Cruises from Tampa to the Caribbean

Which lines sail from Tampa to the Caribbean?

• Carnival Cruise Line
  Laid-back, loud in the best way and unpretentious; flip-flops, burgers by the pool and a comedy show after dinner.
• Celebrity Cruises
  Stylish, relaxed and adult-leaning; good food, good cocktails and a calmer pool deck than the big family brands.
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  Flexible and lively, with a Las Vegas-meets-resort feel; dinner whenever you want, in whatever you packed.
• Royal Caribbean International
  Energetic, family-friendly and packed with headline attractions; think floating theme park with a good Broadway show at night.

When to go

1. January: Best time, average high 83 degrees F Jan 83°72°
2. February: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Feb 84°72°
3. March: Best time, average high 85 degrees F Mar 85°72°
4. April: Best time, average high 86 degrees F Apr 86°74°
5. May: Shoulder season, average high 87 degrees F May 87°76°
6. June: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jun 89°77°
7. July: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Jul 89°78°
8. August: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Aug 89°78°
9. September: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Sep 89°78°
10. October: Cruises run, average high 89 degrees F Oct 89°77°
11. November: Shoulder season, average high 86 degrees F Nov 86°75°
12. December: Best time, average high 84 degrees F Dec 84°73°

• Best time
• Shoulder season
• Cruises run
• Few or none

Temperatures in Fahrenheit, long-term averages. Climate source.

Cruises run all year. December through April is the drier, less humid season with the most reliable weather and the highest demand. June through November is Atlantic hurricane season, with the greatest storm activity from mid-August through mid-October; ships reroute around storms, so itineraries can change.

The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, and NOAA data shows most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Cruise ships are fast enough to steer around storms, so the usual effect is a changed itinerary (a port swapped or skipped, or an extra sea day) rather than danger, but departures can be delayed if a home port closes. Summer brings afternoon showers and high humidity everywhere; winter cold fronts can make the northern islands and the Bahamas breezy and choppy.

Where you'll stop

Itineraries vary by line and length. These are the ports the Caribbean cruises most often visit:

• Cozumel, Mexico: A major cruise hub with clear-water reef snorkeling and diving, beach clubs and ferries to Playa del Carmen.
• Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: A US territory with Magens Bay beach, duty-free shopping and a short ferry ride to St. John's national park beaches.
• Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Sint Maarten: Walkable beach and shopping town on an island split between Dutch and French sides, with Maho Beach and its low-flying jets nearby.
• George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands: Stingray City sandbar trips, Seven Mile Beach and excellent snorkeling; ships anchor here and tender passengers ashore.
• Nassau, Bahamas: An easy first stop on short cruises, with beaches, a historic downtown and day passes to resort water parks.
• Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba: Reliable dry, sunny weather and long white beaches such as Eagle Beach, a short ride from the cruise pier.

Before you sail from Tampa

From TPA, a taxi or rideshare usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes via the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway or I-275. Drivers follow the port's color-coded routes: the blue route for passenger drop-off and valet, the red route to park. If you are staying in Ybor City or downtown, the TECO Line Streetcar runs along Channelside and is handy for getting around before your cruise.

Port Tampa Bay's Channelside Parking Garage at 810 Channelside Drive sits across the street from Terminal 3, with signage directing cruisers. You can prepay online through links for Carnival, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Margaritaville on the port's cruise parking page, and valet and oversized parking are offered. Qualifying disabled veterans and certain modified vehicles can park free at 810 Channelside Drive and 1331 McKay Street when a ship is in port, subject to availability.

• Prepay parking through the port's page for your cruise line to speed up entry.
• Follow the blue route if you are only dropping off and the red route if you are parking.
• Expect a long, scenic sailaway through Tampa Bay; the ship needs a few hours to reach open water.
• The Florida Aquarium is next to the terminals and makes an easy pre-cruise outing.

Documents: Cruises that begin and end at the same US port are "closed-loop" sailings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection says US citizens on a closed-loop cruise can re-enter the United States with a birth certificate plus a government-issued photo ID, and children under 16 need only proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate (most lines want an original or certified copy, not a photocopy). CBP also warns that the countries your ship visits may still ask for a passport, and cruise lines can set stricter rules than the government does. We recommend a passport book anyway: if you miss the ship or have to fly home early from a foreign port, you cannot board an international flight without one, and a passport card works only for land and sea crossings. Non-US citizens, including green card holders, have different rules. Check current requirements with your cruise line and the State Department before you sail.

More detail: our full Tampa cruise port guide and our Caribbean cruise guide.

Related routes

Also from Tampa: Western Caribbean.

Caribbean from other ports: Cape Liberty (Bayonne), Fort Lauderdale, Galveston, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Port Canaveral, San Juan.