Table Of Content

Find exceptional City Stays & Pre/Post Overland Packages, which offer a seamless experience ashore to add to your cruise. Holland America Line Flight Ease® offers specially negotiated low prices, a convenient and worry-free way to book air travel, late-arrival protection, and the freedom to change your flights with no change fees. Visit our Tampa port page for more information on our top travel recommendations. Sink your toes into the sugary sand of St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Beach via a short drive from the downtown area.
Swashbuckling Adventure
Tampa’s food scene stems from a fusion of Cuban, Spanish, Italian and Floribbean influences. Local raw bars serve up fresh prawns, oysters, scallops and grouper from the Gulf of Mexico. The Cuban sandwich – piled with Genoa salami – is a city signature. For a taste of authentic Florida Cracker cuisine, try sofkee porridge, pilau (rice cakes) or fried alligator tail during your next Tampa cruise.
Carnival Paradise crew rescues 27 Cuban nationals during voyage from Tampa FL
Hang out with your favorite cast of characters who call the Caribbean Sea home like stingrays, nurse sharks and more. After swimming, be sure to dine on ceviche and conch fritters doused in hot sauce, an island specialty, before heading out to the ruins of the Caana (Sky Palace), an ancient temple built by the Mayan people. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West was notified, as well as Roatan officials. The news comes after Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Apex ship rescued seven people in a small vessel adrift between Cuba and Mexico earlier this month. Another Carnival ship, Carnival Jubilee, also rescued two people stuck in a kayak off the coast of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres in January.
LOCAL CUISINE
Passengers departing on cruises from Tampa Bay will leave from Port Tampa Bay, home to three cruise terminals. Just outside of the cruise terminals is the Channelside district, where you’ll find a handful of shops and restaurants. Tourist information centers, Wi-Fi, and bathrooms are available at the port.
PANAMA CANAL
But it’s more than Miami’s proximity to the Caribbean and Bahamas — this is simply a unique destination all its own. There are so many sides to Miami, and you can spend time exploring the city’s varied neighborhoods before or after you cruise. There’s party-ready South Beach, Coral Gables with its Mediterranean style, the spicy Little Havana, and even world-renowned Wynwood — center of street art. 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.
GRAB A LITTLE VACATION FROM FLORIDA...
If you’re a fan of celebrated Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, then a visit to the awe-inspiring Dalí Museum in St. Pete is a must. The museum is home to the largest collection of his art outside of Europe. The gift shop is a great place to grab a quirky gift to take home.
Tijuana Flats files for bankruptcy, closes restaurants amidst ownership change
Enjoy one last stop in Cozumel, Mexico before sailing back to Tampa. Trek through ancient Mayan sites at San Gervasio before taking a dip at Chankanaab National Park where you can swim next to dolphins in the wild. Afterward, grab some lunch and wash down your delicious tacos with a Michelada or tequila while relaxing at Playa Mia and perfecting your tan on the beach. It's a great way to close out the most epic vacation you've ever had. When you cruise from Tampa you have a ton of exciting itineraries to choose from.
WEEKEND CRUISES
And for all its deserved fame as a vacation destination, the Sunshine State is equally skilled at launching great vacations to other places. So imagine leaving from Florida and cruising to convenient, nearby locations like the Caribbean, The Bahamas… while we’re on the subject, you can even cruise to Mexico from Florida! But if you’re cruising from Florida, 2024 or beyond, make sure to set aside some time to explore what’s good on land. Positive impressions start from the moment the cruise guests arrive at the modern, award-winning Tampa International Airport. Tampa, nicknamed "The Big Guava", is so much more than merely home to Busch Gardens (one of the most popular theme parks in Florida).

New upscale dining river cruise launching in Tampa - WFLA
New upscale dining river cruise launching in Tampa.
Posted: Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. 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. Whatever your ideal island escape looks like, you are likely to find it in the Caribbean. These warm waters are host to some 7,000 different islands belonging to 28 nations.
While there are plenty of spots that are great for relaxing, Nassau also has a healthy variety of beaches with a livelier vibe and plenty of buzzing bars. Cruise to Mexico from Tampa and your Western Caribbean cruise will take you to some pretty spectacular places. 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.
Find out why Aruba’s official motto is “one happy island.” Stroll down the colorful harbor of Curaçao, where pastel Dutch buildings make for a picture-perfect photo op. Royal Caribbean® offers plenty of bolder-than-ever weekend sailings to some of the Caribbean’s most stunning shores onboard the world’s most incredible cruise ships — no days off required. Many top-rated cruise lines offer cruise itineraries out of Tampa, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line.
Tampa’s first upscale dinner cruise starts next month - WFLA
Tampa’s first upscale dinner cruise starts next month.
Posted: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
You’ll find it hard to choose a favorite from the area’s picturesque beaches. The Bahamas are famous the world over for their pristine swaths of white-sand beach, glittering crystal-clear waters, and some of the best snorkeling and diving sites in the Caribbean. And if you’re looking for the perfect blend of natural beauty, Caribbean charm, and lively atmosphere on your cruise from Tampa, Nassau is just the island for you. You can do it all here — swim with stingrays, sunbathe on a gorgeous stretch of shoreline, shop open-air markets for Bahamian handicrafts, and even party like the pirates that once called this tropical paradise home.
Watch exciting performances in the theater and enjoy family fun at the pool deck. Sail down the Panama Canal, an engineering masterpiece that allows ships to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Watch as its complex system of locks unfolds, then stop in the historic center of Panama Viejo, where you’ll learn all about the town’s pirate history. The Southern Caribbean promises palm trees, white-sand beaches, and crystal clear waters—all the ingredients you’ll need for an unforgettable vacation. Lounge on the flawless beaches of Grand Cayman and Labadee, and enjoy quality time with your family in the ABC Islands. Tampa’s the kind of place that rewards visitors who take a little time to explore the city before or after they cruise.
Prepare for a week full of fun and adventure with the whole family. Set sail from Florida’s Gulf Coast and you’ll discover just how convenient — and action-packed — cruises out of Tampa can be. Welcome to one of Florida’s busiest ports — where the historically Cuban district of Ybor City, the aquarium, city shopping and local art museums are all in easy reach.