Tampa offers a convenient embarkation port for cruises to the Caribbean, including many with Royal Caribbean.
When you think about cruising out of Florida, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are probably the first ports that come to mind. If you are looking for something a little quieter, on Florida’s west coast sailing into the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll find Tampa.
Port Tampa Bay is the home port for eight ships from five cruise lines, offering itineraries to the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean and even transatlantic cruises.
Here's everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cruising from Port Tampa Bay.
How to get to the Tampa Cruise Port
Port Tampa Bay is located just 8 miles from the Tampa International Airport, and less than a mile from downtown Tampa, making it one of the easiest cruise ports to get to.
The address of Port Tampa Bay is 1101 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602.
Royal Caribbean typically uses Terminal 2, but will also use Terminal 3 when needed. Passengers should follow the digital signage at the port to find the correct terminal for their ship.
Flying to Tampa Cruise Port
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Flying into the Tampa International Airport is the easiest for those needing to fly in prior to their cruise. With over 90 nonstop destinations and 260 daily departures, travelers have plenty of options to choose from to get to and from their cruise.
With the port located so close to the airport, it is recommended to use a taxi or rideshare app to get to Port Tampa Bay, which will usually cost between $18 and $25. The drive should only take 15 to 20 minutes.
One of our biggest tips at Royal Caribbean Blog is to fly into your departure port the night before your cruise, to ensure that you don’t encounter delays that could make you miss your embarkation time. 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.
What time should I schedule my flight from Tampa?
When booking your travel home after your cruise, it is important to not book too early of a flight, as you do not want to risk missing the flight home.
Even though TPA is located close to the port, we recommend booking a flight home no earlier than 11:30am. While you may be able to walk off the ship by 8:00 or 9:00AM on disembarkation day, it isn’t guaranteed, and you don’t want to end up missing a morning flight.
Royal Caribbean Shuttle Service
Royal Caribbean offers shuttle service from the airport to the port (and vice versa), for an extra fee. There are also outside vendors who offer shuttle services such as Infinity Transportation.
Since the airport is located so close to the port, we recommend utilizing a rideshare or taxi service over a shuttle. Not only will prices typically be lower, you also won’t have to wait for a shuttle to fill up before being able to leave.
Parking at Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay has very convenient parking options for the cruise terminals. Since it is located so close to downtown Tampa, there are plenty of parking garages to choose from.
The closest option is the Port Tampa Bay parking garage, located just across the street from the three terminals. The price for self parking is $15.75 per day while oversized parking (like RVs) is $34.35 per day.
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. 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.
Where to stay the night before your cruise from Tampa
As we mentioned, it is highly recommended to fly in the day before your cruise departs. When doing that, booking a hotel is an important part of the planning process when cruising from Tampa.
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.
If your flight is arriving later in the evening, you may want to stay closer to the airport and head to the cruise terminal in the morning. The Westshore area is located just outside the airport, and has plenty of hotels to choose from.
Recommended hotels include:
- Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa
- Tampa Marriott Water Street
- Hampton Inn Tampa Downtown Channel District
- Hampton Inn Tampa Avion Park Westshore
- AC Hotel Tampa Airport
Some hotels will offer a shuttle service to the terminal on embarkation day, but we still recommend using a rideshare service as you will have flexibility on the timing.
Which Royal Caribbean ships sail from Port Tampa Bay?
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. However, this bridge can only accommodate ships that measure 180 feet from the top of the waterline. For this reason, Royal Caribbean uses Port Tampa Bay for its Vision and Radiance Class ships.
Enchantment of the Seas calls Tampa home. She offers 4, 5, and 7-night sailings to the Western Caribbean. Some sailings also visit Key West, Florida and The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, and Nassau.
Grandeur of the Seas splits her time between Tampa and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Grandeur of the Seas sails from Tampa for most of 2024 and 2025. Starting in April 2025, she will offer 7-night sailings to the Western Caribbean and The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Serenade of the Seas will sail from Tampa starting in September 2024. She will offer 5 and 9-night Western Caribbean and 9-night Eastern Caribbean cruises through March 2025.
Radiance of the Seas will sail out of Tampa from October 2024 to April 2025, offering 7-night Western Caribbean cruises that visit Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya.
Rhapsody of the Seas will sail from Tampa to the Western Caribbean starting in November 2025. These 6, 7, and 8-night sailings visit destinations like Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, and Costa Maya.
Where to watch a sailaway
If you find yourself in Tampa before or after your cruise and want to catch a cruise ship sailing through Tampa Bay, there are plenty of areas to watch from.
The closest viewing spot you’ll find is at the cruise terminal. Port Tampa Bay allows you to walk right up near the ships for an unforgettable view.
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.
Another great option is David Islands Beach, less than 15 minutes away from the port. Here you can sit back and relax with your toes in the sand, or even get in the water as you watch the ships sail away from Port Tampa Bay.
Arguably, one of the best sites to see is the ship sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This bridge is located about a 30-45 minute drive south of Tampa, and it takes the ships about two hours after departure to reach the bridge.
While you can’t stop on the bridge to view the ships, you can go to either the north or south fishing piers to watch them sail under the bridge.
