Port Tampa Bay has started filling the former Metroport site, once home to the historic Banana Docks, marking the first visible phase of construction on a new cruise terminal.
It’s the port’s first new cruise terminal in more than 25 years and will become its fourth once finished.
What’s happening now
Kimmins Contracting Corporation is leading site preparation, which includes filling the former Metroport area and relocating stormwater infrastructure.
The work restores more than five acres of land for the future terminal site. This phase is expected to run through late 2026, followed by a settlement period before construction on the terminal itself begins.
Design and timeline
The terminal will be built on the site of a former marine slip. HDR, working with BEA Architects, has been selected to design the terminal and an attached parking garage. Initial renderings are expected in the coming months. Completion is targeted for 2029.
Why Port Tampa Bay needs a fourth terminal
Port Tampa Bay currently operates three cruise terminals. Terminal 2 is used mainly by Carnival Cruise Line, Terminal 3 handles Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, and Terminal 6 serves Norwegian Cruise Line and Margaritaville at Sea. Oceania Cruises also sails from the port.
The port welcomed a record 1.66 million cruise passengers in 2025 and is projecting about 1.8 million passengers and 394 ship calls in 2026, both records.
Port Tampa Bay officials have said the port has turned away requests for additional ship calls because existing terminals are at capacity.
The port’s location under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge also means it cannot accommodate the newest mega-ships regardless of terminal space, so the new terminal is aimed at adding capacity for existing ship sizes rather than accommodating larger vessels.
Once open, the new terminal is expected to support more than 200 additional annual ship calls, which Port Tampa Bay says would push its total cruise passenger volume past 2 million a year.
The port projects an additional $100 million a year in economic impact from the terminal once it’s running.
