Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminal Guide
Terminals, arrival routes and luggage tips for embarkation day in Tampa.
Get a Free Tampa Cruise QuotePort Tampa Bay’s Cruise Terminals
Port Tampa Bay runs three cruise terminals in the Channel District along Channelside Drive. Your cruise documents will tell you which one your ship uses — check them, because the terminals are not side by side.
| Terminal | Address (from the port) |
|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | 651 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602 (next to the Florida Aquarium) |
| Terminal 3 | 815 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602 (the central terminal, across from the parking garage) |
| Terminal 6 | 1333 McKay Street, Tampa, FL 33602 |
The port’s terminal guide has maps of each building. Its main administrative address is 1101 Channelside Drive.
Arriving on Embarkation Day
- Arrive in your boarding window. The port asks guests to arrive before their assigned zone departure time.
- Follow the colored routes. Per the port, the Blue Route is for passenger drop-off and valet; the Red Route is for secure parking at the port.
- Hand checked bags to the porters, then clear security and check in with your cruise line.
- Board — and head up top before sailaway to watch for the Sunshine Skyway as you leave the bay.
Luggage Tips Unique to Tampa
- No early bag storage at the terminals. The port says that for security reasons there is nowhere to store baggage for early arrivals at any terminal.
- The Florida Aquarium solution. The aquarium, at 701 Channelside Drive next to Terminal 2, stores luggage free for guests who buy a (discounted) admission ticket — a nice way to fill a morning before boarding or after you disembark.
- No port lost and found. Port Tampa Bay does not run a lost and found; contact your cruise line about missing or mixed-up luggage.
- Documents: requirements come from your cruise line. A valid passport is the safest choice for any Mexico or Caribbean cruise.
Sailing Out Under the Skyway
From the terminals it takes a while to reach open water — ships sail the length of Tampa Bay and pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. Sailaway is one of the most scenic in Florida, with the Tampa skyline and St. Petersburg in view. Coming home, ships arrive in the early morning; plan return flights for late morning or afternoon.
Disembarkation Day in Tampa
On the last night you will choose how to leave the ship. Putting your bags out the night before means you are assigned a luggage group and collect your bags in the terminal; carrying everything off yourself (“self-assist”) usually gets you off sooner. Everyone clears U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the terminal before leaving. Then it is a short walk to the garage, the rideshare area or your transfer to Tampa International.
Lost or mixed-up a bag? Speak to your cruise line before you leave the terminal — the port itself does not run a lost and found.
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