Oceania Cruises is opening up new horizons with its newly introduced Caribbean and Panama Canal sailings from Port Tampa Bay. This marks the primary time an ultra-premium cruise line will set sail from the port, positioned on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Starting in February 2026, the boutique 670-guest Insignia will take passengers to the Caribbean and thru the Panama Canal on voyages starting from 7 to twenty nights.
Itineraries will function stops in locations corresponding to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, and Tortola within the British Virgin Islands, in addition to visits to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, and Belize.
Along with these port calls, the voyages will embody daylight transit by the Panama Canal with an in a single day keep in Panama Metropolis.
“Oceania Cruises turns into the primary ultra-premium cruise line to have devoted voyages from Tampa, opening the door as a handy gateway to Florida’s west coast and the Gulf of Mexico,” mentioned Frank A. Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises.
“It is a pure growth for our model, as Tampa echoes the cosmopolitan essence of our beloved hometown of Miami with its numerous mixture of worldwide influences and cultures,” he continued.
Port Tampa Bay officers are excited in regards to the new partnership, with President and CEO Paul Anderson stating, “The arrival of Insignia marks a big milestone, enhancing Tampa’s standing as a premier cruise vacation spot.”
He added, “We look ahead to welcoming new company to our stunning metropolis and gateway, because the elevated tourism will create substantial financial alternatives for our area, employees, and companies.”
New Sailings and Prime Rating for the Port
The brand new sailings aboard the 30,277-gross-ton Insignia will kick off with a 9-day journey from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Tampa, on February 22, 2026. The itinerary contains calls in Oranjestad, Aruba; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Costa Maya; and Cozumel.
This might be adopted by a wide range of itineraries departing from bayfront metropolis, together with the 15-day Leeward Isles Serenade. The roundtrip cruise departs from Tampa on March 3, 2026, and options unique insider tips about the place to go, what to see, nice restaurant picks, and extra.
Passengers will get pleasure from calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. John’s, Antigua; Roseau, Dominica; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Frederiksted, St. Croix; and Tortola.
Moreover, a 7-day roundtrip Western Caribbean Escape itinerary will discover Cozumel, Belize Metropolis, Roatan in Honduras, and Costa Maya. The roundtrip journey departs March 18.
Among the many highlights would be the 10-day Palms & Panama Canal voyage, which departs on March 25, 2026. This journey contains the transit of the canal and the in a single day keep within the nation’s capital metropolis, together with calls in Colon, Panama, and Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, amongst others.
An extended 20-day Panama Canal Connoisseur cruise completes the choices with a extra complete exploration of the Caribbean and Central America. Ending in Miami, Insignia will depart from Tampa on March 25 and go to quite a lot of earlier ports, in addition to Cartagena, Colombia; Willemstad, Curacao; and George City, Grand Cayman.
Tampa Bay has earned the excellence of being ranked the highest cruise port in a 2024 survey performed by UK-based Avanti Journey Insurance coverage. The port was No. 1 for being household pleasant and got here in second for “suitability for seniors.”
The up-and-coming port is predicted to welcome greater than 1.1 million passengers by the tip of 2024.
