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Tampa (Florida)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda

Local Time 2024-06-30 01:42

Port Tampa cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Tampa, Florida. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Tampa Bay Cruise Port is on Florida's western coast. The city of Tampa is approx 85 mi (140 km) from Orlando City /Port Canaveral to the west, via Highway I-4E (~1,5 hours drive distance). Regency Cruises and HAL-Holland America Line were the first companies to start homeporting/roundtrip voyages from Tampa (in the 1980s). CCL-Carnival Cruise Line started homeporting operations in 1994 with MS Tropicale (1982-built/2021- scrapped ).

Two bridges spanning Old Tampa Bay - Gandy Bridge (1924-opened, carrying highway 92) and Howard Frankland Bridge (1960-opened, carrying highway I-275) directly connect Tampa to St Petersburg .

Tampa is a port city in Florida USA (Hillsborough County) with population around 390,000. The Tampa-St Petersburg-Clearwater Metro by population (around 3,2 million) is Florida's second-largest - after Miami - Fort Lauderdale - West Palm Beach Metro (around 6,14 million). Tampa is on the Mexican Gulf and is one of the Tampa Bay Area's main cities - together with St Petersburg and Clearwater.

Cross-Bay ferries serve the Tampa-St Petersburg route seasonally (October-November thru May) since 2016.

• In Tampa, the boats depart from Tampa Convention Center's dock, while in St Petersburg, they leave from North Straub Park's dock (near Vinoy Marina).
• Departures from St Petersburg are on Wednesdays and Thursdays (at 4:45 pm), on Fridays and Saturdays (at 10 am), and on Sundays (at 11 am).
• Departures from Tampa are on Wednesdays and Thursdays (at 10:45 pm), on Fridays and Saturdays (at 11 pm) and on Sundays (at 7:30 pm).
• As of 2023, Cross-Bay Ferry adult ticket prices were US$12 pp per one-way crossing. Youths, college students, seniors, people with disabilities and active/retired military personnel receive discounted tickets.
• In 2022, on the Tampa-Petersburg route was deployed the twin-hull catamaran Provincetown III (2004-built, IMO 9329394) which has max passenger capacity 149 and average speed 30 mph/50 kph.

The Cross-Bay ferry service is a public-private partnership between the counties Pinellas and Hillsborough and HMS Ferries Inc (part of HMS Global Maritime (1994-founded as Hornblower Marine Services, based in New Albany, Indiana).

Tampa cruise port

The Port is approx 24 km (15 mi) from Tampa Airport (~20 min drive distance) and very close yo downtown. The Port's 3 cruise terminals (all located on Harbour Island) are near large-capacity parking garages. The nearest highway is Lee Roy Selmon Expressway (running along the port's northern border).

Popular tourist attractions in close proximity to the cruise port include Channelside Bay Plaza (shops, bars, restaurants, hotels), Florida Aquarium (1995-opened, floor area 250,000 ft2/23000 m2), Ybor City (1880s-founded historic neighborhood/aka Cigar City), Busch Gardens Tampa (1959-opened, African-themed amusement park owned by SeaWorld Entertainment Inc).

According to local business studies, a 3000-passenger cruiser generates ~USD 334,000 in onshore spending (crew and tourists) per visit in the homeport city. Recent leisure project developments resulted in new dining, shopping, accommodation and entertainment options.

Tampa is one of the USA's most popular homeports for liners deployed in the Western Caribbean. The largest companies homeporting in Tampa are CCL-Carnival , RCI-Royal Caribbean , HAL-Holland America , NCL-Norwegian .

Port's cruising season runs from November thru April. In 2014 were handled a total of 888,343 cruise passengers via 198 ship calls.

In 2017, Port Tampa for the first time handled ~1 million cruisers. The number was impressive, considering Sunshine Skyway Bridge's height limitations (180 ft / 55 m) and the strong competition from larger and better positioned around Florida ports.

Besides the Skyway Bridge's height limitation, the cruise port also has a navigation issue as it is prone to fog. Larger ships also experience difficulties in maneuvering due to the Port's shallow waters and narrow channels.

Carnival ships here have passenger capacity between 1000 and 2600, and generally operate on Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries. Port's strategy is not homeporting mega-ships, but rather attracting smaller and recently refurbished vessels with itineraries to easy-to-reach destinations.

In 2017-Q1 (winter season) the port handled 239,301 passengers (3% increase over 2016-Q1). The number of homeported cruise liners increased to 7 (from 5 in 2016). One of the new boats based here for turnarounds/roundtrips was RCI's Empress of the Seas - which itineraries also visited Havana Cuba (starting April 2017). In 2017, the cruise port handled a total of 961,000 passengers. Also in 2017 was signed with RCI a 5-year agreement (optional 2 more years). It guaranteed min passenger numbers, while RCI spent ~USD 2 million in Terminal 6 upgrades.

In 2017, Holland America's MS Oosterdam replaced in Tampa the smaller MS Ryndam (now Celestyal Journey) . Another newly refurbished and upgraded boat returning for homeporting was Carnival Pride (starting January 2017), after nearly 3 years (in 2016 was homeported in Baltimore ).

In 2017, Carnival announced adding cruises from Tampa to Cuba to its 2017-2018 Caribbean program scheduled for Carnival Paradise (starting June 2017).

In 2018, Carnival Miracle started from Tampa year-round 7-day roundtrips. On September 22-23, 2018, Port Tampa Bay celebrated its 1 millionth cruise passenger. Another record was the Easter weekend (Mar 31 - Apr 1) when the cruise port handled 29,167 passengers on multiple ship calls.

Port Tampa cruise ship schedule includes roundtrips the whole year-round. The most common are the 7-day Western Caribbean itineraries visiting Key West Florida , Roatan Island Honduras , Cozumel Mexico , Costa Maya Mexico , Grand Cayman Island .

In February 2023 was officially opened the new cruise ship crew-exclusive facility Hookers Point Tampa Seafarer's Center. The facility is at Cruise Terminal 3 and provides Wi-Fi Internet and phones. The Seafarer's Center has a convenience store (selling snacks, travel essentials, toiletries, etc) and is generally used for handling (sending/receiving) packages and mail.

In 2023, ACL-American Cruise Lines included Key West as a call port of its 7-night/8-day "Florida Gulf Coast and Keys" itinerary. The roundtrip from Tampa was specifically designed for ACL's newbuild catamarans (Coastal Cats) and was first operated by American Glory in 2023.

On this ACL ex-Florida voyage, on days 3 and 4 the ship stays in Key West overnight. This allows tourists to explore Key West City on Day 3 (with a complimentary guided tour to the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum) and the Dry Tortugas National Park on Day 4 (visiting Fort Jefferson/Civil War prison)

Port Tampa Bay

Port Tampa Bay is ranked Florida state's largest port. The seaport is located close to downtown Tampa (Channel District) and is accessed directly from Tampa Bay. The port is approx 46 km (30 mi) from Gulf of Mexico. Port Tampa Bay has capacity to serve world's largest container carriers , tankers and cruise liners .

In 2013, the port Tampa was ranked USA's 16th largest (by domestic trade tonnage), 32nd largest (by foreign cargo tonnage) and 22nd (total shipping tonnage). Port's impact on Florida's economy is over USD 15 billion, with supported over 80,000 local jobs. Most handled vessels are bulk carriers and tankers, also Ro-Ro ships (car carries) and boxships (container carriers). The port also has drydocks for ship repairs. Most of the traffic is with Asian ports.

Ports America Holdings Inc (US Terminal Operator and Stevedore) operates a container terminal with two berths. The terminal is served by 3x gantry cranes and 1x Mobile Harbor Crane (100-ton). In 2014, the port purchased two new China-made gantry cranes (from ZPMC / Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries) for USD 21,5 million.

For FY2017 (fiscal year), Port Tampa Bay reported a record operating revenue of USD 55,4 million. Port's previous records were USD 51,3 million (2015) and USD 49,2 million (2016). The increase was mainly due to additional cruise activities, new and expanded facilities leases, as well as increase of commodities import (petroleum, cement, steel).

Since January 2019, world's 6th largest containership company COSCO Shipping (China) added Port Tampa Bay to company's GME Transpacific service (Gulf of Mexico Express). COSCO is also member of Ocean Alliance (together with CMA-CGM, OOCL, Evergreen Marine). The new GME service connects cargo ports Shanghai - Ningbo - Xiamen -Yantian- Houston - Mobile -Tampa, with Shanghai-Tampa transit times 31 days (import) and 27 days (export).

Since June 2019, Port Tampa Bay is part of PEX3 (Pacific Express 3) service of CMA-CGM. The new (roundtrip Singapore ) container service links ports Singapore-Vietnam (Vung Tau)-China (Hong Kong-Shekou-Ningbo-Shanghai)-Korea (Busan)-Panama Canal-USA (Houston TX- Mobile AL-NOLA New Orleans-Tampa-Miami)-Singapore. On June 13, 2019, the port handled its ever-largest boxship - the 2010-built "CMA CGM Dalila" (IMO 9450624). The vessel (max TEU capacity 9500 containers) docked at The Ports America Terminal arriving from Vietnam.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, Port Tampa's homeporting cruise shipping operations were paused for 18+ months (March 14, 2020, thru October 16, 2021).

On June 18, 2024, the Port's signed a US$0,5 million contract with HDR Engineering for the design of a new/4th cruise terminal. The proposed facility is planned to be north of Terminal 6, which conflicts with the city's downtown economic development plans, raising concerns over parking and waterfront access. If approved, the project represents a potential US$80 million investment, with funding provided by federal grants, private investors, and other sources.

Tampa cruise terminal

Port Tampa has 3 cruise terminals. Cruise port's address is "1101 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602". Port Tampa's parking facilities (Channelside Parking Garage, multi-storey) are located across the street from cruise terminals 2 and 3. Self-serve parking costs USD 15 per car per day (for oversize vehicles USD 30 per day). Valet parking costs USD 20 more (35 and 50, respectively). In most cases, passenger check-in process starts at 10 am.

In May 2019 starts an USD 10 million project with planned renovations of all the 3 cruise ship terminals. Works (by Gilbane Building Company) include interior improvements and adding of escalators in Cruise Terminals 2 and 6. Cruise Terminal 2 will also be refurbished and upgraded to be able to handle transit itineraries, and not only roundtrips without passengers embarking from non-US ports.

Project's Phase 1 (May-October 2019) and Phase 2 (May-October 2020) are both during off-season. Phase 2 involves works at Cruise Terminal 3, including adding a second escalator and renovations to terminal's processing area in order to meet the requirements of the US Customs and Border Protection agency.

Tampa cruise port directions

From Orlando FL take highway Interstate-4 West to Exit 1, continue south on 21st Street, on Adamo Drive turn right, then left onto Channelside Drive.

From Clearwater FL take Highway 60 East (across Tampa Bay), follow the signs to Interstate-275 North that merges with Interstate-4 East. Follow Interstate-4 East to Exit 1.

From Tampa International Airport take FL-60 E (3 miles) northeast on George J Bean Inbound Parkway, continue for 2,3 miles, take the right ramp to FL-60 E (0,5 miles), at the fork keep right and follow the signs for Tampa to merge onto FL-60 E. Take Interstate-275 North to McKay Ave (7 miles), turn right onto McKay Ave. United Cab and Yellow Cab taxi service is available outside airport's Baggage Claim Level. To the cruise terminal, taxis charge flat rate fee USD 28.

Cruise Terminal 2

In the late-1990s, Cruise Terminal 2 creation was incorporated in the Garrison Seaport Center scheme. The terminal offers facilities like customs, cab rank, restrooms, a snack shop and a luggage carts. It has only one wharf.

Terminal 2 serves exclusively Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships.

Cruise Terminal 3

Tampa Cruise Port Terminal 3 was built in 2002. The terminal offers facilities like fast security and luggage carts. The embarkation and disembarkation of passengers is streamlined. It has only one wharf.

Terminal 3 serves ships of NCL Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line.

Cruise Terminal 6

Tampa Cruise Port Terminal 6 is located half a mile away from Terminal 3, direction North. In 2011 it was renovated. It has only one wharf.

There is a parking area at the site. Terminal 6 serves Holland America Line. Parking: is USD 14 daily (Port Authority subject to change).

• Get a taste of Florida wildlife on this 2.5-hour sightseeing tour from Tampa. You'll visit Croc Encounters and learn about this sanctuary's conservation efforts and make a stop in Clearwater Beach to see the aquarium where the famous dolphins, Hope and Winter live. For groups of 6 or more please contact The Entourage Tours if you wish to be picked up from your location? The Entourage Tours Wildlife PM Tours - Tampa | Book Now
• Florida Aquarium: discover the great variety of sea life. You will see Wetlands, Ocean Commotion, Bays and Beaches, Dragons Down Under and Explore A Shore exhibitions. It is next to Tampa Cruise Port Terminal 3.
• SS American Victory: this cargo ship served during the World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. Currently it is a museum docked near the Florida Aquarium. Discover galley, cargo equipment, food hall, lifeboats and the bridge.
• Channelside Bay Plaza: center with many eateries, bars, retail outlets and entertainment places.
• Tampa’s Riverwalk: across the Garrison channel you will be able to see SS American Victory, Florida Aquarium, Channelside Bay Plaza, Tampa Cruise Port Terminal 2, Teco Line Streetcar, Tampa Bay History Center, Florida Museum Of Photographic Arts, MacDill Park, Tampa Museum of Art and Kiley Gardens.
• Ybor City: styled in Cuban way with narrow alleys, brick buildings and iron railings. It has a unique charm with its flamenco dancers and cigars made by hand.
• Henry B Plant Museum: discover the interesting life of the famous railroad tycoon.
• Busch Gardens Theme Park: located 8 miles away from Tampa Cruise Port, direction North.

Tampa tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

Port Tampa Bay approves $500,000 design contract for 4th cruise terminal

Port Tampa Bay (Florida USA) commissioners approved a US$500,000 contract with an engineering firm on Tuesday, June 18th, to initiate the design...

Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship MAS Islander sets sail from Tampa FL

The newest addition to the Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville at Sea cruise line has arrived in Tampa, Florida. MAS Islander, the company's second...

Margaritaville at Sea's ship Islander sets sail for homeport Tampa Florida after major refurbishment

The newest Margaritaville at Sea vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, has commenced her voyage to Tampa, Florida USA. Departing from the...

Norovirus outbreaks affect ~200 passengers on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean ships

Nearly 200 individuals fell ill due to norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and RCI-Royal Caribbean International ships. According to the CDC...

Carnival Paradise crew rescues 27 Cubans during voyage from Tampa FL

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Oceania Cruises unveils 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection

Oceania Cruises, renowned for its culinary and destination-focused voyages, has unveiled its 2025-2026 Tropics and Exotics Collection. The collection...

Royal Caribbean's ships Rhapsody and Grandeur homeported in Tampa for 2025-2026 winter

Tampa's maritime landscape is set to flourish with the arrival of two of RCI-Royal Caribbean's renowned vessels, Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of...

RCI-Royal Caribbean unveils 2025-2026 Caribbean and Bahamas cruise itineraries

RCI-Royal Caribbean International has unveiled its latest offerings of 3- to 6-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruises for the 2025-2026 season. These...

Port Tampa Bay poised to break cruise passenger record amid industry surge

Port Tampa Bay (Florida USA) anticipates surpassing its previous all-time high for cruise passenger traffic this year, reflecting the ongoing...

Margaritaville's ship Islander/Costa Atlantica to be drydock refit/refurbished in Belfast for June...

The former Costa Cruises ship Costa Atlantica (acquired by Margaritaville at Sea/Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2023) arrived at Harland & Wolff...

•   show more news

Tampa - user reviews and comments

The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

What is the best location for a cabin on a cruise ship?

As a cruise writer for more than 20 years , I've heard that question a lot, and it's not an easy one to answer. On any given cruise vessel, the best cabin location for one person might not be the best choice for another.

The ideal cabin for a light sleeper on a particular ship, for instance, might be a room tucked away in the quietest corner of the vessel. But another passenger on the same ship who cares more about the view might be happiest with a completely different spot.

For more cruise guides, news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

On a typical cruise ship, cabins are spread out all over the place — high and low, and to the front, middle and back. Not that that's always the case.

Some cruise vessels — particularly river ships — have cabins clustered at their backs with public areas at their fronts. Other vessels, such as most of the ocean ships operated by luxury lines Seabourn , Silversea Cruises and Scenic Luxury Cruises , have cabins clustered at their fronts with public areas at their backs.

Cruise cabins also come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of amenities and benefits. Some lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , offer a huge range of room options , from tiny, windowless "inside" cabins to palatial suites, in all sorts of locations on their vessels.

Indeed, there's such a wide variety of not only cabin locations but also types of cabins on ships that the best way to narrow down the choices of accommodations on any given vessel might be to assemble a list of cabins you definitely don't want to choose.

Related: Inside Regent's $11,000-a-night super suite

As it happens, we've already done that here at TPG in our guide to cabin locations you definitely should avoid .

Still, there are some broad categories of cabin locations on cruise ships that always are in high demand due to their prime locations.

Related: 6 reasons why you want to pay up for a balcony cabin

Midship cabins

These are the cabins that you should seek if you're particularly prone to seasickness.

The big allure of a midship cabin is its stability. You won't feel the rocking of the sea in a midship cabin nearly as much as you will in a cabin toward the front or back of a vessel. This is because ships are like teeter-totters. They pitch forward and back around a central axis that barely moves.

If you are in the center of a ship, you are at the equivalent of the center of a teeter-totter. Even in very rough seas, you're not going to move nearly as much when the ship goes up and down in the waves as someone located at either of the far ends of the ship.

Note that it also helps to be low to the water if you're worried about seasickness.

On very large ships, where activity areas are spread far apart, midship cabins also offer the advantage of being at the center of everything. The main pool deck, for instance, is likely right above you when you are in a midship cabin — not a long walk away. Ditto for central interior areas.

Related: 22 cruise ship cabin hacks that will transform your voyage

Cabins at the back

There's something mesmerizing about being at the back of a ship overlooking its wake. When you are in the open ocean, you can see the long trail of churned-up water behind you, stretching seemingly forever like a road in the sea. It is tangible evidence of your journey. When you are pulling away from a port, you have the best view in the house.

I admit I could stand at the back of a ship for hours looking out over the water, and I'm a big fan of rear-facing cabins — as long as they have a balcony. I'm firmly in the camp that says rear-facing balcony cabins are among the best balcony cabins on any ship.

Often, the balconies on rear-facing cabins are bigger than the balconies on side-facing cabins, and they also feel quiet. There are far fewer balcony cabins at the back of a ship than on the sides of a ship, so you don't hear a lot of noise from your neighbors.

If your cabin is at the rear corner of a ship, you might even have a balcony that wraps around two sides of the vessel. Those sorts of balconies are the ultimate in cool.

Note that on some ships, all or most of the rear-facing cabins are large, pricey suites, but this isn't always the case. Carnival Cruise Line ships, for instance, typically have quite a few non-suite accommodations at their backs.

Related: Everything you want to know about cabins and suites on Carnival Cruise Line ships

Cabins at the front

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of forward-facing cabins. For starters, there is nowhere on a ship more prone to movement than the front of a ship. Forward-facing cabins also often lack balconies, for reasons I will explain in a moment.

All that said, many cruisers just love forward-facing cabins. They love them because the view can be spectacular, particularly as you arrive at a new port. Also, some people love the idea of being at the very front of a ship and being able to see where they're going.

Related: Why it pays to upgrade your cruise cabin

Forward-facing cabins also sometimes come with extra space. This is because they sometimes incorporate the oddly angled interior spaces that exist at the front of ships, which often have slanted fronts. As mentioned above, forward-facing cabins often will not have balconies, as the wind over the bow of a ship that's underway is such that a balcony isn't practical. Instead, they'll have large windows — sometimes floor-to-ceiling windows — that offer stellar views.

Cabins surrounded by other cabins

Light sleepers, take note: The best place to be if you want the best chance of not being bothered by noise is a cabin that is surrounded by other cabins. This means a cabin that has a cabin directly above it and a cabin directly below it, as well as cabins on both sides.

To find such a cabin is harder than you might think. On the typical ship, the top deck of cabins is directly below the pool and activity decks, which can be noisy during the day and even into the night (yes, the noise sometimes will waft through your ceiling). The cabin deck just below that top deck of cabins can be a good choice.

But go a couple more decks down, and you're often right on top of interior entertainment decks that are home to music lounges, theaters and other noisy venues.

Related: 15 ways cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

If the ultimate in quietude is your goal, you'll also want to avoid cabins anywhere near elevators, passenger launderettes and other areas that draw foot traffic. It can take some studying of deck plans, but as seasoned cruisers know, it's worth holding out for a cabin that is far away from anything that could keep you up at night.

Cabins near the spa

If you're a big spa fan — the kind who can spend hours on vacation getting treatments — you'll want to get a cabin right near your ship's spa. Trust us. Walking long distances across a bustling ship in your robe and slippers for a spa appointment can be a bit, well, weird.

Cruise lines cater to spa lovers with special spa cabins that are close to the spa and come with special spa amenities. These might include plush bathrobes and slippers to wear on your way to the spa, upgraded toiletries, scrub kits, aromatherapy diffusers and even yoga mats. The cabins sometimes also come with spa discounts, unlimited spa lounge access and other spa-related perks.

Lines that have designated spa cabins on some or all ships include Celebrity Cruises , Carnival, Holland America , Azamara and MSC Cruises .

On Celebrity, the spa cabins — called AquaClass cabins — come with exclusive access to a special spa restaurant called Blu.

If you're interested in a spa cabin, you'll want to book far in advance. They often sell out early.

Bottom line

There is no right answer to the question of what is the best cabin location on a cruise ship. The perfect location for a cabin for one passenger might not be the perfect location for another.

That said, there are certain places on cruise ships that are better than others when it comes to cabin location, including the front and back of vessels. There's nothing quite like being able to look forward from your room when on a ship approaching a port or to watch the wake of the ship from a rear-facing cabin.

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Jimmy Buffett-themed cruise line adds second ship, but it's too big for Port of Palm Beach

Executives of classica cruise lines have yet to say what their plans are for the cruise ship bought from carnival cruise lines; the ship is too big to operate out of palm beach..

The Jimmy Buffett-themed cruise line has bought a second ship from Carnival Cruise Line but don't expect it to operate out of the Port of Palm Beach ; it is too big.

There has been speculation for some time that Classica Cruise Operator LTD, the entity that owns Margaritaville at Sea Paradise , was looking to add a second ship.

The Paradise , Classica Cruise's only ship, offers three-day, two-night sailings to Grand Bahama from the Port of Palm Beach. Executives of Classica Cruise have declined to comment about the purchase or its plans for Costa Atlantica, a 23-year-old vessel. It is 959 feet long, about 200 feet longer than Margaritaville at Sea Paradise . The length limit for a vessel at Port of Palm Beach is about 800 feet.

The Costa Atlantica, already renamed "Margaritaville at Sea Islander," can accommodate 2,680 passengers, nearly double that of the Paradise ship. The Costa Atlantica operated a range of itineraries for the Costa Cruises line, a subsidiary of Carnival Cruise lines. It had been closely associated with the Chinese market and was part of a joint partnership between Carnival and China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

According to VesselsValue, a company that provides data on ships, Costa Atlantica was constructed by STX Finland. It has an estimated value of $65 million. Port of Palm Beach spokeswoman Yaremi Farinas said the port does not know what the plans are for the new vessel but confirmed its length prevents it from operating out of the Port of Palm Beach.

More on the new cruise ship: The Margaritaville at Sea Islander

More: Why a $10.9 million dredging project is a win-win for the Port of Palm Beach and beachgoers

In a statement emailed to The Palm Beach Post, Executive Director Michael Meekins said the cruise line notified the Port that new investors are acquiring ownership and control of the company, adding that the management is comfortable with the ownership change and looks forward to more years of shared success.

The Post reported in June that the Margaritaville Paradise ship was generating strong revenue. In June 2022, its first full month of operation, the passenger count was 13,688 and the following month, it doubled to nearly 27,000. Nearly 43,000 passengers boarded the vessel in July 2023, 59% more than the same month of a year ago.

The Costa Atlantica remains registered in the Bahamas. It is still at dock with Carnival Corp., according to a Maritime Executive, and has not been used since the pandemic.

So what port will be the home base for Margaritaville at Sea Islander? Possible sites include PortMiami and Port Everglades.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at  The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at [email protected] . Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

Cruise ship with Broadway stars to steam off to Mexico in spring 2025

A cruise ship starring some of Broadway’s biggest names, including Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti and Emmy-winner Wayne Brady, will sail from Miami to Mexico next spring

NEW YORK -- A cruise ship with some of Broadway's biggest names — including Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti and Emmy-winner Wayne Brady — will sail from Florida to Mexico next spring.

The Broadway Cruise — heading roundtrip from Miami to Cozumel, from March 31-April 4, 2025 — will also feature Tony nominees Shoshana Bean, Eva Noblezada and Alex Brightman, as well as Broadway favorites Corey Cott, Caissie Levy and Solea Pfeiffer.

Tony-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, behind such shows as "Kinky Boots" and “La Cage au Folles,” will discuss creating a show and teach dance classes, while Tony-winning producer Jeffrey Seller — behind such hits as “Hamilton,” “Rent” and "Avenue Q" — will discuss producing hits on Broadway. Will Van Dyke will be the musical director for the cruise.

Producers promise “intimate and grand scale shows and cabarets from Broadway’s coolest talent. You will gain tips and techniques from some of the best and brightest creative talent working today.” There will also be celebrity meet-and-greets and Broadway karaoke.

This will be the third Broadway Cruise, which borrows the Norwegian Gem for its themed trips. Patrons can see performances at everything from the 850-seat Stardust Theater to the Pool Deck Stage, which fits 2,000 or the Atrium Stage, which fits 300.

“With two incredibly successful trips under our belt, The Broadway Cruise is now an annual tradition," Scott Zeiger, executive producer for EBG Solutions, said in a statement. "If you love Broadway, there is no vacation more fulfilling and exciting than being on our complete ship takeover with today’s biggest talent”.

Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits

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Palm trees and parrots abound: What it's like on Margaritaville at Sea's new cruise ship

• The line's new ship, Islander, has 13 bars and lounges.
• The ship got a Margaritaville makeover, with parrots and palm trees abounding.
• The vibes are good, with excitement on board even during the short preview cruise.

The door to my cabin had barely closed behind me when I saw the first margarita of my Margaritaville at Sea cruise. Or the recipe for one, at least.

On a shelf, “Margaritaville: The Cookbook: Relaxed Recipes for a Taste of Paradise” was opened to a recipe for “Jimmy’s Perfect Margarita.” Suddenly, a refreshment sounded quite good.

Luckily, I was in the right place aboard the line’s new ship, Margaritaville at Sea Islander , which has 13 bars and lounges. What better way to set my proverbial watch to “Islander time”? (“Welcome to Islander time” is an official greeting on board).

I spent two nights aboard the 2,650-passenger vessel ahead of its first official sailing for the line on Friday. Here’s what stood out to me.

Jimmy Buffett is everywhere

As the man behind the Margaritaville empire , I expected some Jimmy Buffett references on board. But I was struck by how the line leaned in. 

Buffett’s novel, “A Salty Piece of Land,” was on the coffee table in my Signature Grand Suite, and a sign on the wall displayed the lyrics to his song, “Lovely Cruise.” The words, “I’m sorry it’s ended, it’s sad but it’s true / Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise,” seem even more poignant following his death in 2023 .

Elsewhere the nods were less subtle, with multiple flip-flop art pieces featuring the musician’s face and two Jimmy Buffett concerts listed on the ship’s schedule during the first day alone.

The brand’s appeal goes beyond his fans, however. Margaritaville at Sea CEO Christopher Ivy said the line tries to celebrate the ethos the singer represented (he even recently interacted with a guest who didn’t know who Buffett was).

“It's become much more broad, and we try to bring that through,” he said during a media briefing on board. “So, if you're a fan, great, but the catalog and the lifestyle behind it, we try to really make resonate.”

But even as a casual Buffett listener – don’t come for me, Parrotheads – I enjoyed the effect like he was our honorary co-captain.

What should I pack for a cruise?: Here are 5 essential items to bring

The ship got a Margaritaville makeover

Islander is new to Margaritaville, but it’s not new. The vessel, which previously sailed as Costa Atlantica, was originally launched in 2000.

The ship was renovated before relaunching as Islander this month, and the line blended updates with retro remnants of its former life. Ivy said there “are really no areas of the vessel that didn't have an extensive reimagining.”

Parrots and palm trees abound, from illustrations on the ship’s exterior to wallpaper in the halls, and a giant flip-flop anchors the ship’s soaring atrium (this proved a popular photo spot on my sailing). As the cruise director put it on stage one night, “We worship the flip flop here on board.”

On the landings between staircases, signs read, “Where it’s always 5 o’clock,” accompanied by images of clocks set to that time.

The ship generally looks good for its age, but some parts appeared well-worn. I noticed tarnished handles on multiple doors in my cabin, for instance. A striking set of transparent stairs connecting the Port of Indecision Buffet to the JWB Prime Steakhouse – allowing guests to see seven decks down beneath their feet – was also marred by scratches and scuff marks.

The inside of my suite generally looked clean and modern. The sinks were spotless and the lighted mirrors looked straight out of a new-build apartment.

The vibes are good

In addition to its bars and lounges, with 12 eateries and three pool areas – all doused in the sunny Margaritaville aesthetic – Islander felt like a vessel for fun (pun intended).

Even during the short preview cruise, there was excitement on board. Guests milled about and chatted at the Flip Flop Atrium bar to the soundtrack of a violin cover of Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night.” During the country-themed “Conky Tonkin’ at Sea” show, aerial dancing was met with raucous applause and cheers, and mini-golf in the Dis and Dat Activity Zone was packed with adults and kids.

The Ultimate Beverage Chill package, which includes drinks like beer, wine by the glass, cocktails, soda, mocktails and more, costs $59.99 per person, per night. There is also an Unlimited Soda Package available for $10 per night, per guest.

The ship will sail four and five-night itineraries round-trip from Tampa, Florida to destinations like Key West and Cozumel, Mexico, before launching longer six and seven-night cruises in 2025. Prices vary by sailing date and stateroom category, but a four-night cruise departing July 26 currently starts at $349 per person . Fares include most meals, live entertainment and more.

Margaritaville at Sea CMO Amanda Travaglini said the brand aims to communicate a simple message.

“It really boils down to, I want people to look at what we do and very simply say, ‘That looks like a heck of a lot of fun, and I need to be there.’”

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Margaritaville at Sea. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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I feel most insignificant gazing up at the stars or pondering what happens inside a supermassive black hole. Or, you know, reading how Harvard researchers recently said aliens could be on Earth passing as humans, which, correct me if I’m wrong, is the plot of “Men in Black.”

Other times, a Jimmy Buffett cruise does the philosophical trick.

Haven’t you heard? A new Margaritaville at Sea cruise just launched from Port Tampa Bay with trips to Mexico and Key West. The vessel is an ode to the musician who died in 2023 at 76. In his life, Buffett became a marketing behemoth on behalf of Total Relaxation, a spokesperson for the delusion of leaving one’s problems in the snowy driveway, embodying the son of a son of a sailor and getting schnockered on sugary margs.

Per our reporter, the ship’s soaring premises house a large teal flip-flop, margarita chandeliers, floating fish, flying parrots and a replica of Buffett’s personal seaplane. A message on the side of the vessel declares the time always five o’clock. There’s a Port of Indecision buffet, a Fins Up fitness center, a Cheeseburger in Paradise burger bar and endless opportunities to tune out life in pursuit of pickleball and vacation meats.

Buffett’s empire, which grew to include restaurants, stores, vacation clubs, marijuana and more, represents a fantasy; anyone from Florida knows that falling asleep face-down on the sand is a dermatology invoice waiting to happen. And while it’s tempting to punch down at Parrotheads for partaking, the reality is that this cruise sounds … fun. Whatever Buffett was like in private, he built a massive, colorful persona that will long outlive him.

Here’s the sunscreen rub: The deaths of our icons make us take stock of our own smaller lives. What I mean is, we’re all going to die someday — this is going great, pour a rum runner! — and we better have our proverbial cruise ships in order. When the living think back on us, a set of imagery will spring to mind. The iconography of our life. The dressings of our memory. The salt on our rim.

In the spirit of the man who esoterically wrote “My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, and I Don’t Love Jesus,” let’s play a game. If someone were to fashion a cruise ship experience around your personal universe, how would that materialize? Email me, I beg you, and I’ll publish the best answers in my next newsletter .

I’ll go first. My cruise ship would be littered with Diet Coke cans that have two warm gulps left in the bottom. There would be a laundry facility, but the laundry would never get done. For entertainment, we’re talking gallons of cold sauvignon blanc and a portable karaoke machine with one busted microphone and the complete catalog of Destiny’s Child. Four half-read novels would litter every table, not a single coaster in use.

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As a Gemini, my cruise would party hard for three to five days, which does not sound all that different from the Margaritaville cruise. However, after getting a mysterious aura behind the eye, the ship would need to dock back at the home port and go dark. When potential new customers try to book a trip, my customer service bot would reply a week later with, “Sorry, just seeing this.”

My cruise would be an acquired taste, as would yours, as is Margaritaville at Sea. But, hey, in these times rife with internet judgment, high interest rates and societal pressure to never be cringe, it might be exciting for us all to become a little more acquired. Who wants their legacy to be “large format beige tile that will aid in resale”? What cruise ship can be decorated with sensible slacks and sound financial decisions?

Go off, Margaritaville at Sea! Blast “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” a song that made my parents feverishly attempt to fast-forward the tape deck every time. Serve ersatz Huli Huli chicken and yoga mimosas. Deploy the character actor in the plushy parrot suit. Cascade forth from Tampa Bay as a gaudy, confident reminder to steer our freakish ships, however uneven they may sail.

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Stephanie Hayes is a columnist offering her thoughts on current events, life and culture. She can be reached at [email protected].

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