GULF COAST
Port Tampa Bay – Centrally located in the channel side district of its bay side namesake west Florida City, this port is only a 15-minute drive from Tampa International Airport, with its twice daily flights to the UK. From there, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival Cruise lines offer fourto 14-day itineraries to Cuba, the Caribbean and South and Central America.
Upon arrival, beach lovers may want to head straight for the white sand beaches of Clearwater, only a 30-minute taxi transfer from the airport and 45 minutes from Port Tampa Bay. Or they might prefer to head north about an equal distance to Busch Gardens, renowned for its fascinating African animal-focused Serengeti Safari Park. Downtown’s 2.6-mile, attraction-lined Riverwalk, also easily accessible from the port, is linked via free streetcar transport to the city’s diverse cultural and foodie scene and other attractions include the colourful Cuban neighbourhood of Ybor City.
Galveston Port, Texas – Set on a Gulf of Mexico island an hour-and-a-half south of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, this port encompasses three cruise terminals, the third opening in November 2022 as Royal Caribbean International’s state-of-the-art Terminal 10. This is also a home-port for Carnival, Disney, Norwegian and Princess lines, offering cruises to Caribbean and Mexican destinations.
Galveston Island has been a major tourist destination for decades, with its miles of beaches, surfing, kitesurfing, body boarding, bird watching, and a pier lined with attractions. There’s also a historic downtown with blocks of fine dining and casual restaurants, shops, art galleries and Victorian-era architecture. Many international visitors also like to include a visit to Houston’s NASA Johnson Space Center, which is located a half an hour from the port.