GTO-Girl]

We love the Marriott Water Street.  Beautiful hotel with lovely walkways right along the water.  The trolley stops right outside the door which can take you to many places around the city.  It is also only a mile from the port.

 

 

[JohninDC]

Post cruise I would rent a car and head to St. Pete, Clearwater and the FL Gulf coast.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

You don't really have much time when you arrive to sightsee, so I would go to the Don CeSar in St. Pete for lunch. Post cruise I'd get a hotel in Clearwater or St. Pete Beach.

[Capt_BJ]

two world class restaurants in Tampa

 

1) Bern's Steak House ...... probably the worlds LARGEST wine list and excellent steaks. I t is not dinner .... a night of entertainment. Ask to visit the kitchen and the (on site) wine cellar.  https://bernssteakhouse.com/

make reservations AND remember that a sep' ressie is needed for the 'dessert room' .... a completely different dining room for after dinner . . .

 

2) Columbia .... https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/  "Florida’s Oldest Restaurant^SM in Tampa’s historic Ybor City"  the original/main rest' is in YBOR city but there is also a 'subset' in the Tampa history center downtown with a limited menu (but has the basics) <along river walk>

[Aj101]

The aquarium at the port was nice.

[Samkitty1]

Tampa waterfront has a lot to offer, as well as St Petersburg, across the bay. A seasonal ferry runs from October to May.. reservations are a must... ......If you stay in Tampa downtown at the Embassy suites or Marriott you will be walking distance from the Cross Town Ferry as well as a water taxi that goes around the HIllsborough River in Tampa to various places of interest. In the immediate area are Sparkman Wharf, which is a kind of upscale outdoor food court/shopping boutique areas, a Publix Greenwise(grocery store) that has a lot of very nice hot and cold prepared foods and a little seating area, in case you need snacks for a quick casual bite to eat.   I have provided the link for the cross town ferry.. it's a nice 50 minute ride across the bay to St Petersburg, where the ferry docs at a beautiful downtown waterfront park. The St Petersburg Pier is walking distance, and offers beautful views and a couple of dining options. lunch or dinner at Doc Fords on the pier has indoor and outdoor seating. There are plenty of other dining options in downtown St Pete. It's a beautiful city.. you won't regret it. I have attached links to doc fords and the cross town ferry.   You may want to consider staying in St Petersburg or St Pete Beach after your cruise. Both places have dining and hotel options in many price ranges. For a downtown St Pete experience the Avalon and Hollander Hotels are great local options. Friends of mine stayed at the Hollander and loved it .

 

I am only sharing info that I am personally familiar with which is mostly on the St Pete side. If you stay in St Pete or St Pete Beach after the cruise, it's abut 30 -40 minute drive to the Airport for your return flight.  Hope this helps... 

 

https://www.visitflorida.com/places-to-go/central-west/st-petersburg/?view=list&sort=qualityScore&bounds=false

https://www.docfords.com

https://hollanderhotel.com

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=tampa+cross+bay+ferry&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[Samkitty1]

One more thing.... sorry... It's the Cross Bay Ferry, not the Cross Town Ferry... I didn't proof my prior post well... If you stay in Tampa, St Pete, or St Pete Beach,  you won't need a car post cruise but will need to budget for taxi or uber to and from the airport.