Seven ships will bring record numbers of cruise passengers to the west coast of Florida in 2017
By
Rebecca Gibson |
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Over the past several years, the Tampa Bay region has emerged as a premier destination for guests seeking pre- and post-cruise activities in Central Florida, US. Offering easy access to the region’s world-class beaches and theme parks, Tampa Bay is a thriving community of more than 4.3 million people on the west coast of Florida, a state that is home to more than 20 million residents. Around 70 million tourists visit Central Florida annually, including Orlando, which is only an hour’s drive from Tampa Bay.
Around 800,000 to 900,000 passengers cruise in and out of Port Tampa Bay each year, visiting destinations throughout the Caribbean. This year, the port projects cruise passenger numbers to top one million for the first time in history because seven cruise ships will homeport in Tampa. The ships will include two from Carnival Cruise Line, three from Royal Caribbean International, one from Norwegian Cruise Line and another from Holland America Line. Itineraries will range from four to 14 days.
November kicks off the winter cruise season, which is the busiest time of year for Port Tampa Bay. Carnival’s ships operate year-round four- and five-day cruises to the western Caribbean, including the popular destination at Mahogany Bay. Currently, the line also sails seven-day itineraries during the winter season and these will be offered year-round from January 2018.
Royal Caribbean’s two ships will provide four-, five- and seven-day cruises in the winter. And, for the first time, Royal Caribbean will operate four- and five-day summer cruises when Empress of the Seas begins sailing from Tampa on 30 April. The ship will also call at Havana, Cuba as part of her itinerary from Tampa.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jade, which will offer itineraries ranging from four to 12 days that will include a stop at its new island destination, Harvest Caye in Belize. Many of the 2017 voyages will be Sixthman music-themed cruises with live performances from famous artists. Rounding out Tampa’s homeport offering is Holland America, which has increased its capacity by replacing Veendam with a larger ship, Oosterdam.
Port Tampa Bay has also become a popular port-of-call destination with many ships stopping in Tampa so guests can visit local attractions, such as beaches, museums, world-class restaurants and bars, nightlife and cultural points of interest. Port-of-call visits will include German-based operator Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea, Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Balmoral and Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Quest.
A quick eight-mile trip from Tampa International Airport and easy access to the interstate system make it easy for cruise guests to arrive and depart Port Tampa Bay. A new US$2 billion infrastructure and commercial development in the cruise district, named Channelside, will transform Tampa’s waterfront district and further enhance the guest experience.
Port Tampa Bay offers three cruise terminals, one of which is currently undergoing significant improvements to expand its capacity so it can accommodate more guests and larger ships. All cruise terminals are equipped with wi-fi for the convenience of passengers and vessel crew who wish to stay connected.
Located on Florida’s west coast, Port Tampa Bay is also ideally situated and well equipped to handle ro-pax ferry services from the US to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. Already experienced in handling ro-pax services, Port Tampa Bay is expected to become one of the most popular homeports for Cuba-bound ferries and cruise ships in the next few years.
“Port Tampa Bay is on track to surpass one million revenue passengers for the first time in our history,” says Paul Anderson, president and CEO at Port Tampa Bay. “We are committed to providing our cruise line partners with the infrastructure and services they require so that they will continue to operate successfully from Port Tampa.”