Cruise ships have been sailing out of Tampa, Florida for over 40 years. And while the iconic cruise port is home to smaller ships like Grandeur of the Seas, Carnival Paradise, and Norwegian Star, larger ships can’t visit the city.
One company is hoping to change all that with a new location for a brand-new cruise port.
Carnival cruise ship sailing under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa ID 24015665 | Tampa Bridge Cruise ©
Mike2focus | Dreamstime.com
Why Large Ships Can’t Visit Tampa
The biggest reason larger ships can’t visit Tampa is due to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It’s a beautiful bridge, but its 190-foot vertical clearance prevents some ships from calling on Tampa.
Cruise ships from the Icon-class or Oasis-class with Royal Caribbean are too tall to fit under the bridge, and Carnival’s Excel-class in addition to Norwegian’s Prima-class are over the 190-foot limit.
But in part, those limitations could soon be a thing of the past. According to news reports, SSA Marine, a cruise terminal operator in North America, has announced an idea for a modern cruise port facility located on the Knott-Cowen tract.
Because this 328-acre site in Manatee County sits “seaward” (on the Gulf side) of the Skyway Bridge, ships would no longer have to worry about the height of the bridge.
The new site is about 24 nautical miles from the Tampa cruise port, and even though it’s a longer drive for Tampa residents, it’s a lot more accessible for cruise ships.
Currently, navigating the narrow channels near Tampa takes about 2 hours before ships pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. So, the new location would be a timesaver for ship travel as well.
Knott-Cowen Tract (the proposed port site): This 328-acre property is located immediately to the north and east of Rattlesnake Key. (Map data ©2026 Google, INEGI)
A Strategic Move
The proposal comes from a partnership with Tampa-based Slip Knott LLC. The goal is to make West Central Florida a top-tier destination for modern cruise ships. And allowing larger ships to sail in and out of the Tampa area could do just that.
“Our new port will complement existing cruise activities in the region by being able to service the newer, larger, low-emissions cruise vessels that would otherwise be unable to visit due to the height restrictions of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge,” said Stefano Borzone, president of SSA Marine’s Cruise Division.
By allowing these “mega-ships” to dock, the project could be huge for the local economy in addition to offering more variety to local cruisers.
Early estimates from the developers suggest the project could generate more than 31,000 jobs in the state and regional economy and boost labor earnings by $1.6 billion.
Conservation In Focus
The new proposal is also tied to Rattlesnake Key, a 700-acre island that has been the topic of conservation issues for years.
In October 2025, SSA Marine bought the island for $18 million just for the purpose of preventing it from being commercialized.
“Our intent in purchasing the property is to remove any possibility of private commercialization and ensure its conservation,” Borzone said. “We recognize Rattlesnake Key is a treasured local community asset.”
The company plans to use the island as a natural buffer and hopes to preserve it while the new port operates nearby.
What’s Next
The project is still in its early stages, so don’t plan on cruising out of the Tampa area on a mega ship any time soon. Construction could take 3-5 years once the permitting process is complete, and that’s without any major snags in the process.
But SSA Marine has committed to a transparent public process, including keeping the community involved and attending formal hearings with the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.
For cruisers, it’s an exciting time. Another port to access the wonderful world of cruising on the newest and latest ships is something Tampa is well-positioned to offer.
“With cruise ships continuing to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth,” Borzone said.
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