Upgraded Carnival Pride Cruise Ship to Sail from Port Tampa Bay in 2017

Carnival Cruise Line announced that the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride will offer a series of five- to 14-day trips from Tampa in January and February of next year to destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Carnival Pride last set sail out of Tampa Bay in 2014. The ship has since been upgraded with new amenities. It sailed out of Baltimore last year.

"Tampa is a popular port for 'Fun Ship' cruising, and we're thrilled that the Carnival Pride is returning to the port to operate this series of five- to 14-day cruises, which feature visits to top destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America," Christine Duffy, Carnival's president, said in a statement.

The cruise line's Carnival Paradise also sails year-round from Tampa Bay.

The Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas will return to Tampa as well, in October, offering four- and five-night trips to Key West, Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman from Port Tampa Bay, according to a recently released schedule for the upcoming cruise season.

Brilliance of the Seas will join another Royal Caribbean ship, Rhapsody of the Seas, which arrives in December, in sailing seven-night trips to the Western Caribbean.

The Rhapsody ship is replacing the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas, which will be leaving Tampa Bay at the end of this season. Both ships will offer service through April, according to the cruise schedule. The winter months are considered the high tourism season for the cruise travel industry.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Holland America originate cruises from Tampa currently. The German cruise line AIDA also makes a stop in Tampa.

Source: Tampa Bay Times