THE 25 BEST Cruises from Tampa, FL 2024 with Prices on Cruise Critic

Table Of Content

• Tampa Bay, Florida Port Guide
• RELATED ARTICLES
• Cruises out of Tampa
• More In The Caribbean

Find exceptional City Stays & Pre/Post Overland Packages, which offer a seamless experience ashore to add to your cruise. Please visit our most frequently asked questions page on cruise preparation, transportation, safety and security, and more. Head to Hyde Park Village for a selection of local shops, delicious restaurants and a great local feel.

Tampa Bay, Florida Port Guide

Spend the day mingling with locals at one of the craft breweries, or simply stroll the cobblestone streets and admire the façades of this charming neighborhood before boarding one of our Tampa cruises. Sail down the Panama Canal, an engineering masterpiece that allows ships to sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Watch as its complex system of locks unfolds, then stop in the historic center of Panama Viejo, where you’ll learn all about the town’s pirate history. Just because your time aboard the cruise of a lifetime is about to come to an end, it doesn't mean that your fun has to!

RELATED ARTICLES

Located southwest of the city of Tampa, St. Pete is an artsy city that boasts upscale boutiques and restaurants, museums and art galleries, and fun activities for the whole family. If you’re here on a Saturday, stop in the Saturday Morning Market for live music, international cuisine, and artisan goods. Once dubbed the “Cigar Capital of the World,” the Ybor City district is rich in history and Latin culture. Stop in one of the area’s many cigar shops and buy a few hand-rolled cigars to take home.

Cruises out of Tampa

Enjoy one last stop in Cozumel, Mexico before sailing back to Tampa. Trek through ancient Mayan sites at San Gervasio before taking a dip at Chankanaab National Park where you can swim next to dolphins in the wild. Afterward, grab some lunch and wash down your delicious tacos with a Michelada or tequila while relaxing at Playa Mia and perfecting your tan on the beach. It's a great way to close out the most epic vacation you've ever had. The Southern Caribbean promises palm trees, white-sand beaches, and crystal clear waters—all the ingredients you’ll need for an unforgettable vacation.

Cruise to Mexico from Tampa and your Western Caribbean cruise will take you to some pretty spectacular places. It's the perfect place to kick back and relax on the beach and enjoy a cocktail or learn all about Mayan History at the Chacchoben and Kohunlich Ruins. Don't forget to stop for some tacos or cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted pork dish that tops the list of traditional favorites in the area. You'll head back to the ship all smiles after a day of wandering through the Mexican city. The islands of the Western Caribbean offer the ideal mix of adventure and relaxation in a lush, tropical environment.

More In The Caribbean

New cruise ship to sail on ‘around the world’ voyage from Florida - WFLA

New cruise ship to sail on ‘around the world’ voyage from Florida.

Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

When it comes to exotic cruise destinations, many people think of places like Roatan, Belize and Cozumel. But Key West definitely deserves a spot on every sun-seeker’s tropical travel list. Bustling with lively bars and restaurants, and brimming with natural wonders like mangrove forests and colorful coral reefs, it’s an ideal cruise destination for anyone craving a laid-back island getaway.

Royal Caribbean announces new cruise lineup from Tampa - WFLA

Royal Caribbean announces new cruise lineup from Tampa.

Posted: Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

And if you’re looking for the perfect blend of natural beauty, Caribbean charm, and lively atmosphere on your cruise from Tampa, Nassau is just the island for you. While there are plenty of spots that are great for relaxing, Nassau also has a healthy variety of beaches with a livelier vibe and plenty of buzzing bars. When you cruise from Tampa you have a ton of exciting itineraries to choose from.

Get to Know Carnival Paradise

Journey to Belize, the ultimate adventure spot for adrenaline junkies and history buffs. Spend your day on the island of Belize diving through the Great Blue Hole, an underwater sinkhole that is over 300 meters wide and 125 meters deep — one of the top dive sites in the entire world. Hang out with your favorite cast of characters who call the Caribbean Sea home like stingrays, nurse sharks and more.

Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises from Tampa

Whichever cruise you pick, you'll be leaving with a whole lot of stories to share. Hop on a last-minute cruise from Tampa and experience the adventure of a lifetime. The Tampa cruise port is easy to find and it has a ton of great accommodations nearby. As the best jumping off point for your vacation, you can arrive a day early to explore before departing for the Caribbean. Pack your swimsuit and sunscreen, travel to the Western Caribbean, and find yourself on serene, sandy beaches in the dead of winter. Prepare for a week full of fun and adventure with the whole family.

A stop on many cruises out of Tampa, Key West is best enjoyed by boat or by bike. If you choose the latter, you can spend the day pedaling past colorful historic estates, down shaded, leafy streets and along the beautiful waterfront. Make sure you come with an appetite, though — the local seafood here is out of this world, and you definitely can’t leave without trying a bite of creamy, cool key lime pie. Explore ancient forts in San Juan, lounge on the powdery white sand beaches of St. Maarten, and spot colorful schools of fish while snorkeling in St. Thomas—there’s no shortage of fun to enjoy.

The Tampa Riverwalk is an excellent place to spend the afternoon soaking up culture, enjoying good food and taking in the skyline. Five Day Getaway to CocoCay - Relaxing cruise with a wonderful crew, fun entertainment, and good food. No matter what type of sport you’re into, you’re bound to find it here in Tampa. Tampa’s food scene stems from a fusion of Cuban, Spanish, Italian and Floribbean influences. Local raw bars serve up fresh shrimp, oysters, scallops and grouper from the Gulf of Mexico. The Cuban sandwich— piled with Genoa salami— is a city signature.

Set sail from Florida’s Gulf Coast and you’ll discover just how convenient — and action-packed — cruises out of Tampa can be. Welcome to one of Florida’s busiest ports — where the historically Cuban district of Ybor City, the aquarium, city shopping and local art museums are all in easy reach. Wide beaches and urban adventures are also at your fingertips when you book a Carnival cruise from Tampa. And come nightfall, 7th Avenue in Ybor City heats up, Latin-style. Embark on a trip of a lifetime aboard Celebrity Constellation, a magnificent ship where you’ll be surrounded by effortless luxury, impeccable service, and world-class entertainment. Book an indulgent stay at The Retreat, our luxury vacation experience, which features a private restaurant, lounge, and exclusive amenities.

So now you can grab something cold, or sweet… or maybe even hot, at JavaBlue™ Café. Meet the new Cloud 9 Spa™, featuring a full menu of, ahhh, spa treatments. We also added a Bonsai Sushi Express™, so you can take your fresh sushi, sashimi, rolls and more, to go, someplace fun. Tampa, nicknamed "The Big Guava", is so much more than merely home to Busch Gardens (one of the most popular theme parks in Florida).

Which means you can fill your year with even more bucket list adventures. Our cruises depart at Cruise Terminals 2, 3, and 6.What should I expect boarding to like for my cruise departing Tampa? Please visit our cruise preparation FAQs page for instructions on how to access or print boarding passes, how to check-in online, and to see determine if you need a passport. Please visit our cruise preparation FAQ how to access or print boarding passes, how to check-in online, and to see if you need a passport.

Lounge on the flawless beaches of Grand Cayman and Labadee, and enjoy quality time with your family in the ABC Islands. Break up with your weekly routine and set sail on a memory filled getaway that’ll take you so much further than a standard staycation. Royal Caribbean® offers plenty of bolder-than-ever weekend sailings to some of the Caribbean’s most stunning shores onboard the world’s most incredible cruise ships — no days off required.

After swimming, be sure to dine on ceviche and conch fritters doused in hot sauce, an island specialty, before heading out to the ruins of the Caana (Sky Palace), an ancient temple built by the Mayan people. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S.

Driverless Cars Face Setbacks In San Francisco Heres What To Know About The Citys Problematic Robotaxi Rollout

Table Of Content

• Letters to the Editor: Automate everything? Driverless taxis mean more jobs taken from humans
• Woman hospitalized after a car hits her and a self-driving vehicle pins her in San Francisco
• Technology
• Cruise's service won't be allowed to operate in bad weather
• Previously, self-driving taxis had human drivers as back-ups

The vehicle then stopped but, according to Cruise, “attempted to pull over,” dragging the woman an additional 20 feet. Cruise says this sort of evasive maneuver was built into the vehicle’s software to promote safety, and is required by both California and federal regulators. Moving forward, Chiu, the San Francisco city attorney, said officials are still working on their request to appeal Waymo’s permits to operate their robotaxi service in the city. On Thursday, just two days after the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise’s driverless permits, the company said it would suspend all driverless operations in the country to examine its process and earn back public trust. In a video released by the company, a Cruise employee is seen in the passenger seat while the car drives itself through the darkened streets of San Francisco. Cruise’s vehicles all have an emergency switch in the center channel near the gear shift in case something goes wrong, and they are also monitored remotely by Cruise employees.

Letters to the Editor: Automate everything? Driverless taxis mean more jobs taken from humans

"Most of the problems they are facing is software related. It's a bug, it's a glitch, it's a very complicated software. But the AI is the core of this technology," he says. "(The companies) know the problems. The users, the public are reporting those kinds of problems. Now it is on the part of the company. They have to be fast and to solve those problems. Patch (that) software." Clashing with the state Legislature and California’s biggest cities over safety, the Newsom administration races ahead with driverless vehicle deployment. Safe Street Rebel has cataloged hundreds of near misses and blunders with Cruise and Waymo vehicles over the past few months — even without traffic cones. The lead-up to the commission's vote prompted the Safe Street Rebel group to start "coning," as they call it.

Woman hospitalized after a car hits her and a self-driving vehicle pins her in San Francisco

The company secured a driverless deployment permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) earlier this month, making it the first in the industry to do so. That allows Cruise to charge for rides with no safety driver behind the wheel, though its vehicles are limited to select streets in the city. In addition, the company's paid passenger service can only operate from 10PM to 6AM, and its cars can only drive at a max speed of 30 mph. Cruise, the self-driving car company affiliated with General Motors and Honda, is testing fully driverless cars, without a human safety driver behind the steering wheel, in San Francisco. The company is among the first to test its driverless vehicles in a dense, complex urban environment.

Technology

An Uber self-driving car, operating in full autonomous mode and with a safety driver in the vehicle, killed a pedestrian in Arizona in 2018. California has suspended driverless vehicles operated by the General Motors subsidiary Cruise in the city of San Francisco—just two months after the state began allowing the robotaxis to pick up paying passengers around the clock. The suspension stems from a gruesome incident on October 2 in which a human-driven vehicle hit a female pedestrian and threw her into the path of a Cruise car. The driverless Cruise car hit her, stopped, and then tried to pull over, dragging her approximately 20 feet.

Driverless taxis are coming to the streets of San Francisco

After a period of testing with safety drivers, some cars are now fully driverless. First responders in San Francisco have also complained that the autonomous vehicles have repeatedly interfered with emergency vehicles and caused other incidents, especially after the state approved a massive expansion of the cars in August. In California alone, more than 40 companies — ranging from young start-ups to tech giants — have permits to test their self-driving cars in San Francisco, according to the DMV. According to a Washington Post analysis of the data, the companies collectively report millions of miles on public roads every year, along with hundreds of mostly minor accidents. We’re reintroducing a small fleet of manually-operated vehicles to begin mapping with trained safety drivers behind the wheel.

City leaders attempted to halt the expansion by highlighting these incidents, but were ultimately unsuccessful. "We need actual people behind the wheel with a pulse and a brain that know how to maneuver in sticky situations," San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton said at Tuesday rally protesting the driverless cars. "These Cruise vehicles are dangerous on our streets. When they see tragedy or see danger or there's an obstacle in their way, all they know how to do is freeze." During our operational pause over the last few months, Cruise maintained ongoing and extensive testing in complex, dynamic simulated environments and on closed courses, enabling continuous retraining and improvement.

As transport policy expert David Zipper has argued, most cities want to see fewer car trips overall, and more shared transit and physically active travel such as walking and cycling. While the companies learn to drive safely in complex environments, San Francisco and Phoenix are learning whether the technology is creating more problems than it promises to solve. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune.

Backseat Driving in Cruise, Waymo Robotaxis in San Francisco - Curbed

Backseat Driving in Cruise, Waymo Robotaxis in San Francisco.

Posted: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Driverless cars can now operate like taxis in San Francisco, raising safety concerns

The suspension came after the DMV reviewed the Oct. 2 crash , in which a non-Cruise driver first struck a pedestrian, pushing the pedestrian into the path of a Cruise robotaxi. The Cruise vehicle ended up pinning and dragging the pedestrian, causing multiple traumatic injuries, officials said. "Many of the claimed benefits of (autonomous vehicles) have not been demonstrated, and some claims have little or no foundation," Ryan Russo, the director of the transportation department in Oakland, California, told the commission last month.

Previously, self-driving taxis had human drivers as back-ups

Safe Street Rebel isn't the only group that's had issues with the autonomous vehicles. San Francisco's police and fire departments have also said the cars aren't yet ready for public roads. They've tallied 55 incidents where self-driving cars have gotten in the way of rescue operations in just the past six months. Over the past couple of years, driverless cars have become ubiquitous throughout San Francisco.

"It's a reminder that in this very high-tech world, the most low-tech things can literally put a wrench in the machine." The cars have run red lights, rear-ended a bus and blocked crosswalks and bike paths. In one incident, dozens of confused cars congregated in a residential cul-de-sac, clogging the street. Driverless cars run by Cruise, which is owned by GM, and Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet, have been involved in numerous mishaps in the city over the past several months. They've run red lights, rear-ended a bus and blocked crosswalks and bike paths. "Our teams are currently doing an analysis to identify potential enhancements to the AV's response to this kind of extremely rare event," said Navideh Forghani, a Cruise spokesperson.

They've tallied more than 55 incidents where self-driving cars have gotten in the way of rescue operations. Those incidents include driving through yellow emergency tape, blocking firehouse driveways, running over fire hoses and refusing to move for first responders. The move comes after one of Cruise's driverless cars struck a pedestrian in downtown San Francisco earlier this month. The incident involved a woman who was first hit by a human driver and then thrown onto the road in front of a Cruise vehicle. The Cruise vehicle braked but then continued to roll over the pedestrian, pulling her forward, then coming to a final stop on top of her. US states encouraged experimentation by dropping regulatory barriers, with cities, citizens and transport policymakers having little say.