Hotels Near Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminals
Amid all the excitement, dont forget to think about booking accommodations for before and after your cruise near Tampa Bays port.
Uptown Suites in Tampa, FLoffers affordable nightly rates. We even offer discounted weekly rates if you plan to enjoy some leisure time in Tampa. Amenities include FREE hotel parking, FREE high-speed Wi-fi, a FREE on-site gym and FREE on-site electric car charging. All of our suites boast in-room kitchens, living areas, USB charging ports, smart HDTVs with premium channels including SHOWTIME® and keyless RFID room locks.
Uptown Suites Tampa is also close to the ports parking garages, where parking is convenient, safe and starts at $15 per day. If you arent planning on driving while in Tampa, Uber or Lyft are the most convenient ways to travel to the port. A ride from our hotel to the Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminals costs around $20. Happy Cruising!
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Puerto Plata Dominican Republic
Puerto Plata is the ninth-largest city in the Dominican Republic. There are numerous historical sites you can explore here, including Fortaleza San Felipe, which was built in the 16th century and once served as a local prison. There is also the Amber Museum, where you can see an interesting collection of creations made with Dominican amber. For some of the best views in Puerto Plata, take a ride up 2,600 feet to the top of Pico Isabel de Torres Mountain.
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Cruises From Tampa Florida
- Post published:12/07/2021
- Post last modified:12/07/2021
Tampa, Florida lies along the Gulf of Mexico and is home to a very popular cruise port. According to Cruise Critic, Port Tampa Bay has evolved into a year-round bustling cruise port for mostly Western Caribbean and Panama Canal itineraries, though cruises to many destinations are available from Tampa. Tampas cruise port is close to major airports and a number of cruise lines visit the port.
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Brilliance Of The Seas
Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International
The Brilliance of the Seas is undoubtedly one of the top cruises that depart from Tampa.
Not only does it fall into the affordable cruises category, it provides entertaining cruises packages for the entire family.
Teen disco, nursery, mini golf course, rock climbing, three-story theatre, movies by the pool, bars, nine restaurants all inclusive cruises dont get better than this.
Almost 75 percent of the cabins come with mesmerizing views of the ocean.
Budget accommodation options are also available on Brilliance of the Seas.
Size of Ship: Large
After Long Absence Tampas Port Set For Cruise Ships Return This Weekend
Over at Port Tampa Bay, theyre polishing every surface and and touching up the terminals with fresh paint.
Its been more than a year and a half since the last cruise ship departed from Tampa around the start of the coronavirus pandemic. And in the days leading up to the return of ships this weekend, the ports staff is making sure everything is ready.
Its not that we waited and now were jumping, said Raul Alfonso, the ports executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Weve been ready.
When the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas departs Tampa for a five-night cruise to the Bahamas, itll be cause for celebration for port executives, who plan to be on hand to personally welcome passengers. Cruises normally brings in more than a fifth of the ports annual revenue, and its also an economic driver for tourists who travel to the region before and after their departure.
The cruise industrys shutdown in March 2020 led to a revenue drop of more than $7.5 million for the port compared to the 2019 fiscal year. Port officials originally predicted cruises might return as early as this past April, but that never happened, leading to an additional shortfall in the ports cruise budget this year.
With cruise ships under a no-sail order, the port turned its focus to other industries. This past fiscal year, shipping revenue saw a 26 percent increase, with the port adding new shipping routes, including one for bananas and pineapples from Dole.
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Caribbean Cruises From Tampa
Royal Caribbean and Carnival operate many Caribbean cruises out of Port Tampa Bay. Everything from standard 4, 5, and 7-day cruises to multi-week options are available. You can also choose from repositioning cruises that have you depart from Tampa, but finish in another port.
- Carnival offers a 14-night cruise from Tampa that takes you to the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Panama, Aruba, Bonaire, and St. Maarten, ultimately ending in Baltimore, Maryland. This repositioning cruise starts at $3,059 per person for an inside cabin.Maarten, ultimately ending in Baltimore, Maryland. This repositioning cruise starts at $3,059 per person for an inside cabin.
- Royal Caribbean offers week-long and shorter cruises. Their four and five night Western Caribbean cruises are often priced as low as $200 per person. Four night cruises head to Cozumel, while the five night options include Grand Cayman in addition to Cozumel. Prices for the four night Royal Caribbean Western Caribbean cruise start at $209 per person for an inside cabin.
Wondering which ship you should book? Expect carriers like Carnival and Royal Caribbean to cater to younger crowds with some heavy partiers. Many of these cruises are so deeply discounted that you’ll find large groups of friends getting together for a wild week at sea. If you’re looking for a more laid-back and mature crowd, consider Holland America.
Cruises Out Of Tampa Florida
| There are 226 cruises that depart from Tampa, FL in the year 2022. Four cruise lines offer cruises that leave out of Tampa in 2022 Carnival , Royal Caribbean , Celebrity and Norwegian .You can see Tampa cruise schedule for 2022 in the table below. Be sure to look at the $/Day column to find cheap Tampa cruise deals in 2022. |
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Enjoy Tampa Before Or After Your Cruise
There are plenty of great cruise options departing from Tampa, and you may as well enjoy a bit of time in this lovely city in Central Florida when you are traveling there to take a cruise. For tips on how to make the most out of your cruise vacation, check out the Tampa Port Authority website for suggestions on what else to see and do in the area before and after your cruise.
Cruise Companies Are Starting To Announce That More Ships Will Resume Sailing This Summer But Thats Not The Case Yet At Port Tampa Bay
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommends that cruise lines require passengers to be vaccinated.
But Royal Caribbean announced last week it will set sail in July and will not require vaccines, while Norwegian plans to resume cruises by August, and will require vaccines.
Both will sail out of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Fort Lauderdale. However, as of right now, operations at Port Tampa Bay wont resume until October at the earliest.
Santiago Corrada, CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, hopes cruises will resume locally sooner than that, despite an ongoing lawsuit between Florida and the CDC over vaccine requirements.
Right now, we cant say that that you can come here and take a cruise out of Tampa. So its one of those pieces of the puzzle, you know, one of the ingredients in the soup thats missing.
He said cruises are a part of the citys tourism economy.
We can market that you can take a cruise out of Tampa. So somebody might say, you know, part of my vacation is to take a cruise. So I want to go to Tampa because Im gonna enjoy, you know, all the attractions, the restaurants but Im also going to take a cruise.
Fermented Reality Biergarten at Sparkman Wharf is right next to Port Tampa Bay. Owner Joel Bigham said they dont get much business from the port because its not a destination place for people when they disembark.
But when a cruise is delayed, Bigham said, thats when the cash rolls in.
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What’s Next For The Restart
Four more Royal Caribbean cruises ships will restart operations before the year comes to a close.
Explorer of the Seas is scheduled to restart cruises when she sails from San Juan, Puerto Rico beginning on November 7. Explorer will sail 7-night Southern Caribbean sailings.
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.
Navigator will offer 3-, 4- and 5-night Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico cruises from Los Angeles, beginning November 19.
Grandeur of the Seas will start cruising again when she offers 7- and 14-night Southern Caribbean sailings from Bridgetown, Barbados, starting December 5.
Finally, Enchantment of the Seas will begin cruising again in December, when she sails from Baltimore on December 23, offering 8-night Bahamas sailings, and select 12-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean.
Carnival Cruise From Tampa
Carnival Cruise Line currently has two ships that sail out of Port Tampa Bay: Carnival Pride and Carnival Paradise.
The Carnival Pride measures an impressive 963 feet long and has a guest capacity of 2,124 with 930 crew members on board. This cruise liner offers one-way and round-trip cruises ranging from 6-14 days. Destinations include Cozumel, Belize, Costa Maya, Grand Cayman, Panama Canal, Bermuda, Barcelona and more.
While onboard, guests can enjoy a day at the spa, an afternoon of waterslide excitement or an evening of live entertainment. There are also numerous restaurants to choose from that cater to both kids and adults.
The Carnival Paradise cruise ship measures slightly less at 855 feet long and has a guest capacity of 2,124 with 920 crew members on board. This cruise ship offers round-trip cruises only ranging from 4-6 days. Destinations include Cozumel, Mahogany Bay, Grand Cayman, Key West and more.
Couples will love the adult-only serenity retreat offered by the Carnival Paradise. While kids will go crazy over Camp Ocean, which offers age-appropriate crafts, songs, games, toys and dancing plus a delicious kid-approved lunch! The Carnival Paradise has it all.
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Out Of Tampa
The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has three ships that sail out of Tampas port: Brilliance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.
The cruise liner, Brilliance of the Seas, measures 962 feet long with a capacity to hold 2,500 guests and 859 crew members. This cruise liner offers one-way and round-trip cruises ranging from 4-14 days. Destinations include the Bahamas, Key West, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Spain, Italy and more. Guests can soak up some rays at the pool while enjoying frosty cocktails and live music. If you are looking for more adventure, check out the rock climbing wall or mini-golf.
The Rhapsody of the Seas cruise ship measures just over 900 feet long with a capacity to hold 2,435 guests and 765 crew members. The cruise ship offers round-trip cruises only ranging from 4-8 days. Destinations include Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman and more. Couples can enjoy a night out at one of the many bars and clubs around the ship. Kids will love the arcade, rock climbing wall and numerous pools found on the ship.
Transatlantic And European Repositioning Cruises
If youre after a Transatlantic crossing cruise that departs from Tampa, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Norwegian are your best bets. Some people really enjoy the cruise ship experience so a week at sea is the perfect way to relax.
- Royal Caribbean has a 14-night option that stops in Key West, Portugal, Gibraltar, Malaga, and then ends in Barcelona .
- Norwegians 14-night option stops in Bermuda, the Azores, and ends in Denmark. Inside cabins start at $799 per person.
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Port Of Departure Tampa Florida
Tampa, Cigar CityCruise Ship TerminalsCruise Terminal 2Cruise Terminal 3Cruise Terminal 6Cruises From TampaThings To Do Near Tampa Cruise PortFlorida AquariumSS American VictoryChannelside Bay PlazaTampas RiverwalkYbor CityHenry B Plant MuseumBusch Gardens Theme ParkGetting To The Cruise PortCruise Port Map
Cruise Line Information And Screening Measures
UPDATED: Sept. 7, 2021On October 30, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released all the necessary information that cruise ship operators need to resume passenger operations under the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order . You can read more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here: COVID-19 and Cruise Ship Travel
Additionally, you can read how the members of the Cruise Lines International Association plan to keep passengers safe: Cruise Industry COVID-19 Facts and Resources
We encourage cruise guests to contact their travel agent or cruise line directly to learn about COVID-related travel requirements of each cruise lines. Additionally, if you have questions about a specific cruise lines sailing schedule, your upcoming trip, or safety protocols, visit the below links for more information:
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Grand Cayman Cayman Islands
Explore some of Grand Caymans most famous sights like Seven Mile Beach or Stingray City. You can book shore or reef dives, or enjoy a turtle excursion to learn more about marine turtles and Grand Caymans conservation efforts. Food travelers will want to book A Taste of Cayman to sample local cuisine and visit the Cayman Islands Brewery, which produces the only locally brewed beer.
Announcing All New Cruise Lines In 2020
In 2020, Port Tampa Bay will be the homeport for 3 all new cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises and the return of Holland America Cruise Lines. These popular cruise lines join Port Tampa Bays already fun-filled line-up of Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Lines making for an unbeatable selection of world class cruising options to the West, East and Southern Caribbean as well as the Panama Canal!
Following a brief 1 season hiatus, Holland America Lines, RETURNS in 2020 with an itinerary of Western Caribbean destinations that include Costa Maya-Mexico, Belize City and Santo Tomas de Castilla-Guatamala. Holland America has been Port Tampa Bays longest running luxury cruise line making memorable vacations for guests since 1984. Book yours today at www.hollandamerica.com
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As Always Practice Good Hygiene To Prevent The Spread Of Covid
- Wash your hands, front and back and in-between fingers, for a minimum of 20-seconds multiple times during the day. Especially after using the rest room, touching your face or coughing and sneezing.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away or cover your mouth with the inside of your arm instead of your hands. Wash your hands afterwards.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
- Wear a mask when out in public.
- Practice safe social distancing.
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Tampa Cruise Port Directions
From Orlando FL take highway Interstate-4 West to Exit 1, continue south on 21st Street, on Adamo Drive turn right, then left onto Channelside Drive.
From Clearwater FL take Highway 60 East , follow the signs to Interstate-275 North that merges with Interstate-4 East. Follow Interstate-4 East to Exit 1.
From Tampa International Airport take FL-60 E northeast on George J Bean Inbound Parkway, continue for 2,3 miles, take the right ramp to FL-60 E , at the fork keep right and follow the signs for Tampa to merge onto FL-60 E. Take Interstate-275 North to McKay Ave , turn right onto McKay Ave. United Cab and Yellow Cab taxi service is available outside airports Baggage Claim Level. To the cruise terminal, taxis charge flat rate fee USD 28.
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Cruises Departing Tampa On The Carnival Legend
The 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend resumed Caribbean service from Tampa, with a variety of enhancements from a recent upgrade that includes a renovated childrens pool area, and the addition of Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat.
Carnival Legend which leaving Tampa every week is the third ship in the Spirit class, with some significant firsts for Carnival: alternative restaurants and onboard wedding chapels. Spirit-class ships also offer an impressive 80 percent ratio of outside cabins, as well as lots of nice little touches — like museum-quality artwork and “designer” martinis.
Carnival Legend became the 13th Carnival ship to feature a Serenity area. Designed as an oasis for tranquility and relaxation, Serenity offers colorful, oversized umbrellas, comfortable chaise lounges and chairs, whirlpools, a full bar and breathtaking sea views.
Royal Caribbean Is First Cruise Line To Restart Cruises From Tampa
The cruise industry restart has reached the Port of Tampa.
Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas arrived in Tampa on Saturday to begin offering cruises from West Florida, which is the first time a cruise ship has sailed from the Port of Tampa since 2020.
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.
Serenade will offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa, Florida, starting Oct. 16 and 7-night Caribbean itineraries, beginning December.
Royal Caribbean’s return to Tampa is just as ceremonial as it is tangible to the area. Business Research & Economic Advisors estimated that a 3,000-passenger ship generates an average of $334,000 in passenger and crew onshore spending per call in a homeport city.
Cruises have been able to restart from other ports in Florida, including Port Everglades, PortMiami and Port Canaveral, but this is the first time Tampa has been able to see ships leave.
Later in December, Brilliance of the Seas will return to Tampa to offer 4- and 5-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises beginning on December 16.
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