Tampa
Florida, US
Port Report Card
Port Stats
The Tea
Tampa's cruise port is a hidden gem that the Florida cruise establishment doesn't want you to know about. While everyone fights over Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Tampa quietly offers cheaper parking ($14/day), a genuinely walkable waterfront (Sparkman Wharf, Riverwalk), and an airport that's so close you can practically see your ship from baggage claim.
The port itself is modern and well-organized, sitting right on Channelside Drive with restaurants and bars within walking distance. It's mostly Carnival and Royal Caribbean territory, so your options are more limited than Miami — but the experience of getting on and off the ship is dramatically less stressful.
The tea nobody spills: Tampa is the best-value major cruise port in Florida. Period. The only downside is the western Gulf itineraries tend to be less exciting than the Eastern Caribbean routes out of Miami. But if you're cruising for the ship and the price, Tampa is the play.
Weather by Month
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Good Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 6 | 81% |
| Feb | 61°F | 6 | 79% |
| Mar | 69°F | 7 | 77% |
| Apr | 73°F | 2 | 93% |
| May | 82°F | 4 | 87% |
| Jun | 82°F | 13 | 57% |
| Jul | 83°F | 17 | 45% |
| Aug | 82°F | 16 | 48% |
| Sep | 80°F | 14 | 53% |
| Oct | 74°F | 8 | 74% |
| Nov | 71°F | 2 | 93% |
| Dec | 62°F | 2 | 94% |
Day-in-Port Budget
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | $— | $— | $— |
| Drinks (2) | $— | $— | $— |
| Taxi to Ybor City | $— | $— | $— |
| Excursion | $— | $— | $— |
| Souvenirs | $— | $— | $— |
Tampa on the Cruise Schedule
Eight of the ships we track are scheduled to sail from Tampa 244 times over the next 12 months, most often on 7-night voyages (trips run 4 to 16 nights). Carnival Paradise has the most departures, with 48. Separately, 1 ship we track is scheduled to stop at Tampa on at least 1 sailing. Ports of call are only recorded for some itineraries, so the real number is likely higher. Those ships sail for Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas, and Royal Caribbean. The busiest months on the schedule are December 2026 and January 2027.
Ships Sailing From Tampa
| Ship | Cruise Line | Departures (12 mo) | Next Departure | Latest CDC Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Paradise | Carnival | 48 | Nov 5, 2026 | 99 |
| Enchantment of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 48 | Nov 8, 2026 | 100 |
| Margaritaville At Sea Islander | — | 47 | Nov 7, 2026 | 91 |
| Jewel of the Seas | Royal Caribbean | 35 | Nov 2, 2026 | 99 |
| Celebrity Summit | Celebrity | 24 | Nov 8, 2026 | 97 |
| Carnival Legend | Carnival | 20 | Nov 16, 2026 | 100 |
| Norwegian Gem | Norwegian | 20 | Nov 16, 2026 | 94 |
| Seven Seas Mariner | Regent Seven Seas | 2 | Dec 11, 2026 | 93 |
Ships Scheduled to Stop at Tampa
Dates are when the sailing departs its home port, not the day it reaches Tampa.
| Ship | Cruise Line | Sailings Stopping Here | Next Sailing | Latest CDC Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celebrity Summit | Celebrity | 1 | Sep 12, 2027 | 97 |
More US Gulf Cruise Ports
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from Tampa.