Seeing a world-class show, visiting an exclusive restaurant and stopping by a bar with great live music may sound like a good night in Ybor or Downtown, but having a night on the "town" while on your way to some of the top beaches in the world --and being pampered every step of the way-- that's a miracle. The Carnival Miracle, to be precise. Offering seven-day cruises every Sunday starting November 7th, the latest addition to the world's biggest cruise line is a cutting-edge behemoth with some features brand new to the industry. An impressive 80% of its staterooms have private balconies. It has 16 bars and lounges, 2 indoor pools, 2 outdoor pools, 4 jacuzzis, a fully-equipped fitness center nestled in an internationally-renowned spa, a casino, a reserved-seating restaurant, shops, plenty of live music and the list goes on and on. The live production shows Carnival produces are simply amazing feats of dance, music and high-tech performance.
___Of course the highlight of all Carnival cruises --no, not the 24-hour pizzeria-- is the destinations! By Tuesday guests will see how the British do tropical in Grand Cayman. Columbus dubbed the Cayman Islands Tortugas (meaning "Turtles") and rightfully so. But the beautiful sea turtles aren't the only large ocean critters that bring people to these islands: you cannot visit Cayman without taking a stingray tour. And all of the ports-of-call the Carnival Miracle visits have some of the world's most revered snorkeling and scuba waters.
___On Wednesday and Thursday guests will be in Costa Maya and Cozumel, respectively, two of the most beautiful, historic, the wildest places in Mexico. Whether you visit Mayan ruins, take an island Jeep tour, scuba dive, play golf, or party Mexican-style in one of the many clubs, you can be sure a visit to Mexico will be a long remembered one --that is, of course, you don't sample too much of the local tequila!
___Friday in Belize is a great way to start the end of a cruise. More and more these days the tourism industry is discovering what a gem this little country is. Take a tour through the rain forest or go cave tubing and you'll know why sunny Belize is a unique addition to the cruise industry.
___The first and final destination for travelers is Tampa itself. Our historic and booming city is full of attractions and culture. The wise tourist is one who spends a couple days discovering what the home port has in store. (Explore this site --its sole purpose is to promote and inform what Tampa Bay is all about!)
___As one who has spent years in the cruise industry, this writer's advice for cruise patrons is to make the most of what a ship has to offer. Although that sounds simple, it is really important to take advantage of all the services, shows and tours available. Most importantly, participate. Carnival prides itself how much of its entertainment revolves around guests getting involved.
___While this all may sound a bit promotional, we cannot ignore that fact that a new ship of this size is sure to bring a lot of business to the area. Anyone who has lived in Tampa for the past few years undoubtedly knows how much the growth Channelside and Downtown owes to the growing interest in the cruise industry. The advent the the trolley system and the Shops at Channelside are testament to this. With two terminals and several cruise lines represented, Channelside continues to expand and much more is planned in the way of building development and tourist amenities.
___Visit Carnival's website for more information about the Carnival Miracle, and for more about Tampa Bay accommodations and attractions we invite you explore this site.

Tampa's Homepage™ is not responsible for itinerary changes, cancellations, and the accuracy of the amenities listed.___