Everything You Need to Know About Tampa Cruise Port: Parking and Terminal
The Tampa cruise port is officially named “Port Tampa Bay.” Of the many ports in Florida, it’s one of the smallest, serving just over 1 million cruise passengers annually. With Margaritaville at Sea announcing that they will start sailing from Tampa in summer 2024, that number will continue to rise. Presently, Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Cruise Line depart from this port.
Despite its smaller size, I’ve found it to run just as smoothly and efficiently as two of its comparatively giant sister ports, Port Miami and Port Canaveral.
Port Tampa Bay accommodates a variety of watercraft but only has three terminals for cruise ships: Terminals #2, #3, and #6, making it quite easy to navigate. Cruisers can determine their departure terminal by consulting the cruise documents provided by the cruise line. Still, upon arrival at the port, signage will indicate where each cruise ship is docked.
The address of the Tampa cruise port is, in general, located on Channelside Drive, but the specific addresses per terminal are as follows: Terminal #2 is 651 Channelside Drive and its corresponding parking garage address is 810 Channelside Drive and Terminal #3 is 815 Channelside Drive and its parking garage is shared with Terminal #2 with the same address (810 Channelside Drive). The Terminal #6 address is the same as the address for its corresponding parking lot, which is 1331 McKay Street.
Getting to Port
Port Tampa Bay is about 15 miles from TPA (Tampa International Airport), which is approximately a 20-30 minute drive, depending upon traffic. Cruisers flying to Tampa may also consider searching for flights to St. Petersburg (PIE) (14.6 miles), Sarasota/Bradenton (SRQ) (39.4 miles), Orlando (MCO) (78.1 miles), given their relatively close proximity to Port Tampa Bay and the fact that there sometimes can be a substantial difference in airfare pricing between airports.
Best Options to Get from Tampa Airport to Port Tampa Bay
- Cruise Line Transfer: Most cruise lines offer transfer service, and Carnival’s service from TPA to Port Tampa Bay, as one example, is $24.99 per person. This is booked directly through your cruise line.
- Hotel Shuttle: Some Tampa hotels offer an optional (shared) shuttle service for guests, but this usually is not provided as a free amenity, and the cost can end up being more than the other transfer options.
- Rideshare: When it comes to getting to port, I typically recommend using Uber, which for this distance runs $38-55, depending on the time of day and other factors, but that is for up to four passengers.
- Private Transfer: Cruisers can book their own private transfer service, which is much more convenient than cruise line transfer service or hotel transfer services, which are typically on a bus or shuttle with other cruisers. Get Transfer offers transfer service for up to three people from Tampa Airport to Port Tampa Bay starting at $40, or cruisers traveling in a larger group can book a van for up to 8 people starting at $61 or a minibus for up to 16 people starting at $119.
- Public Transportation: The TECO Line Streetcar is free to ride and runs a route that takes travelers to a stop at Channelside Drive, which is the location of the three Tampa terminals.
The TPA website has a great comprehensive summary of up-to-date transportation options, including pricing.
Best Tampa Hotels for Cruisers
This is an involved topic, so I created a separate post detailing the best Tampa hotels near the cruise port with a shuttle.
Port Tampa Parking
The Port Tampa Bay parking garage is located across the street from the central cruise terminal at 815 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602, and signs on-site direct cruise passengers to the garage. Rates are $15.75 per day for self-parking, and cruisers can pony up a $20 one-time additional fee to enjoy the convenience of valet service. With valet service, cruisers can pull right into the terminal area, and a valet will park your car for you, and then have it waiting for you when you later disembark the ship.
Parking can be purchased in advance directly from the Port Tampa Bay website, although no reservation is required. If you plan to park an oversized vehicle over 7’2″, which costs $36.50 per day, however, booking in advance is advisable, as these spaces are very limited and can sell out far in advance.
Port Schedule
The Port Tampa Bay cruise schedule can be found directly on the port’s website.
Things to Do in Tampa Before a Cruise
If you have time to kill in Tampa before embarking on a cruise, consider a morning in Ybor City. There are locations in this charming and historic district, which is located less than three miles from port, where you can pay a small fee to securely store your bags and then explore the many nearby stores and restaurants before your cruise. Other popular Tampa attractions include the Busch Gardens theme park, Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, and Tampa Riverwalk.
