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However, one positive aspect of sailing out of this port is that we had a beautiful view of downtown Tampa, the water, and the palm trees as we waited. Whereas my cruises out of Port Canaveral and Miami had a much more international presence, it seemed like the Tampa port attracted a lot of native Floridians. A short 30-minute drive west of the city centre lands you along the Gulf of Mexico coast, which is fringed by a string of sugary beaches. Clearwater Beach and St Pete Beach both offer an upbeat seaside atmosphere, while Caladesi Island State Park and Fort DeSoto Park provide serene shoreline settings.
Puerto Costa Maya
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Tampa, FL 2024 (with Prices) - Tampa Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic
THE 25 BEST Cruises to Tampa, FL 2024 (with Prices) - Tampa Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:14:17 GMT [source]
When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Port Tampa Bay allows you to walk right up near the ships, for an unforgettable view. If you find yourself in Tampa before or after your cruise, and want to catch a ship sailing through Tampa Bay, there are plenty of areas to watch from. If your flight is arriving later in the evening, you may want to stay closer to the airport and head to the cruise terminal in the morning. The Westshore area is located just outside the airport, and has plenty of hotels to choose from. As we mentioned, it is highly recommended to fly in the day before your cruise departs.
Royal Caribbean, Western Caribbean from Tampa, March 15, 2025
Since it is located so close to downtown Tampa, there are plenty of parking garages to choose from. Tampa offers a convenient embarkation port for cruises to the Western Caribbean, including many with Royal Caribbean. When it comes to exotic cruise destinations, many people think of places like Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. But Key West definitely deserves a spot on every sun-seeker’s tropical travel list.
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If you want the best of both worlds — some sunshine and a whole lot of culture — book a cruise that crosses the Atlantic. Begin your adventure by stopping along the islands in the Caribbean before spending several days at sea, enjoying what the cruise ship has to offer you. Arrive in Europe and explore historic, vibrant cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels and Barcelona. Soak up the sun in the Canary Islands or get in touch with your inner Viking in Waterford, Ireland. Whichever cruise you pick, you'll be leaving with a whole lot of stories to share.
Cruises from Tampa are typically 3-5 nights round-trip Bahamas itineraries and usually include ports like Nassau, CocoCay, Grand Bahama, Falmouth, Cozumel and Labadee. I have been cruising since 2004 and have sailed on dozens of cruises all over the world. As the creator of this website, I want to help families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure! Carnival Cruise Line scheduled four of its ships to sail from Tampa at various points in the year. These include Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Spirit. This summer, Carnival Paradise will sail different itineraries throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean, Western Caribbean from Tampa, February 8, 2025
Finally, Tampa’s convenient location makes it easy for many families to embark on a cruise without having to travel far from home. The port is easily accessible from the airport and major highways, making it a convenient starting point for families who want to drive or fly. Serenade of the Seas will depart Terminal 6 on Saturday to begin a new cruise season there, having just wrapped up an abbreviated cruise season in Alaska.
It's the perfect place to kick back and relax on the beach and enjoy a cocktail or learn all about Mayan History at the Chacchoben and Kohunlich Ruins. Don't forget to stop for some tacos or cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish that tops the list of traditional favorites in the area. You'll head back to the ship all smiles after a day of wandering through the Mexican city.
If the ship is leaving from Terminal 2, you can walk over to the Sparkman Wharf to take in the view, while grabbing a drink from the beer garden or a bite to eat from one of the many food stands. One of the best parts of cruising out of Tampa, is getting to sail under the iconic Sunshine Skyway Bridge to enter the Gulf of Mexico. Since the airport is located so close to the port, I recommend utilizing a rideshare or taxi service over a shuttle.
Combined with its rich Spanish and Cuban heritage, Tampa offers quite a melting pot of unique and vibrant cultural experiences that you may not find elsewhere. Families can explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, sample international cuisine, and attend cultural events such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival or the Cuban Sandwich Festival. The ships will sail from the Port of Tampa on six to eight-night vacations through 2026. Grandeur of the Seas will start cruising again when she offers 7- and 14-night Southern Caribbean sailings from Bridgetown, Barbados, starting December 5.
They said that it was so crowded inside the terminal that we had to wait down the stairs to prevent it from getting congested. It was hard to navigate through—we had to go around aquarium parking and other terminal entrances—but thankfully, security guards stood at several locations to give us directions. Our Uber driver had to circle around a couple terminals to find the correct one. While we waited in the car, we completed the mandatory safety briefing on the app so we wouldn't have to do it once we got onboard. Tampa’s food scene stems from a fusion of Cuban, Spanish, Italian and Floribbean influences.
Unlock a treasure trove of adventures on Florida’s west coast, plus cruises to the Western Caribbean. As you can see, several major cruise lines have ships that leave from Tampa, giving you plenty of options to book a cruise out of this popular homeport. Below are some destinations you can look forward to when taking a cruise on one of the Royal Caribbean Ships departing from Tampa. Note that Royal Caribbean offers many options for shorter cruises of 4 and 5 nights. For the sailings currently scheduled for 2023 and 2024, Royal Caribbean has selected ships from the Radiance Class and Vision Class.
Aging cruise ships to call on Tampa in 2025 - Tampa Bay Business Journal - Tampa Bay Business Journal
Aging cruise ships to call on Tampa in 2025 - Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you are looking for a more intimate cruising experience, opt for a ship in this class. These cruise ships have the usual pools and whirlpools for swimming and lounging on the deck and a rock-climbing wall. Although Royal Caribbean operates many of the world’s largest cruise ships, ships sailing out of Tampa must pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as they enter the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, Royal Caribbean relies on some of its smaller vessels when sailing cruises from Tampa.
This is a great option for those who have trouble walking, or don’t want to deal with the hassle of parking their car. To utilize this option, you simply pull up to the curbside of the terminal entrance, and the valets will take care of the rest. Port Tampa Bay is the home port for five ships from four cruise lines, offering itineraries to the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean and even Transatlantic cruises.
If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may want to stay closer to the cruise port and downtown Tampa. This will give you an opportunity to explore the city and see the sights before leaving for your cruise. The Tampa Bay Riverwalk and Channelside areas offer plenty of dining, shopping and sights. Port Tampa Bay also offers valet parking for $15.75 per day (effective October 23, 2022, previously $15), plus a one time fee of $20.
The Enchantment of the Seas will be back in Tampa for the entire year in 2025. It will set sail on a mix of four- and five-night getaways to the western Caribbean and the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean is especially excited to see Navigator of the Seas return to service, because it means the restart of cruises for the cruise line from the west coast. Four more Royal Caribbean cruises ships will restart operations before the year comes to a close.
Meanwhile, Grandeur of the Seas will treat vacationers to seven-night escapes exploring the western Caribbean and the Bahamas. These ships, part of Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class fleet, may be the oldest and smallest, but they still offer a cozy and enjoyable experience for roughly 2,000 to 2,400 passengers. There are plenty of hotels to choose from located near both the Tampa airport and Port Tampa Bay, making getting to the port on embarkation day a breeze. Cruise to Mexico from Tampa and your Western Caribbean cruise will take you to some pretty spectacular places.
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