Port Tampa Bay Moves Forward with Fourth Cruise Terminal

Port Tampa Bay has unveiled plans to build a fourth cruise ship terminal to meet growing capacity needs days after its sixth cruise line began sailing from the port. Port commissioners awarded HDR Engineering Inc. a $500,000 contract to develop engineering and design plans for a new terminal.

New $80 Million Terminal Planned

The new terminal would be located north of Terminal 6. If the design concept gets the green light, it would lead to a new terminal project worth about $80 million. Cruise lines have shown enthusiasm for the new terminal, but it is unclear which cruise lines would contribute funds for the project.

“We’re very confident as a team that this is a building that will come,” Port CEO Paul Anderson said. “We know that we’re going to have tenants. We’re going to work concurrently while engineering this.”

Port officials say the three existing cruise terminals are approaching capacity, and work on a fourth should not impact current cruise operations. Margaritaville at Sea, the newest cruise line tenant, began operations at the port this month and is currently using Terminal 6.

This terminal has been slated for demolition once a new fourth cruise terminal is operational. Some cruise lines believe Terminal 6 has become outdated.

Margaritaville At Sea This Month Began Tampa Bay Departures

The Margaritaville at Sea Islander ship is sailing year-round from Tampa Port on 4- and 5-night cruise itineraries to Key West and Mexico. Two Royal Caribbean ships, Rhapsody of the Seas and Grandeur of the Seas, will be based at Tampa Bay for the upcoming winter cruise season.

“There’s a desire for additional ships for additional days that we actually can accommodate,” said Port Tampa Bay Chief Operating Officer Brian Giuliani.