Dreams of bigger cruise ships homeporting from Tampa are officially dead. 

On Thursday, March 19, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that blocked the proposed cruise port in Manatee County near Tampa, as reported by The Herald-Tribune. 

Senate Bill 302 was first introduced by State Sen. Ileana Garcia and was later passed by the Florida Senate with a unanimous 38-0 vote. This granted specific protections to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, specifically prohibiting the necessary dredging required to build the port. 

"Florida remains an important destination for cruise expeditions," DeSantis said during the press conference in Bradenton. "There's not really a need to add another port in the middle of a conserved area and aquatic preserve."

He added that the necessary work required to build the new terminal "...would have a major, major change in the lifestyle and the environment of the folks that live in this area."

The new cruise terminal was initially proposed by SSA Marine, a marine terminal operator that's been around since 1949, in January. 

Had the proposal been approved, the 328-acre Knott‑Cowen tract, located at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, would have been transformed into a bustling cruise terminal capable of accommodating larger ships. 

Because of the Skyway Bridge's height restrictions, only smaller vessels — think Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Carnival Paradise, Norwegian Star, Celebrity Constellation, and Margaritaville at Sea's Islander — can sail from Tampa. 

As such, a new terminal on the seaward side of the bridge would have allowed larger, more innovative ships to call Tampa home for the first time. 

Opposition against the new Tampa Bay cruise port

From the get-go, the cruise port proposal faced opposition from environmental groups, local residents, and elected officials. 

Within days of the announcement, a Change.org petition was launched. It quickly gained traction, garnering thousands of signatures, and by March 19, it had over 19,000 supporters. 

"This would be absolutely devastating to Tampa Bay. This is the last shoreline that [is] undeveloped in manatee county and it should stay that way. Such a critical part of [the] bay that is already over developed and over pressured. It would also kill my business as a local fishing guide," one opponent of the proposal said.

Someone else added, "I have lived in this area for over 25 years and we kayak fish in that area. It would be absolutely devastating. The traffic would be unbearable as it already is...and Manatee County is not going to add roads or fix the roads that we already have to accommodate that many people."

"STOP the Destruction! Having been here over 40 years, I've witnessed [an insurmountable] loss of [habitat] and fishing decline...due lack of developmental and environmental control. Tampa Bay is recovering and should be Protected Now and in the Future!" wrote another resident. 

"I have lived in Florida my whole life and there's always been destruction left and right but just thinking back to when you actually used to be able to enjoy the scenery and not always hear or see constant construction. [It's] so sad and disappointing how much of the beauty is gone. This port would absolutely destroy the ecosystem and all the living creatures that live there we DON'T need anymore development," chimed in another concerned local. 

Moreover, State Sen. Jim Boyd added an important amendment to SB 302 that effectively made it impossible for a private company to build on the sensitive Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve land. 

Although the bill gives a few small exceptions, it states that "No further dredging or filling of the submerged lands of the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve shall be approved or tolerated by the board." 

"In an effort to protect the pristine coastal area of East Tampa Bay, which has small keys, little bays, and mangroves, this amendment restricts the dredging or filling of submerged lands within the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve," Boyd said to his fellow Senators.

Port Tampa Bay had record-breaking cruise passenger numbers in 2025

Even without the addition of larger ships, Tampa’s cruise industry is experiencing steady growth and popularity. 

In 2025, Port Tampa Bay welcomed over 1.6 million cruise passengers, along with over 262,000 shipping containers, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.

To accommodate the port's growth, Port Tampa Bay is in the midst of working on its $1.2 billion "Master Plan 2030" vision. This includes building warehouses, expanding terminals, and even constructing a brand-new cruise passenger terminal.

"For us, it’s playing, maintaining the maritime industry, protecting it, allowing it to grow, prosper and integrating ourselves with our future plans and the growth of the region — the city of Tampa," Port Tampa Bay Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso told Spectrum News.

Dreams of bigger cruise ships coming to Tampa appear to be dead once more.

The Florida Senate approved a bill on Friday that included a provision to grant specific protections to the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, which is the area of a land a new cruise terminal was proposed to be built on.

Last month, SSA Marine submitted plans to construct a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County.

The location was set to be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Estimated time of completion was three to five years.

However, SB 302 would limit large-scale dredging and filling in the Terra Ceia Preserve. That's important because dredging is part of the plans to allow cruise ships to access the terminal.

Not only would the new terminal need to be built, but a 4.5-mile long channel would need to be dredged about 60 feet deep to accommodate the newest cruise ships.  

Cruise Fever reported Sen. Jim Boyd added specific protections to the land. These provisions do not mention a cruise terminal, but it effectively makes it impossible for a private company to build on the land. The only exceptions granted are for public navigation projects, public necessity, or for any project that has the goal of improving the quality of the reserve.

The Senate passed the bill with a unanimous 38-0 vote.

Now that the amendment has passed, a second amendment will need to be filed to the House Companion Bill HB 1035, currently in its second reading.

Why a new cruise terminal would make a difference in Tampa

Tampa has a cruise terminal downtown, but it can only handle smaller cruise ships. As the cruise industry has built larger ships, it's precluded Tampa from getting any newer ships.

Currently, only smaller ships, like Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, or Serenade of the Seas are able to sail from Tampa.

The issue is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which blocks access to Tampa Bay. The bridge's height is not tall enough for newer, bigger ships to safely pass underneath.

According to SSA Marine's website, its terminal would solve that problem.

A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge

As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations.

Not everyone is in favor of building a new terminal.

Since the new plans were announced, Manatee County official says staffers and their family members have received threats and harassment from constituents.

Some residents fear the port's construction and operations could negatively impact the environment and put unnecessary strain on infrastructure.

In a news release, Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop said some of those comments have crossed the line "to harassment, threats, and intimidation" of county workers and their families.

"This is unacceptable. No county employee should be harassed for performing their professional duties. No child should ever be targeted because of where their parent works. These actions must stop."

Project not officially dead, but prospects look poor

While the Senate passed the bill, the Florida House still needs to pass it and then Florida's Governor needs to sign it into law.

There's no official announcement or confirmation of a change in plans for the proposed new cruise terminal. But the Senate Bill's passing makes the chances look poor for the project to be practical.

One company is pushing to build a brand-new cruise terminal in Tampa, Florida, that could accommodate larger ships. 

SSA Marine, a marine terminal operator that's been around since 1949, said it's working with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC on a multi-berth cruise port in Manatee County, according to the company's proposal. 

The terminal would be built on a roughly 328-acre coastal property known as the Knott‑Cowen tract at the mouth of Tampa Bay next to the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. If approved, construction would take three to five years. 

Currently, only smaller ships, like Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Carnival Paradise, Norwegian Star, Celebrity Constellation, and Margaritaville at Sea's Islander, can sail from Tampa due to the height restrictions of the Skyway Bridge. As such, a new cruise port on the seaward side of the bridge would allow larger, more innovative ships to call Tampa home. 

"A new cruise port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to accommodate the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge," reads the proposal's website. 

"As cruise ships continue to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth. Additionally, locating a new cruise port on the seaward side of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge could serve as a valuable community asset in the event of extreme weather or other emergency situations."

Read more: I cruised Royal Caribbean from Tampa for the first time

Tampa's new port project is in the early planning phase and has not been officially approved yet

Although the project is still in the early planning phase, meaning it is subject to zoning and other necessary approvals, initial work to identify and evaluate potential environmental, traffic, noise, and public access considerations has already begun. 

The website notes that "these topics will be addressed in greater detail as part of the approval process, and opportunities for public input will be provided before any final decisions are made."

Public input will also be an important part of the process, including hearings with the Manatee County Planning Commission and the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. 

SSA Marine Division is committed to environmental stewardship as a central part of this cruise port project. The company recently acquired the adjacent 710-acre Rattlesnake Key property through its subsidiary, the Rattlesnake Key Preservation Company, for $18 million. 

They aim to prevent private commercialization and ensure long-term conservation. Rattlesnake Key is one of the most intact natural landscapes at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is known for its expansive mangrove forests, bird rookeries, shallow-water wetlands, and fish nursery habitat. 

Moving on, SSA Marine Division estimates that the project could have a significant economic impact, with the construction investment of the project estimated to generate more than 31,000 jobs in industries directly and indirectly related to the port in the state and region. 

Once operational, the new terminal is projected to support over 13,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs and generate roughly $40 million per year in tax revenue for the county and school district, while contributing billions to the state and regional economy.

Port Tampa Bay had record-breaking numbers in 2025

The Western Florida cruise port welcomed over 1.6 million cruise passengers in 2025, along with over 262,000 shipping containers, Spectrum Bay News 9 reported. 

Port Tampa Bay is in the midst of working on its $1.2 billion "Master Plan 2030" vision, which includes building warehouses, expanding terminals, and even constructing a brand-new passenger terminal. 

"For us, it’s playing, maintaining the maritime industry, protecting it, allowing it to grow, prosper and integrating ourselves with our future plans and the growth of the region — the city of Tampa," Port Tampa Bay Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Raul Alfonso told Spectrum News.

A case of bad fog wreaked havoc with cruise ship operations on the west coast of Florida.

Heavy winter fog enveloped Tampa Bay on Saturday morning, forcing the closure of Port of Tampa Bay. This delayed docking of three of Royal Caribbean’s ships: 

• Rhapsody of the Seas
• Enchantment of the Seas
• Grandeur of the Seas

The problem was the fog was too dense for safe navigation and thus that delayed each ship's arrival by at least eight hours.

The delay impacted both the sailings wrapping up and the next set of sailings scheduled to begin on Saturday.

Delayed ships

All three of the delayed ships are among the oldest in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Rhapsody of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, and Grandeur of the Seas are all Vision Class ships. Each is between roughly 73,800 and 82,900 gross tons, and they entered service in the mid to late 1990s.

• Rhapsody of the Seas: Returning from a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, the ship was scheduled to begin a new 7-night voyage with calls to Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Belize.
• Enchantment of the Seas: Returning from a 5-night cruise with two Mexican ports, slated for another 5-night sailing visiting Costa Maya and Cozumel.
• Grandeur of the Seas: Returning from a 7-night cruise and schedule for another week-long journey calling Cozumel, Belize, Roatán, and Costa Maya. 

For all three ships, instead of arriving in the early morning as planned, docking and disembarkation had to be delayed until late afternoon or early evening. 

For example, guests on Rhapsody of the Seas who originally had appointments to arrive at the terminal around 11:00 a.m. were notified they should now arrive around 7:00 p.m., with the latest arrival pushed to 9:30 p.m.

The impact was quite large considering people on the ship waiting to disembark and people waiting for the new sailing were impacted.

According to a statement shared by Port of Tampa Bay, "All Cruise Ships are delayed from entering port today due to fog in the bay."

Guests on Rhapsody of the Seas received an email from the cruise line informing them of the delay:

"Due to dense fog earlier today, our ship was delayed returning to Port Tampa Bay. As a result, the terminal will not be open for embarkation, and we will need to push back our boarding."

Similar notifications were sent to guests on the other two ships.

Later, Rhapsody of the Seas was given permission to enter the bay first. 

Fog is a long running seasonal problem in Tampa

If you've sailed from Tampa in the past, you may have heard of fog delays there.

Port of Tampa Bay is located at the northern end of the bay, about 30 miles from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and close to 40 miles from the bay’s mouth. 

Even in good weather, it takes 2.5–3 hours for a cruise ship to transit from open waters to the terminal.

When fog is dense, the port typically shuts down entirely until it's safe to resume operations. That means all marine traffic, including cruise ships and cargo vessels, are halted until visibility improves enough to ensure safe passage. 

On Saturday, that meant all three Royal Caribbean ships were stuck outside the bay until the afternoon.

Ships stuck waiting to enter the bay then run into a domino delay effect. When multiple ships are waiting to dock, it takes time not only to get each vessel in, but also to secure pilots, coordinate tugs, and ensure safe passage for all. 

The winter cruise season brings more ships than normal to Tampa, and turnaround day with three ships in port pile onto the delays. 

Florida is established as the cruise capital of the world, but one of it's smaller principalities offers some of the best value cruises available.

Nearly all of the cruises from Florida sail from the east coast of the state, with one exception: Tampa.

What I love about Tampa is it's a small, but easy to access cruise port that also offers the best pricing right now across Royal Caribbean ships.

The reason why you'll find lower cost cruises from Tampa is the same reason that hampers the port from ever expanding to bring in those pricier ships.  

Simply, the port is blocked by a bridge that is too low to accommodate big ships. As a result, only Royal Caribbean's older and smaller ships can visit, and those ships are terrific values.

Small, but fun ships that won't break your budget

You won't find Icon, Wonder, or Voyager in Tampa. But ship size isn't the only reason to pick a ship.

Royal Caribbean has anywhere from one to three ships sailing from Tampa during the year, and lately it's been shifting towards the Vision Class.

Enchantment of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas are there currently, and you'll see others come and go with the various seasons.

Vision Class ships are indeed the oldest in the fleet, but they're also priced quite nicely.

You'll find weekend cruises as well as longer voyages, and the price tends to be quite attractive.

Royal Caribbean advertises a 4-night Western Caribbean cruise on Enchantment of the Seas beginning at just $358 per person.

Moving up to a 7-night cruise, you can sail on Rhapsody of the Seas for $484 per person for a January 2026 sailing.

Many fares begin in the $400-$700 per person range, which is quite a difference from Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas that command prices beginning over $1,000 per person.  

Of course, there's a major difference between a Vision Class ship and an Icon Class ship in terms of what's offered onboard.  You pay less, but there's a lot less to see, eat, and do.

For a lot of people that choose to cruise from Tampa, that's an intentional decision.

The combination of value and a relaxing experience is what draws them to these sorts of cruises.

In January, I took a long weekend cruise on Enchantment of the Seas as a getaway trip. While I missed all the fun things on Icon, I still found things to keep me busy and occupied.

People that cruise a lot will tell you it's a "classic cruise experience", meaning low on thrills, big on enjoying time in a deck chair, in a lounge, or watching the world pass by.

If you're okay with forgoing water slides, big production shows, and a cavalcade of top deck activities, these ships will still deliver an enjoyable tropical sailing.

Easy in, easy out

Something else I like about cruising from Tampa is how convenient it is.

To be fair, Royal Caribbean has nailed the whole embarkation process.  Thanks to advances in its app and a fine-tuned terminal approach, you'll get on your ship fast.

One difference in Tampa is the parking garage is conveniently located across the street from the terminals, making it a short walk.  Tampa even advertises its parking as affordable, clearly comparing itself to how much on site parking costs at other Florida terminals.

For example, pre-paying at the Port of Tampa's website, it's $90 total to park your car for a 5 night cruise.

I especially love the valet parking option.

Drive up, hand them your keys, and walk into the terminal.  Then at the end of the cruise, they bring your car right to you.

It's only $15 more (total) on top of the standard parking rate, and worth it every time to me.

Inside the cruise terminals, it's quick and easy.  They aren't as ornate as the new ones in Miami or Port Canaveral, but they're functional.

Overall, it's an easy process and makes it more attractive to sail from knowing there aren't any hassles waiting.

It's easy to overlook a Tampa cruise, but it's the best value right now

If you're on a budget, a cruise from Tampa is usually going to be the cheapest Florida cruise out there.

With cruise prices on the rise, I'd recommend looking for cruises here to save a lot of money.  You might be able to move up to a balcony or suite for the same cost of a lower category stateroom on a bigger ship.

The key in choosing any ship is understanding what it offers and doesn't offer, but our readers consistently ask for tips on how to save money on their cruise vacation.

Tampa recommendations

Readers often ask for recommendations for where to stay, eat, and explore while in Tampa, so here are some easy favorites:

Hotels offering free shuttles

• Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown (free shuttle to downtown and cruise port)
• Tampa Marriott Water Street: TECO trolley (city run) stop is next to hotel. Free to use to get to terminal
• Quality Inn at Airport/Cruise Port: Free airport shuttle, extra cost shuttle to terminal
• Embassy Suites Tampa Downtown: TECO trolley (city run) stop is next to hotel. Free to use three stops away from terminal

Restaurants to try

• Columbia Restaurant: Cuban cuisine
• Toojay's: New York style diner
• American Social: Sports Bar
• Rick's on the River: riverside pub
• Harpoon Harry's: surf n turf

Experienced cruisers know that the port you choose to sail out of has a big impact on your embarkation day experience. 

After experiencing the thrill of setting sail from the bustling large ports of Port Canaveral and Miami on my first two cruising adventures, I decided it was time to explore a new Florida port. 

For my third cruise, I embarked on a 5-night Radiance of the Seas sailing, departing from the smaller, more intimate port in downtown Tampa.

If you’re considering sailing from a smaller cruise port like I did, here’s what you can expect from embarkation day out of Tampa, Florida. 

I didn’t prepare as carefully as I usually do for embarkation day

While picking an earlier check-in time saves you from waiting in line, I didn’t make it a priority for this cruise.

My friend and I checked in on the app only about a week before the cruise, so we had to select a later check-in time in between 12:00 P.M. and 12:30 P.M. 

On previous cruises, I have arrived a little earlier, but I was glad I got the chance to experience the later time block on embarkation day. 

Additionally, my friend decided to fly into Tampa to meet me the very morning of the cruise: arriving at about 8:00 A.M.

Usually, we recommend flying in the night before your cruise, to ensure that nothing goes wrong and you can still make it onto the cruise ship in time.

However, my friend had no issues, and we still had several hours to spare before our cruise.

My friend and I ordered an Uber to arrive at the port around 12:00 P.M. 

Despite our looser planning, all went well, and we arrived right on time! 

When we arrived at the port, finding the terminal was complicated

Located in downtown Tampa, right next to the aquarium, this port was filled with cargo ships and other cruise ships. 

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. 

Once I was onboard, almost everyone I talked to seemed to come from somewhere in Florida.

When I first arrived, I thought it looked crowded for such a small port. Little did I know that would become the theme of the day.

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. 

At the Tampa port, Royal Caribbean uses both terminals 1 and 3, depending on which ships are in port. Since Grandeur of the Seas was embarking on the same day, Radiance of the Seas was located further down at Terminal 3.

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.

Finally, our Uber driver was able to pull into the port and drop us off at the entrance. 

Immediately, a porter stopped us and took our bags. This was one benefit of being at a smaller terminal: we were able to find a porter and hand off our bags right out of the car’s trunk!

However, the experience became a lot harder from there.

We had to wait in line for an hour before we could even enter the terminal

We got in line to go up the stairs or escalator to enter the terminal. However, as soon as we got in line, we saw that the stairs and escalator were closed off, and staff were preventing people from walking up. They said that it was so crowded inside the terminal that we had to wait down the stairs to prevent it from getting congested.

After about 10 minutes, staff opened up the escalator and allowed us to walk up. However, the lines only grew longer from there.

The lines stretched out past the entrance onto the outdoor level of the terminal.

We had to walk around the building to even get in line, and the lines only grew longer from there.

We stood in the heat for quite some time, waiting for the line to even move forward into the shade.

I found myself regretting not packing my sunglasses in my carry-on. As time went on, it became more of an issue of survival, and I wished I had packed more water and snacks.

As Florida tends to be in the middle of the day, it became very hot and sunny.

I started to worry that some people would start to pass out. If I was feeling overheated, how much worse would the elderly and children feel?

I could hear babies crying behind me in line, as the line started to stretch on even longer and wrap around the outside of the terminal.

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. 

Since Radiance of the Seas is the smallest ship I've sailed on so far—only carrying 2,300 passengers—I was surprised that such a small ship would have longer lines than I’m used to. 

As we surveyed what looked like hundreds of people in line with us, I heard someone behind me say: “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

It was an hour before we even made it inside the terminal and into the blessed relief of shade and A.C. 

Once we made it inside the terminal, the process went much faster 

After that, however, things went smoothly: staff checked our passports and SetSail Passes before we got into a fast-moving line through security. 

The security there told us that it was a very hectic day, but I still found myself wondering why such a small ship would have so many people in line. 

That seems to be the disadvantage of sailing out of a smaller port: there is not a lot of space for people to wait, especially indoors. 

After that, a crew member checked our passports and SetSail Passes again, and we entered one last checkpoint where a crew member examined our SetSail Passes.

It was easy sailing after that last checkpoint: we just had to exit the terminal, walk up the gangway onto the boat, and find our muster station.

This part held most of the ease I was expecting from embarking on a smaller boat. It was quick and easy to enter the ship and find our muster station. We received a short safety briefing from the crew member at our station, made sure that we had already completed the safety lessons on the app, and we were free to go.

After arriving at the terminal at 12:00 P.M., we finally finished checking in at 1:30 P.M. It was the longest embarkation process I’ve experienced so far. 

But now that the process was completed, my friend and I could explore the ship and head up for lunch at the Windjammer.

We were ready for the adventure to begin! 

Tampa offers a convenient embarkation port for cruises to the Caribbean, including many with Royal Caribbean.

When you think about cruising out of Florida, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are probably the first ports that come to mind. If you are looking for something a little quieter, on Florida’s west coast sailing into the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll find Tampa.

Port Tampa Bay is the home port for eight ships from five cruise lines, offering itineraries to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean and even transatlantic cruises.

Here's everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cruising from Port Tampa Bay.

How to get to the Tampa Cruise Port

Port Tampa Bay is located just 8 miles from the Tampa International Airport, and less than a mile from downtown Tampa, making it one of the easiest cruise ports to get to. 

The address of Port Tampa Bay is 1101 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602.

Royal Caribbean typically uses Terminal 2, but will also use Terminal 3 when needed. Passengers should follow the digital signage at the port to find the correct terminal for their ship. 

Flying to Tampa Cruise Port

Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Flying into the Tampa International Airport is the easiest for those needing to fly in prior to their cruise. With over 90 nonstop destinations and 260 daily departures, travelers have plenty of options to choose from to get to and from their cruise.

With the port located so close to the airport, it is recommended to use a taxi or rideshare app to get to Port Tampa Bay, which will usually cost between $18 and $25. The drive should only take 15 to 20 minutes.

One of our biggest tips at Royal Caribbean Blog is to fly into your departure port the night before your cruise, to ensure that you don’t encounter delays that could make you miss your embarkation time. 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. 

What time should I schedule my flight from Tampa?

When booking your travel home after your cruise, it is important to not book too early of a flight, as you do not want to risk missing the flight home. 

Even though TPA is located close to the port, we recommend booking a flight home no earlier than 11:30am. While you may be able to walk off the ship by 8:00 or 9:00AM on disembarkation day, it isn’t guaranteed, and you don’t want to end up missing a morning flight.

Royal Caribbean Shuttle Service

Royal Caribbean offers shuttle service from the airport to the port (and vice versa), for an extra fee. There are also outside vendors who offer shuttle services such as Infinity Transportation.

Since the airport is located so close to the port, we recommend utilizing a rideshare or taxi service over a shuttle. Not only will prices typically be lower, you also won’t have to wait for a shuttle to fill up before being able to leave.

Parking at Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay has very convenient parking options for the cruise terminals. Since it is located so close to downtown Tampa, there are plenty of parking garages to choose from. 

The closest option is the Port Tampa Bay parking garage, located just across the street from the three terminals. The price for self parking is $15.75 per day while oversized parking (like RVs) is $34.35 per day. 

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. 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. 

Where to stay the night before your cruise from Tampa

As we mentioned, it is highly recommended to fly in the day before your cruise departs. When doing that, booking a hotel is an important part of the planning process when cruising from Tampa. 

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. 

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. 

Recommended hotels include:

• Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa
• Tampa Marriott Water Street
• Hampton Inn Tampa Downtown Channel District
• Hampton Inn Tampa Avion Park Westshore
• AC Hotel Tampa Airport

Some hotels will offer a shuttle service to the terminal on embarkation day, but we still recommend using a rideshare service as you will have flexibility on the timing. 

Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Port Tampa Bay?

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. However, this bridge can only accommodate ships that measure 180 feet from the top of the waterline. For this reason, Royal Caribbean uses Port Tampa Bay for its Vision and Radiance Class ships.

Enchantment of the Seas calls Tampa home. She offers 4, 5, and 7-night sailings to the Western Caribbean. Some sailings also visit Key West, Florida and The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, and Nassau.

Grandeur of the Seas splits her time between Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Grandeur of the Seas sails from Tampa for most of 2024 and 2025. Starting in April 2025, she will offer 7-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Serenade of the Seas will sail from Tampa starting in September 2024. She will offer 5 and 9-night Western Caribbean and 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruises through March 2025.

Radiance of the Seas will sail out of Tampa from October 2024 to April 2025, offering 7-night Western Caribbean cruises that visit Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya. 

Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Tampa to the Western Caribbean starting in November 2025. These 6, 7, and 8-night sailings visit destinations like Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya.

Where to watch a sailaway

If you find yourself in Tampa before or after your cruise and want to catch a cruise ship sailing through Tampa Bay, there are plenty of areas to watch from. 

The closest viewing spot you’ll find is at the cruise terminal. Port Tampa Bay allows you to walk right up near the ships for an unforgettable view. 

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.

Another great option is David Islands Beach, less than 15 minutes away from the port. Here you can sit back and relax with your toes in the sand, or even get in the water as you watch the ships sail away from Port Tampa Bay. 

Arguably, one of the best sites to see is the ship sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This bridge is located about a 30-45 minute drive south of Tampa, and it takes the ships about two hours after departure to reach the bridge.

While you can’t stop on the bridge to view the ships, you can go to either the north or south fishing piers to watch them sail under the bridge.

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.

Photos courtesy Port of Tampa

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.

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.

You can see Royal Caribbean's cruise ship restart plans for more deployment information leading into 2022.

While cruise ships have restarted from most of Florida's ports, Tampa has been conspicuously absent.

Many cruise fans have wondered when cruise ships would start sailing from the western Florida port, and October might be the first opportunity.

At the Tampa Port Authority board meeting this week, port officials said a mid-October is possible.

Royal Caribbean announced earlier this month Serenade of the Seas would offer 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa, Florida, starting Oct. 16.

The first sailing is a five-night cruise to the Bahamas, followed by a 4-night sailing to Cozumel on October 21st.

Brilliance of the Seas is also scheduled to sail from Tampa to offer 4- and 5-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa, starting Dec. 16

Tampa officials now seem to echo that announcement in their own plans.

Tampa Port Authority Vice President of Business Development, Wade Elliott, said at a meeting that a mid-October restart is what they are expecting, "We anticipate that we will begin to see regular sailings from Port Tampa Bay starting again in mid-October, so we’re excited about that."

"We are encouraged to see the cruise industry slowly starting back up across the county."

Elliott said Port Tampa Bay’s facilities teams have been making cosmetic tune-ups to the terminals and the port will be ready for cruise travel in weeks.

"Structurally, we’re in good shape," he said.

For the first time ever, two Royal Caribbean cruise ships were docked at the Port of Tampa, which local officials were celebrating as a "historic day".

Vision of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas were both in port yesterday, which port executives marked as a first for Royal Caribbean.

Paul Anderson, president and CEO of the Port of Tampa port authority, commented on the news, "This is absolutely a beautiful day, a historic day for our port.  We are so proud to be partners with Royal Caribbean."

To celebrate this occasion, a plaque was given to Vision of the Seas' captain, Lis Lauritzen, in a ceremony that took place onboard the ship.

“I’m very proud that we were able to welcome her,” Anderson said afterward.

Vision of the Seas will depart every Saturday through April 11 on seven-day cruises to the western Caribbean. Brilliance of the Seas offers four- and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.