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Cruise Terminal 2
Beside the Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf on Channelside Drive. Commonly used by Royal Caribbean, with some Celebrity and Norwegian sailings; parking is a short walk away.
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Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city of about 400,000 on Florida's Gulf Coast, the hub of the Tampa Bay area with St. Petersburg and Clearwater. More about Tampa →
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Ship schedule by month
October 2026 · from today · all times local (Eastern Time)
ShipDateArrivalDeparture
Showing 10 of 10 calls in October
Cruise Ships in Tampa
Today and the next 7 days · all times local (Eastern Time)
Today · Thu 22 OctLight
3,044 people in port
1 ship · 1 turnaround · ships alongside 08:00 – 15:30
50% quieter than a typical day in Tampa. Busiest 08:00 – 15:00, when 1 ship is alongside.
Next 7 days
Quietest: Tue 27 Oct · busiest: Sat 24 Oct- Thu22 Oct3.0kLight1 ship
- Fri23 Oct–No ships0 ships
- Sat24 Oct9.3kPeak3 ships
- Sun25 Oct3.2kLight1 ship
- Mon26 Oct3.0kLight1 ship
- Tue27 Oct3.0kLight1 ship
- Wed28 Oct3.1kLight1 ship
Thousands of people in port, guests plus crew. Crowd level compared with a typical Tampa day.
Planning a day in Tampa?
The crowd calendar shows every ship and how busy the port is, hour by hour, plus the quietest and busiest days for the next 90 days.
Where is the Tampa cruise port?
Ships dock at Port Tampa Bay in the Channel District on the eastern edge of downtown. Terminals 2 and 3 sit together on Channelside Drive by the Florida Aquarium and the official garage; Terminal 6 is about 0.5 km north on McKay Street. Assignment varies by sailing.
Downtown is about 2 km by road, and the TECO Line Streetcar stops along Channelside Drive.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge's clearance keeps the largest modern ships out of Tampa.
Terminal
Getting to the Tampa cruise port
Tampa International Airport → Port Tampa Bay cruise terminals
15 km · 15–20 min by car
Most fly-in passengers take a taxi or rideshare via I-275 and the Selmon Expressway area into the Channel District, about 15 km. Taxis wait at Ground Transportation areas Red 1 and Blue 2. Rideshare pickups are at the Red or Blue Express Curbside. Terminals 2, 3 and 6 are all about the same distance (Terminal 6 measured at about 20 minutes).
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
TransportTypical priceJourneyGood to know
Yellow Cab (airport taxi)
$40per vehicle
15–20 min
Flat fare published by the airport to downtown and the cruise terminal.
Uber / Lyft
$20–35per vehicle
15–20 min
Dynamic pricing plus a USD 5 airport pickup fee; surges on Saturday turnaround mornings.
Cruise-line transfer
Variesper person
Varies
Varies by line and sailing; book through your cruise line.
Public bus (HART Route 30)
$2per person
Varies
Local bus to downtown, then the streetcar or a short ride to the port. Only practical for light packers.
Typical prices, approximate. Fares change with demand, traffic and time of day.
Driving to the port
All terminals are reached from Channelside Drive or McKay Street off the Selmon Expressway and I-275. Follow the signed BLUE route for drop-off and valet and the RED route for parking. Traffic builds on turnaround mornings.
Tampa Cruise Terminals
3 terminals
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Cruise Terminal 3
Port Tampa Bay's central cruise terminal, directly across from the Channelside garage. Primarily used by Carnival, plus some Royal Caribbean and Norwegian sailings.
Cruise Terminal 6
Separate terminal on McKay Street north of Terminals 2 and 3, with its own parking lot. Generally used by Margaritaville at Sea, with some Celebrity and Norwegian sailings.
Parking at the Tampa cruise port
Port Tampa Bay runs the indoor Channelside Parking Garage, across the street from Cruise Terminal 3 (815 Channelside Drive), with self-park, valet and oversized-vehicle options. Prices are quoted per cruise when you prepay online; for example, about USD 107 self-park or USD 127 valet for a 5-night sailing.
Parking facilities
FacilityServesRatesReservationRate notes
Channelside Parking GaragePort Tampa Bay
Cruise Terminal 2, Cruise Terminal 3, Cruise Terminal 6
~$106.99–126.99/cruise
Available
Serves Cruise Terminal 2, Cruise Terminal 3, Cruise Terminal 6 · Reservation: Available
Example: about USD 107 for a 5-night sailing, self-park, fees included; varies by sailing. · Example: about USD 127 for a 5-night sailing with valet, fees included; varies by sailing.
Disabled-permit holders pay posted rates, except vehicles exempt under Florida Statute 316.1964 (vehicles with specialized disability equipment, Florida disabled-veteran plates, or the Florida Toll Exemption permit).
Where to Stay Before Your Cruise
Pick the area first. Typical nightly prices, approximate.
Channel District and Water Street
$140–250 / night
Walking to the cruise terminals
Typical hotel
$140–250 / night
Port ~5 minAirport ~15 min
Hotels steps from the terminals and Sparkman Wharf.
Hotels here
- Hampton Inn Tampa Downtown Channel District
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Channel District
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center
Downtown and Riverwalk
$140–320 / night
Riverwalk dining
Typical hotel
$140–320 / night
Port ~5 minAirport ~15 min
Downtown towers along the Riverwalk, a few minutes from the port.
Hotels here
- Hotel Flor Tampa Downtown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- Hilton Tampa Downtown
- Westin Tampa Downtown Waterside
Ybor City
$95–200 / night
Historic district and nightlife
Typical hotel
$95–200 / night
Port ~10 minAirport 15–20 min
Historic cigar district with restaurants, linked to the port by the TECO streetcar.
Hotels here
- Hotel Haya
- Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District
- Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa/Ybor City/Downtown
Westshore and Airport area
$80–200 / night
Late arrivals and value
Typical hotel
$80–200 / night
Port ~15 minAirport ~5 min
Airport-area hotels with shuttles, about 15 minutes from the port.
Hotels here
- The Westshore Grand, Tampa, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
- Hyatt House Tampa Airport / Westshore
- Hampton Inn Tampa-International Airport/Westshore
Port times are measured to Cruise Terminal 3.
Eating in Tampa
- Breakfast per person
- $1–20
- per person
- Casual lunch per person
- $20–80
- per person
- Restaurant dinner per person
- $20–80
- per person
Prices are approximate. Sales tax is added and an 18–20% tip is customary.
Where to eat
Sparkman Wharf and Channelside
Food hall and restaurants next to the cruise terminals.
Ybor City – 7th Avenue
Cuban sandwiches and restaurants in the historic district.
Sparkman Wharf
Waterfront container food hall and lawn at 615 Channelside Drive, next to Terminal 2 and across from the port garage.
Water Street Tampa
New walkable district beside the Channel District with cafes, restaurants and the Marriott hotels, about 1 km from the terminals.
Armature Works
Riverside food hall in a restored streetcar barn north of downtown, on the Riverwalk; good for a pre-cruise meal.
Destination
About Tampa
Tampa is a city of about 400,000 on Florida's Gulf Coast, the hub of the Tampa Bay area with St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
Ybor City, its historic cigar-making Latin Quarter, keeps brick streets and Cuban, Spanish and Italian food traditions. Downtown follows the 2.6-mile Riverwalk, and the Channel District beside the port has the Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf. Clearwater's Gulf beaches are within about an hour.
Port Tampa Bay is a year-round homeport for Western Caribbean and Mexico cruises.
- Climate
- Humid subtropical. Summers are hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms; average highs run from about 22 °C in winter to 33 °C in summer. Winters are mild and drier. The Atlantic hurricane season runs June to November.
- Time zone
- Eastern Time
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
Things to Do in Tampa
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The Florida Aquarium
A large aquarium next to Terminal 2 with coral reef, wetlands and shark habitats; easy to visit before boarding, and it stores luggage free with a discounted ticket. Adult tickets are date-priced, roughly USD 32–41 online.
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Ybor City
Tampa's historic cigar district, with brick-lined 7th Avenue, Cuban cafes, the Columbia Restaurant and the Ybor City Museum State Park. About 10 minutes from the port by streetcar or car.
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Tampa Riverwalk
A 2.6-mile waterfront walkway along the Hillsborough River and Garrison Channel linking the Channel District, downtown parks, museums and Armature Works; good for a pre- or post-cruise stroll.
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Clearwater Beach
White-sand Gulf beach with Pier 60 and a lively beachfront, about 42 km and 40–45 minutes' drive west of the port; best for an extra day before or after the cruise.