Categories: Holland America LineIndustry News

Royal Caribbean and Holland America Set to Return to Tampa

It has been announced by the Tampa Port Authority this week that two of its most popular cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line will continue to operate seasonal cruise itineraries out of Tampa for the coming season.

In just a few days time, Royal Caribbean will be replacing the Grandeur of the Seas which currently uses Tampa as its home port, with the 2,500 passenger ship, Radiance of the Seas. The Radiance of the seas is scheduled to make 44 sailings out of Tampa to the Western Caribbean in the 2010 – 2011 season.

Soon after this, Holland America Line will be re-deploying their newly renovated ship, Ryndam, to the port of Tampa. This year is the 28th year that Holland America have home ported at Tampa port and it looks as though they have no intention of breaking that tradition any time soon.

The Ryndam’s itineraries will include 7 and 14 day cruises from Tampa, visiting Belize, Guetemala and Costa Maya, to name just a few of the ports where the ship will be docking/tendered.

The port director has already come out to welcome the news, seeing these two cruise lines as some of their most imporant cruise industry partnets. The use of Tampa as a home port has brought a lot of money to the area, something which has been vitally important to Tampa in the recent years of economic uncertainty.

The Tampa Port Authority are in charge of administering the largest port in Florida, and one of the most diversified ports in the whole nation. Tampa is one of the busiest cruise ports in the country and the people of Tampa are hoping that it will only become busier in the coming year, bringing more money and job opportunities for locals.

Kelly Brennan

Since her first job at First Choice Holidays, Kelly has clocked up 12 years' experience in the travel industry. She specialises in cruise line news and transatlantic cruises.