Tampa is one of the premier cruise port destinations in the South. Having sailed my Phillip Rhodes Offshore 40 sloop Siskiwit for over 24 years and served as a navigator on 4 ships in the US Navy, I have a unique appreciation for ships and those who cruise on them.
Erehwon Retreat is less than 5 miles from the Port of Tampa and we frequently host guests before or after completing a cruise. Multiple cruise lines have already reaped the benefits of homeporting their ships at Port Tampa Bay. Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise and Carnival Miracle, Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas, and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn will all sail out of the city, enabling cruise travellers to explore multiple destinations across the Caribbean and Central America.
Celebrity Cruises
Joining these ships is Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation, which will operate 10- and 11-night roundtrips from Tampa beginning November 2020. Following a 14-night transatlantic crossing from Barcelona, Spain, Celebrity Constellation will begin sailing three unique itineraries, including a 10-night Eastern Caribbean escape that calls at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Samana, Dominican Republic.
The vessel will also provide 11-night Southern Caribbean voyages with visits to Key West; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curacao; and George Town, Grand Cayman.
Alternatively, guests can opt for an 11-night ‘Touch Canal’ itinerary that will take them to explore Cozumel, Mexico; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; the Panama Canal; Colon, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town.
MSC Cruises
MSC Cruises has added Port Tampa Bay to its winter 2020 cruise itineraries too. For the first time, MSC Armonia will sail from the port, providing year-round voyages to breathtaking destinations, including Progreso, Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Key West and the brand’s new Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in The Bahamas.
Holland America Line
Holland America Line will also be returning to homeport in the city after a one-year hiatus. Throughout winter 2020, Veendam will sail 7- and 14-day itineraries to Key West; Samana; San Juan; St. Thomas; St. John; George Town; Willemstad; Oranjestad; Costa Maya; Castries, St Lucia; Banana Coast and Mahogany Bay, Honduras; Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala; Belize City, Belize; Philipsburg, St Maarten; and Basseterre, The Bahamas.