Just 300 miles from Havana, Port Tampa Bay is proving an attractive gateway to Cuba
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Sailing between Florida, US and Cuba is well on the way to becoming a reality for many US and Cuban citizens, following a 50-year hiatus after the US imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in 1960.
Tampa and Cuba have a rich shared history. Jose Marti, the father of Cuban independence, spent time in Tampa in the late 1800s. Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders departed from Tampa to fight for Cuban independence in 1898. Cuban cigar markers were the founders of Tampa’s renowned cigar industry and were instrumental in the development of Ybor City.
The Port of Tampa’s historic ties with Cuba can be traced back to the port’s origins in the mid-1850s, beginning with the shipment of cattle. This evolved over the following century to the point where, by the 1950s, there was an average of twelve sailings per month between Tampa and various Cuban ports, as well as two passenger ferry sailings per week connecting Tampa, Key West and Havana.
Following the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries in December 2014, the US Government has licensed several cruise and ferry services to carry US travellers who meet 12 requirements that were approved US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the US Commerce Department this January.
Although these operators are still waiting to receive approval from the Cuban government, many are already in talks with various Florida ports to set up the necessary operating, security, customs and immigration facilities to accommodate their vessels.
Located on Florida’s west coast in close proximity to Cuba, Port Tampa Bay is expected to be one of the most popular homeports for Cuba-bound ferries and cruise ships.
“Tampa’s history and heritage with Cuba dates back to the 1800s, and we are so physically close that it does not surprise us that we may be the first port considered by cruise or ferry operators – or any cargo ship operations for that matter,” says Raul Alfonso, chief commercial officer at Port Tampa Bay.
The port is also situated close to many of Tampa’s main attractions, making it an ideal spot for tourists visiting from Cuba, as well as those who wish to make the most of their US stay.
“Not only is Port Tampa Bay’s proximity to Cuba a significant advantage for quick transits, but it is also situated in the urban core of Tampa in immediate proximity to museums, world-class restaurants, nightlife and cultural points of interest,” says Greg Lovelace, the port’s director of marketing and business development, Cargo and Cruise. “Florida is also known for its theme parks, beaches, tourism assets of all kinds, and things to do and see – and Port Tampa Bay is right in the middle of it all.”