The Caribbean evokes the feeling of freedom, the beach and never-ending siesta. Just the thought of going to the Caribbean already brings out feelings of relaxation and serenity to our souls. That’s why theres a lot of Caribbean cruises from Tampa. They all depart form the port of Tampa, Florida. Carnival Lines have voyages that range from the three-day trips to seven-day trips all to the Caribbean with their cruise ships the Inspiration and the Legend. Royal Caribbean has four to eleven day voyages that call on ports like Key West, Belize, Santo Tomas and Castilla, Costa Maya, San Juan, Basseterre and Tortola, among others. Holland America, which has ships that also depart from Tampa, goes to Guatemala and Costa de Maya.

The lure of the Caribbean is truly its distinct carefree lifestyle that infects anyone who happens to step onto its shore. The caribbean cruises from Tampa offer you the opportunity to take advantage of this lifestyle. There are a lot of things to do while on the islands of the Caribbean. The Yucatan Peninsula offers a great use of the white-sand beaches of Mexico. The islands of Costa Maya and Play del Carmen can be found here.

The first is truly a party-person’s paradise with bars, restaurants and resorts fronting the beautiful beach. You can literally dance the night away here. Playa del Carmen on the other hand is a quiet and serene place where you and your loved one can spend the days just lounging in the sand. Across the strait, by ferryboat, you can find the town of Cozumel with its arresting Mayan ruins and breathtaking vistas and panoramas. This is a photographer’s dream destination with plenty of subject to occupy him for the rest of the trip, if not his life.

Belize is another popular spot and a great draw for the young and restless, with is great bars and restaurants. They also have natural attractions like the Ambergis Cave, a favorite of spelunkers. Some cruise lines also go as far as Honduras and Guatemala for a more eclectic and adventurous air that they guarantee their passengers. There you can find rich landscapes and thriving rainforests. Wherever they go in the Caribbean, cruise passengers will always find that the destination is worth the travel at sea.

Cheap cruises from Tampa are very difficult to come by. Most cruises are expensive because they include food, onboard and off-board recreation (some cruise lines offer free use of recreational facilities on the destination resorts) as well as dozens of extra. If you are a first time cruiser, be wary of deals that tell you that their prizes have already been reduced greatly. Most often than not, they have knocked off only 1% of the total price. Most of the prizes are even inflated. A great way to find cheap cruises is to research online before making that commitment to one very expensive cruise.

Treat your cruise vacation as a good investment. It could mean saving your marriage, getting to know Junior again or simply for improvement of health. There are a lot of cheap cruises from Tampa, Florida that you can get at almost 70% off. And these are cruise ships with 4 to 4.5 star ratings. Because Florida is home to many cruise lines, prices can become very competitive and at the last minute, you could get lucky and get a suite for half the original price. The best way to get cheap cruises from Tampa, however, is by purchasing the cruise tickets months, sometimes years in advance. It can be a good investment that will have its return later on.

Carnival’s ships, Carnival Legend and Carnival Inspiration offers 46% off (June 15 voyage) and 40% off (June 16 voyage) respectively. From the rest of the trips from June 29 to July 27, discounts vary but the discount rates fall under an average of 42% off the regular price. From August 27 to their November 23 voyages, discount rates vary from 53% to as high as 68% off the regular prices.

Holland America and Royal Caribbean also offers discounted prices for their many cruises and offers onboard credit. You can now actually get a discounted fare of as low as $200 per person. Of course, this is for the 3-day cruises since the 7-day cruises would fetch a higher price. However, we cannot deny that the prices are something that even a normal middle class family can afford. Cheap cruise lines are available and they are available in Tampa. With the right planning, research and organization, that dream cruise is now a reality.

Carnival cruises are known for their Superliners: sleek, huge and magnificent ocean-going vessels that can make you feel the king of the world. Carnival cruises is also credited for bringing cruises to Middle America, with such exotic destinations as Mexico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The line has reasonable prices but delivers on a very glitzy and glamour kind of ambience. Here, you can still see women dressing up for dinner but a casual vibe could still be felt throughout the ship.

There are currently three Carnival cruises from Tampa, Florida which are bound for the Western Caribbean. Carnival Inspiration, a Superliner, leaves Tampa on a five day journey to the Grand Cayman and Cozumel. The first island features the great hospitality and friendliness of its people. You can spend days just wandering around the island with the locals pointing you to the many vistas and sights the island offers.

In Cozumel, arresting sights of Mayan ruins will both fascinate and humble you. There is also a four day trip with Carnival Inspiration to Cozumel as its destination. This is perfect for students and families who are on a tight budget. You can still enjoy all the perks and luxury of a Carnival Line cruise without having to settle for less. The Carnival Inspiration travels the most and sails all year round. It is a tightly-maintained ship that has efficient and friendly staff. Called the “Fun Ship”, it features a huge mall where you can also do some duty-free shopping, an aerobics room, a beauty salon, a fully-equipped spa and health club, a couple of children’s playrooms, a library, recreational rooms, jewelry shop and six whirlpools.

It subtly combines class and fun in one great package. You can never run out of anything to do on this ship and the food is superb. There is a 24 hour pizza shop where you can enjoy a night with friends renting a movie in the ship’s onboard video rental shop. Another of Carnival’s pride, the Carnival Legend features a seven day trip starting in Tampa and has stopovers in the Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize and Roatan Island. The visitor is treated with wonderful and exotic views of Mayan ruins and beautiful beaches. Whatever Carnival cruises from Tampa you choose, you’ll be sure to find one that will suit your needs.

There are many cruises from Tampa Florida. Majority of the cruise lines are leaving for the Western Caribbean. Majority of the cruise lines dock in Tampa like Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess and Celebrity dock in several ports around the Caribbean, specifically Mexico. Cruise lines bank on the natural beauty of Mexico and make it a point to include it in their destination packages. Tampa has long been a port of many cruise lines and has been considered it a perfect place for sending off cruise passengers to their Caribbean destination.

One of the more popular cruises from Tampa Florida is Costa Maya in Mexico. It is a virtual cruiser’s village. It was created to address the many visitors who come to Mexico to expect a paradise of sun, sand and sea. They have hotels, restaurants and bars where revelers can spend a day or two enjoying this man-made wonder.

Cozumel is also a very popular stop-over in Mexico. If you want a more cultural approach to Mexico, the town of Cozumel gives you stone-carvings and a stone castle perched on a cliff. You can also magnificent Mayan architecture as well as magnificent views in and around the area. You can take your family or loved ones  on a trek with beautiful views and sweeping panoramas. This place is perfect for a romantic get-away. If you want more excitement, the port of Playa del Carmen is just a ferryboat ride across the Cozumel. This mainland town is now a bustling tourist destination with great resorts and hotels, mouth-watering restaurants and clubs that rivals the best of New York and Los Angeles.

You can stay for a few days here or extend your trip for weeks. There are a millions things to do in Playa del Carmen. You can spend a whole day investigating Mayan ruins and towering pyramids. There are parks that cater to sports buffs as well as archaeological parks where the ordinary trekker can find ruins dating back to the Mayan period. There are caves and natural springs that you can discover in the island as well as magnificent vistas that only Mexico can offer to the cruise visitor.

There are several cruises leaving the port of Tampa, Florida everyday. Majority of these cruises leave for the Western Caribbean. They are the perfect way to spend your summer or spring break vacation without having to leave a hole in your wallet. 3 day cruises from Tampa are not only ideal in terms of affordability but it also allows working men and women to take time off from their busy schedules without having to sacrifice office time. Long Labor Day weekends or Fourth of July weekends are the perfect time to take these cruises. In a few minutes you can sip your pina colada under a palm tree with the sweet sound of the sea. Carnival Lines offers the most 3 day cruises from Tampa, Florida with Cozumel as destination. It’s actually a great destination because it has the best that Mexico offers. Mexico’s largest island, Cozumel offers its long history of the Mayan civilization with the island littered with wonderful Mayan ruins. You can take guided tours to these places that will leave you feeling breathless. A popular archaeological and cultural park is San Gervacio, considered to be a sacred site to the goddess Ixchel who they consider the goddess of fertility. In the afternoon, you can bask in the sun with great watersport activities like parasailing, riding sailboats, kayaking, snorkeling and swimming. The island is abundant in marine life with thousands of species of fish. You can go scuba diving along the coral reefs or go deep-sea diving. Onboard, on your way back to Tampa, don’t forget to take advantage of the ship’s amenities. You can go swimming in the ship’s pools, have a romantic date with your spouse while the kids have fun in the ship’s onboard activities or simply chill out in the lounge-side bar.  There are dancing and cruise activities for the kids and the young-at-heart. Cruise ships are truly designed for great fun and excitement. Three-day cruises will not set you back as week-long voyages can. You can also bring more of the family with you since the rates are cheaper. And when you do get back to the office after your 3 day cruise from Tampa, you will feel refreshed, renewed and with a nice tan to boot.