Saturday, April 13, 2024

10 Best Cruises from Tampa Florida Cruises

royal caribbean cruise from tampa

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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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.

What Time Should I Schedule My Flight from Tampa?

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.

Royal Caribbean, Cozumel, Mexico from Tampa, January 23, 2025

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.

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.

Royal Caribbean Cruises from Tampa

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.

royal caribbean cruise from tampa

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Tampa for the first time. Here's what a cruise from this smaller port is like. - Royal Caribbean Blog

I cruised Royal Caribbean from Tampa for the first time. Here's what a cruise from this smaller port is like..

Posted: Fri, 17 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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.

Royal Caribbean announces new short getaways from Tampa - WFLA

Royal Caribbean announces new short getaways from Tampa.

Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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