Tampa, Florida, also known as The Big Guava, is a great place to embark on a cruise. Royal Caribbean offers a variety of Caribbean cruises from this port, and it's becoming increasingly popular for guests to extend their cruise by enjoying pre- and post-cruise activities in the city. Those living within driving distance can also take advantage of last-minute cruise deals. Tampa is much more than just home to Busch Gardens.
The Ybor City district is full of history, shopping, and delicious restaurants. The Tampa Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and Industry are also must-see places. Guests flying in for a cruise can enjoy a pre- or post-cruise package to explore Tampa's beautiful beaches, Busch Gardens, and the wonderful downtown area. If you're looking for a cruise from Tampa, you can find plenty of cheap deals for cruise getaways.
So why not take advantage of all that The Big Guava has to offer?.
Tampa on Florida's western coast provides an ideal starting point for Caribbean cruises. Royal Caribbean offers such voyages out of Tampa with itineraries covering both Western and Southern Caribbean destinations.
Tampa is also the home of Busch Gardens and the historic Ybor City district offers history, shopping and fine dining experiences. There are numerous hotels near cruise terminals for those wanting a stay close to port.
Royal Caribbean
While Miami may be more famous as a cruise port, Tampa offers equally picturesque and convenient pre-cruise activities. The historic Cuban district of Ybor City is only minutes away from the dock; here, visitors can experience world-class shopping, local art museums and enjoy Florida's glistening Gulf coast beaches as they take in world-class shopping or local art museums. Tampa also hosts both an amazing Florida Aquarium and MacDill Air Force Base for added pleasure!
Royal Caribbean offers cruises from Tampa ranging from 4-10 days. All their ships offer fun for the whole family, such as basketball courts, baking classes, dance clubs, rock climbing walls and kids camps - not forgetting an exciting "scuba diving at sea" experience!
Vision- and Radiance-class ships set sail from Tampa; Serenade of the Seas will join them starting in 2022. Each magnificent vessel can accommodate 2,490 passengers with 891 crew members onboard; their roundtrip cruises visit an array of exotic Caribbean locations in western, central, and eastern regions.
Another exciting highlight of cruising from Tampa Bay is sailing beneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge - a striking steel structure stretching four miles between downtown Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico that makes for stunning photo op. You can also relax before your cruise by visiting one of Tampa Bay's many parks or beaches, so take time out for relaxation before your voyage!
Celebrity Cruises
Tampa is one of the Caribbean's most popular ports of departure, offering guests various itineraries that visit exotic Western Caribbean islands; Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao further south; or beautiful Eastern Caribbean beaches.
Celebrity Cruises offer guests an upscale vacation experience aboard their ships, offering exquisite cuisine, luxurious accommodations, high-tech venues and serene spaces. Additionally, guests can participate in enrichment programs, watch Broadway-style shows, discover exotic destinations or simply unwind by relaxing at the spa or spending time at the lap pool - or suite guests can take advantage of The Retreat; an oasis-like space complete with sundeck, 24/7 lounge access and menus designed by celebrity chefs!
Tampa International Airport is only minutes from the port, and nearby hotels offer many activities for those who would like to extend their trip before or after their cruise. Visitors may wish to visit historic Cuban-Spanish neighborhood Ybor City to sample cafe con leche from one of its numerous cafes before discovering Tampa through museums and art galleries that shed light on its past.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line provides several cruises departing from Tampa that range in duration from seven to eleven nights and travel to popular Caribbean destinations. Their ships feature many activities and amenities designed to appeal to families.
Norwegian Cruise Line ships are typically packed, yet still manage to maintain an ideal ratio of one staff member for every two or three passengers. This ratio makes navigating them effortless even when fully occupied. In addition to dining options and entertainment like live music and comedy shows, Norwegian also provides onboard entertainment such as headlining comedy clubs featuring Levity Entertainment Group like their Getaway ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line's cruise ships provide a range of cabin types, from family suites and junior suites to family suites and family suites. Most rooms on board feature ocean views for an unforgettable stay onboard; furthermore, this ship also has several pools, three-story theater, rock climbing wall, mini golf course and much more!
Tampa has a smaller cruise port than Miami in Florida but still boasts many restaurants within walking distance and has TECO streetcars that provide fast access to downtown attractions.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruise Line is often overshadowed by larger cruise lines in the industry; only recently has Princess seen an upsurge in popularity. Princess' initial rise was marked by its parent company P&O acquiring Sitmar Cruises; James Nolan of Journal of Commerce and Commercial described this acquisition as one of "one of the cruise industry's biggest events". Following that acquisition came an expansion plan which brought Sky, Sea, and Dawn Princesses into Princess' existing fleet while opening up opportunities to grow into what we know today as Princess.
Princess is part of Carnival Corporation & plc and continues to expand globally. Offering a diverse fleet, Princess also offers numerous amenities and services for their guests such as the Princess Medallion Class wearable device that allows passengers to speed through boarding/check-in processes, locate family members onboard the ship quickly, access top Wi-Fi speeds while at sea, share cruise memories with loved ones quickly and effortlessly, expedite check-in processes efficiently, locate loved ones quickly when onboard and share cruise memories easily with family and friends.
Tampa Port operates three cruise terminals within walking distance from each other. Parking can be found at one of its garages, and prepayment can save money during your trip; parking rates start at $15 per day with valet service available for an additional fee.
