Port Tampa Bay advances plans to build 4th cruise terminal

[CruisingSteve]

https://www.fox13news.com/news/port-tampa-bay-advances-plans-build-4th-cruise-terminal

[OCSC Mike]

Any news on when they're blowing up the stupid bridge so at least Voyager class can fit?

[steverk]

This strikes me as an odd choice.  As @OCSC Mike points out, only small ships can get in there.  With cruise ships trending bigger, how long before this terminal becomes stranded with no customers?

[TessFromFlorida]

Half million? That doesn't sound like much. That can't be right. My 1,300 sq foot house is half a million in this crazy market  Just for the blueprints maybe...

[TessFromFlorida]

3 hours ago, steverk said:

strikes me as an odd choice

Agree. I live in Tampa Bay. It would make far more sense to build a whole new port west of the Skyway. 

[smokeybandit]

40 minutes ago, TessFromFlorida said:

Half million? That doesn't sound like much. That can't be right. My 1,300 sq foot house is half a million in this crazy market  Just for the blueprints maybe...

Half a million just to begin the design process.

[CruiseGus]

Tampa does not need a new terminal. They need an acceptable terminal that can support a decent sized ship.

[TessFromFlorida]

35 minutes ago, CruiseGus said:

They need an acceptable terminal

It needs to move to Pinellas County, agreed. That said, the Port of Tampa is very well run, IMHO.

[twangster]

 

 The new to them Margaritaville at Sea Islander is in Tampa now.   

NCL, Royal, Carnival, Oceania, Celebrity, Margaritaville.   

I guess they figure it is worth it.

 

10 hours ago, TessFromFlorida said:

That said, the Port of Tampa is very well run, IMHO.

The luggage staging area post-cruise is too small and CBP really needs to invest in facial recognition. 

 

12 hours ago, TessFromFlorida said:

Half million? That doesn't sound like much. That can't be right. My 1,300 sq foot house is half a million in this crazy market  Just for the blueprints maybe...

I think the final price is around $80M:

• The port confirmed to FOX 13 News on Wednesday that if the project is permitted and later approved, it could amount to an $80 million investment, with potential funding coming from grants, private investors and other sources.

 

[CruisingSteve]

This is the schedule for January 2025 (busy season) and there are only 3 dates that all 3 terminals are used. There must be one or more cruise lines planning to homeport in Tampa to justify this

[smokeybandit]

Clearly RC says they want to base a Discovery class ship there.

 

Right? Maybe?

[twangster]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Clearly RC says they want to base a Discovery class ship there.

 

Right? Maybe?

1 out of 2 isn't bad...

• Maybe?

  

[Geezer Of The Seas]

Both raising (or razing/replacing) the bridge or constructing a new cruise port in Pinellas County west of I-275 were studied a decade ago. 

Billions of dollars for either, significant environmental issues for a new port. Lot of 'land creation' and dredging a new channel.

[OCSC Mike]

43 minutes ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

Both raising (or razing/replacing) the bridge or constructing a new cruise port in Pinellas County west of I-275 were studied a decade ago. 

Billions of dollars for either, significant environmental issues for a new port. Lot of 'land creation' and dredging a new channel.

Maybe someone needs to start a gofundme?

[Rackham]

I'm suspecting MAS is already considering another ship and is in talks with Tampa about space. Can't think of any of the major lines looking to beef up their Tampa presence with other ports in the region not having the same sailing restrictions. 

[smokeybandit]

58 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Maybe someone needs to start a gofundme?

Just send the Dali to Tampa. With the bridge pre-cleared of people of course.

[fireclan]

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

Just send the Dali to Tampa. With the bridge pre-cleared of people of course.

There's a thought. They're fully crewed since they won't let the crew off.

[smokeybandit]

4 minutes ago, fireclan said:

There's a thought. They're fully crewed since they won't let the crew off.

Actually they just recently got a new crew as half of the old crew are going home and the other half staying in Baltimore for the time being while the investigation continues.  So even better, fresh legs!