8-night Florida Gulf Coast & Keys Cruise

Tampa is a great place to visit for rest and relaxation or thrills and excitement. An abundance of activities, attractions, shopping opportunities and restaurants create a memorable vacation holiday. Record breaking sunshine, attractions, museums and natural experiences are right outside. Tampa has tons of beaches to fit anyone's desire for fun in the sun. Tampa also has plenty to offer in addition to its beaches and sunshine. Busch Gardens, Anheuser-Busch's addition to Floridian theme parks just a few minutes northeast of the city, is Tampa's biggest tourist haven. Adventure Island, Celebration Station, and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium are also in the Tampa area.

Destination Guide

Facing Tampa Bay on the opposite side from Tampa, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, commonly referred to as St. Pete, attracts visitors with a vibrant downtown of historic buildings, a diverse arts scene, and cultural attractions such as the Salvador Dali Museum, the symphony at Ruth Eckerd Hall and theater at American Stage.

On the Gulf side of the peninsula in Pinellas County, the towns of Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are welcoming swaths of Gulf water lapping at white sand, backed by restaurants, souvenir shops, and boogie-board-and-bikini boutiques. Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Fort de Soto Park are all noteworthy Pinellas beaches.

The St. Petersburg downtown area, once sleepy and empty at night, has been revitalized, in part thanks to Sundial St. Pete, an entertainment and restaurant complex, and an explosion of high-rise luxury condos. Also, boutique cafes and restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and a variety of shops and other businesses stretch along more than 3 mi/5 km of Central Avenue west from the bayfront.

Destination Guide

Marco Island, Florida, a relatively undiscovered resort island 150 mi/240 km south of Tampa, offers a good alternative to some of the state's more crowded beaches. Only 4 mi/6 km wide by 6 mi/10 km long, it's one destination that you don't want to tell too many people about.

There may not be a whole heck of a lot to do (although the island resorts have plenty of the usual activities), but that's precisely the point—it's a true getaway. Be prepared, though: High-season rates on Marco Island are higher than rates in some of the more heavily developed resort areas.

You'll see lots of wildlife. Many birds frequent the so-called Ten Thousand Islands that lie near Marco—several bald-eagle nests have been identified in the area. If you get out on the water, there's a good chance you'll see dolphins frolicking. For an enjoyable getaway, take a local charter boat to a private island for shell collecting.

Affluent Miami residents who head to Marco for the weekend have built some impressive mansions there.

Destination Guide

Key West is the southernmost point in the Continental United States and has tropical climate, tantalizing blue water, and laid-back island ambiance. Capture Key West and let Key West capture you-with beautiful beaches, delicious dining, fantastic fishing. Breath-taking dives are offered just miles off shore, or immerse yourself in the attractions and historical sites. A visit to Key West will grab the interest of both the young and old, the energetic and laid-back, the water lovers and land loungers. Ride the Conch Train's wheels or walk the streets to see all Key West has to offer. Experience Ripley's Believe It or Not, pages of history in the Key West Lighthouse, and the way life was for famous former Key West residents Ernest Hemmingway and John James Audubon in their historical island homes. Old Town is the location of many popular Key West sites and attractions. Duval Street is in the heart of Old Town and home of some favorite Key West drinking establishments like Sloppy Joes, Hog's Breath Saloon and Jimmy Buffetts Margaritiville Cafe.

Destination Guide

Key West is the southernmost point in the Continental United States and has tropical climate, tantalizing blue water, and laid-back island ambiance. Capture Key West and let Key West capture you-with beautiful beaches, delicious dining, fantastic fishing. Breath-taking dives are offered just miles off shore, or immerse yourself in the attractions and historical sites. A visit to Key West will grab the interest of both the young and old, the energetic and laid-back, the water lovers and land loungers. Ride the Conch Train's wheels or walk the streets to see all Key West has to offer. Experience Ripley's Believe It or Not, pages of history in the Key West Lighthouse, and the way life was for famous former Key West residents Ernest Hemmingway and John James Audubon in their historical island homes. Old Town is the location of many popular Key West sites and attractions. Duval Street is in the heart of Old Town and home of some favorite Key West drinking establishments like Sloppy Joes, Hog's Breath Saloon and Jimmy Buffetts Margaritiville Cafe.

Destination Guide

Facing Tampa Bay on the opposite side from Tampa, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, commonly referred to as St. Pete, attracts visitors with a vibrant downtown of historic buildings, a diverse arts scene, and cultural attractions such as the Salvador Dali Museum, the symphony at Ruth Eckerd Hall and theater at American Stage.

On the Gulf side of the peninsula in Pinellas County, the towns of Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are welcoming swaths of Gulf water lapping at white sand, backed by restaurants, souvenir shops, and boogie-board-and-bikini boutiques. Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Fort de Soto Park are all noteworthy Pinellas beaches.

The St. Petersburg downtown area, once sleepy and empty at night, has been revitalized, in part thanks to Sundial St. Pete, an entertainment and restaurant complex, and an explosion of high-rise luxury condos. Also, boutique cafes and restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and a variety of shops and other businesses stretch along more than 3 mi/5 km of Central Avenue west from the bayfront.

Destination Guide

Facing Tampa Bay on the opposite side from Tampa, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, commonly referred to as St. Pete, attracts visitors with a vibrant downtown of historic buildings, a diverse arts scene, and cultural attractions such as the Salvador Dali Museum, the symphony at Ruth Eckerd Hall and theater at American Stage.

On the Gulf side of the peninsula in Pinellas County, the towns of Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach are welcoming swaths of Gulf water lapping at white sand, backed by restaurants, souvenir shops, and boogie-board-and-bikini boutiques. Caladesi Island, Honeymoon Island and Fort de Soto Park are all noteworthy Pinellas beaches.

The St. Petersburg downtown area, once sleepy and empty at night, has been revitalized, in part thanks to Sundial St. Pete, an entertainment and restaurant complex, and an explosion of high-rise luxury condos. Also, boutique cafes and restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and a variety of shops and other businesses stretch along more than 3 mi/5 km of Central Avenue west from the bayfront.

Destination Guide