As cruise prices only seem to be on the rise, there’s still one port in Florida I can usually count on a good deal that is often overlooked by new cruisers.<\/p>\n
Florida is known as the “capital of cruising” because of the state’s historical role as being the place where the most cruise ships are based, as well as the fact new ships usually debut here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But hidden among the megaships that dominate the cruise industry is a port that doesn’t have any big ships. Yet, it’s consistently the best bet for a cheap cruise<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tampa isn’t as busy a homeport as the cities on the east coast of Florida, but there are year-round sailings here as well.<\/p>\n The good news is you can usually find competitive prices, even at the last-minute<\/a>. \u00a0But there is a tradeoff when it comes to the type of ships that sail from here.<\/p>\n If you’re on the hunt for a good cruise deal, here’s why Tampa might be a good choice.<\/p>\n I’ve found cheap cruises, even at the last-minute<\/p>\n I booked a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas<\/a> on a Monday and sailed on a Thursday and it cost me less than $600 before taxes and fees.<\/p>\n In January 2027, I have another 4-night cruise in a balcony room<\/a> for just $800 total.<\/p>\n In looking at cruises for next few weeks, there are 4- and 5-night cruises on Radiance of the Seas that start at just $700 per person<\/a>.<\/p>\n This isn’t the first time I’ve found a great deal on a cruise sailing from Tampa, and it’s one of the best reasons to sail from here.<\/p>\n Unlike Royal Caribbean cruises that go out of Port Canaveral<\/a> or Miami, I’ve found the best prices routinely offered in Tampa. \u00a0<\/p>\n The cruise market there is different, and it tends to attract more people that drive to the ship. In my case, I went on a 4-night long weekend cruise that departed on a Thursday and was back on a Monday.<\/p>\n However, you’ll also find longer sailings too. \u00a0In the busy winter season, Royal Caribbean has up to three ships based in Tampa, offering 4-7 night cruises.<\/p>\n The problem with Tampa is you’re stuck sailing on small, old ships<\/p>\n While you’re more likely to find a good deal on a cruise from Tampa, the downside is you won’t be sailing on any of Royal Caribbean’s newest or biggest ships<\/a>.<\/p>\n Because of the Sunshine Skyway bridge that blocks access to Tampa Bay, only the smallest cruise ships can safely pass underneath it.<\/p>\n This means you’ll only find Radiance or Vision Class ships<\/a> sailing from Tampa.<\/p>\n Larger ships, such as the Oasis or Icon Class ships<\/a> are too tall to fit under the bridge. And any proposals for a new cruise terminal<\/a> are a pipe dream at best right now.<\/p>\n To be clear, there’s nothing inherently wrong with one of the smaller ships in the fleet.<\/p>\n These ships offer a “classic cruising experience”, which means it relies more on enjoying the voyage and more of a chill atmosphere than you’d find on ships that have much more to do.<\/p>\n Sailing on Radiance of the Seas, there are activities like trivia, live music, shows each evening, and movies shown. \u00a0There’s even a mini-golf course, rock wall, and a few different specialty restaurants.<\/p>\n But there’s no Royal Promenade, laser tag, Aqua show, or the other “wow” features on the newer ships.<\/p>\n I’ll book cruises from Tampa because it’s convenient and saves me money<\/p>\n If a 7-night cruise on Enchantment of the Seas doesn’t excite you because of the ship’s age, I think there are a few factors to consider before bypassing Tampa cruises.<\/p>\n Because Tampa’s cruise terminal is small, it’s also quite an easy process to get in and out. In fact, Tampa offers valet parking at its cruise terminal for just $15 total more than the regular garage price.<\/p>\n Tampa has a major airport, so you can usually find good flight options in, but likely not as pricey as a flight to South Florida.<\/p>\n I’ll be honest, if I’m planning my family Spring Break<\/a> vacation, I will always look to one of the big ships sailing from Port Canaveral first. \u00a0However, augmenting my cruises by squeezing in an inexpensive cruise is hard to pass up.<\/p>\n Be sure to research your ship before chasing the lower price<\/p>\n Value seekers are tempted to find the lowest price, but you’ll want to pay close attention to what you’re trading off<\/a> for that lower price.<\/p>\n Smaller ships, like the ones that sail from Tampa, are over 20 years old. \u00a0The decor and furnishings onboard will look the age. \u00a0<\/p>\n Don’t worry about the purely the ship’s age. Royal Caribbean does a terrific job with the ship’s upkeep and maintenance. \u00a0They just don’t update cabins or furniture to match what you’ll find on new ships.<\/p>\n The other thing to look at is what there is for kids to do onboard, especially if you have younger children.<\/p>\n Radiance Class ships don’t have Splashaway Bay or water slides. \u00a0They do technically have a single waterslide, but it’s quite juvenile and really meant for kids under the age of 8 or so.<\/p>\n