Port Tampa Bay breaks ground on first new cruise terminal in 25 years

Port Tampa Bay has begun the first phase of construction on its first new cruise terminal in more than a quarter century, a project officials say will expand the region's cruise business and deliver a significant economic boost. 

Work is underway to prepare the former Metroport site — once home to Tampa's historic Banana Docks — for what will become the port's fourth cruise terminal. Crews are filling in a former marine slip and restoring more than five acres of land where the terminal will eventually stand. A statement from the the port did not include the estimated cost of the project.

The site work, led by Kimmins Contracting Corp., includes relocating stormwater infrastructure and is expected to continue through late 2026. After the newly filled land settles, construction of the terminal can move forward, with completion targeted for 2029, according to a statement. 

"This project is about much more than adding another cruise terminal," Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson says in the release. "It's an investment in the future of Port Tampa Bay and the economy of West Central Florida."

Once complete, the terminal is expected to accommodate more than 200 additional cruise ship calls each year, allowing the port to serve more than 2 million cruise passengers annually.

The terminal and an accompanying parking garage are being designed by HDR in partnership with BEA Architects. Initial renderings of the facility are expected to be released in the coming months.

The expansion builds on the rapid growth of Tampa's cruise industry. Port Tampa Bay currently serves more than 1.6 million cruise passengers each year, making it one of Florida's leading cruise homeports and one of the nation's fastest-growing cruise markets.

Beyond cruising, the port remains one of the region's largest economic engines. It generates an estimated $34 billion in annual economic impact and supports more than 192,000 jobs, while handling a broad mix of cargo including containers, refrigerated products, bulk commodities and vehicles.