Carnival Cruise Line celebrated its 30-year relationship with Tampa Bay last Saturday, September 21.
It commemorated the special occasion with a VIP sailing onboard Carnival Paradise, participated in a beach clean-up, and donated a hybrid truck to maintain the area’s natural beauty.
Chris Chiames, Carnival’s chief communications officer, expressed his appreciation for local officials and their ongoing relationship. “Thirty years ago, Carnival saw the potential for year-round sailing in Tampa–and we were right!” Chiames declared.
He continued, “We appreciate the tremendous partnerships we’ve built together over the years and as we celebrate this milestone, we’re not just looking back on three decades of great memories. We’re looking forward to building on our contributions to the Tampa Bay economic story and more fun for many years to come for our many, many loyal guests who love sailing from Tampa.”
The Florida-based cruise line has been homeporting from Tampa year-round since 1994. To celebrate its decades-long partnership with Tampa, it participated in a coastal clean-up along East Bay organized by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
The cruise line also donated a hybrid pick-up truck to the local organization to aid future clean-ups and help its environmentalists protect the waters of Tampa Bay. Its executive director, Debbi Evenson, remarked that the vehicle will help them “complete more clean-ups, plant more trees, and host more educational events.”
Alongside these initiatives, Carnival unveiled a sculpture by Ryan Moralevitz, a 16-year-old artist whose creation was made from discarded waste.
Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend regularly sail from the Gulf Coast. These two vessels offer four—to eight-day cruises from Tampa, taking guests to sought-after holiday destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Bahamas.
Next year, Carnival Paradise’s list of port calls will include Celebration Key, the cruise line’s Bahamian resort, which will open in July 2025. The cruise operator recently opened new cruises from Tampa until springtime 2027.
