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If you are looking for something a little quieter, on Florida’s west coast sailing into the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll find Tampa. Just because your time aboard the cruise of a lifetime is about to come to an end, it doesn't mean that your fun has to! 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.
Which Cruise Ships Leave From Tampa?
I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like. - Royal Caribbean Blog
I sailed on Royal Caribbean's worst rated cruise ship. Here's what it was really like..
Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Combined with its rich Spanish and Cuban heritage, Tampa offers quite a melting pot of unique and vibrant cultural experiences that you may not find elsewhere. Families can explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, sample international cuisine, and attend cultural events such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival or the Cuban Sandwich Festival. The ships will sail from the Port of Tampa on six to eight-night vacations through 2026. Grandeur of the Seas will start cruising again when she offers 7- and 14-night Southern Caribbean sailings from Bridgetown, Barbados, starting December 5.
Royal Caribbean Cruises From Tampa
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. You'll head back to the ship all smiles after a day of wandering through the Mexican city.
What Cruise Ships Leave From Tampa? An Ultimate Guide You’ll Really Love!
As the best jumping off point for your vacation, you can arrive a day early to explore before departing for the Caribbean. Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen, travel to the Western Caribbean, and find yourself on serene, sandy beaches in the dead of winter. The ships in the Vision Class are the smallest of the Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
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Since it is located so close to downtown Tampa, there are plenty of parking garages to choose from. Tampa offers a convenient embarkation port for cruises to the Western Caribbean, including many with Royal Caribbean. When it comes to exotic cruise destinations, many people think of places like Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. But Key West definitely deserves a spot on every sun-seeker’s tropical travel list.
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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. 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. Since the airport is located so close to the port, I recommend utilizing a rideshare or taxi service over a shuttle.
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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. Port Tampa Bay is the home port for five ships from four cruise lines, offering itineraries to the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean and even Transatlantic cruises.
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Meanwhile, Grandeur of the Seas will treat vacationers to seven-night escapes exploring the western Caribbean and the Bahamas. These ships, part of Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class fleet, may be the oldest and smallest, but they still offer a cozy and enjoyable experience for roughly 2,000 to 2,400 passengers. 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. Cruise to Mexico from Tampa and your Western Caribbean cruise will take you to some pretty spectacular places.
Amazing experiences coming soon.
If you are looking for a more intimate cruising experience, opt for a ship in this class. These cruise ships have the usual pools and whirlpools for swimming and lounging on the deck and a rock-climbing wall. Although Royal Caribbean operates many of the world’s largest cruise ships, ships sailing out of Tampa must pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge as they enter the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, Royal Caribbean relies on some of its smaller vessels when sailing cruises from Tampa.
Unlock a treasure trove of adventures on Florida’s west coast, plus cruises to the Western Caribbean. As you can see, several major cruise lines have ships that leave from Tampa, giving you plenty of options to book a cruise out of this popular homeport. Below are some destinations you can look forward to when taking a cruise on one of the Royal Caribbean Ships departing from Tampa. Note that Royal Caribbean offers many options for shorter cruises of 4 and 5 nights. For the sailings currently scheduled for 2023 and 2024, Royal Caribbean has selected ships from the Radiance Class and Vision Class.
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. 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. Located in downtown Tampa, right next to the aquarium, this port was filled with cargo ships and other cruise ships. 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. 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.
If you want the best of both worlds — some sunshine and a whole lot of culture — book a cruise that crosses the Atlantic. Begin your adventure by stopping along the islands in the Caribbean before spending several days at sea, enjoying what the cruise ship has to offer you. Arrive in Europe and explore historic, vibrant cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels and Barcelona. Soak up the sun in the Canary Islands or get in touch with your inner Viking in Waterford, Ireland. Whichever cruise you pick, you'll be leaving with a whole lot of stories to share.
Cruises from Tampa are typically 3-5 nights round-trip Bahamas itineraries and usually include ports like Nassau, CocoCay, Grand Bahama, Falmouth, Cozumel and Labadee. I have been cruising since 2004 and have sailed on dozens of cruises all over the world. As the creator of this website, I want to help families plan fun cruises free of stress and filled with adventure! Carnival Cruise Line scheduled four of its ships to sail from Tampa at various points in the year. These include Carnival Legend, Carnival Pride, Carnival Paradise, and Carnival Spirit. This summer, Carnival Paradise will sail different itineraries throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
These ships also tend to be a little bit older than the rest of the Royal Caribbean fleet. Norwegian’s Jewel Class ships are smaller-sized cruise ships offering excellent accommodation and entertainment. There are lovely pools and whirlpools for the whole family, a basketball court, and driving nets for golf.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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