Tampa’s cruising scene is about to become more high-brow. Oceania Cruises announced last Wednesday that its “ultra-premium” vessel, Insignia, will start homeporting from Florida in March 2026.
The 1998-built ship will offer Panama Canal and Caribbean winter sailings, making it the first luxury vessel to sail from Tampa. Its voyages span seven to 20 nights and will call on popular destinations like Belize, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Tortola, St. Kitts, and St. Thomas. It will traverse the Panama Canal during the day, allowing passengers to appreciate the historic waterway fully.
| “Port Tampa Bay represents an exciting new chapter as Oceania Cruises becomes the first ultra-premium cruise line to have dedicated voyages from Tampa, opening the door as a convenient gateway to Florida’s west coast and the Gulf of Mexico,” declared the cruise line’s president Frank A. Del Rio. |
Interested cruisers can choose from five itineraries from the nine-day Tropical Harmony with its five destinations to the 20-day Panama Canal Connoisseur and its 13 stops.
Insignia’s Premium Offerings
The Regatta-class cruise ship only accommodates 670 passengers and 400 crew members. All guests are entitled to Insignia’s gourmet specialty venues like the steakhouse Polo Grill and Italian restaurant Toscana.
Its other amenities include unlimited Wi-Fi access, fitness classes, a spa, a sports deck, a library, a casino, lounges, and bars. Occupants staying in Penthouse Suites and higher stateroom categories also get butler service.
Port Tampa Bay: A Growing Home Port
The Florida Ports Council reported that cruise passengers sailing from Port Tampa Bay reached a historic high of 19.4 million last year. The figure represents a 20,000 increase from October to December 2023 versus the same period in 2022.
According to Greg Lovelace, the local port’s vice president of business development, the upward trend is expected to continue. Lovelace predicts at least a 30% growth for fiscal year 2025.
Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Margaritaville at Sea currently have vessels homeporting from Port Tampa Bay.
These include Carnival Paradise, Carnival Pride, Radiance of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Celebrity Constellation, Norwegian Jade, and Margaritaville Islander.
Port revenues grew by almost 19% from $70 million in 2022 to $83 million in 2023.
As Florida’s largest port reaches capacity, its leadership revealed plans to expand its facilities with a fourth $80 million cruise terminal last June.
