Port Tampa Bay usually serves contemporary cruise ships, but in 2026 it will host premium line Oceania Cruises for the first time.
Oceania's Insignia will sail the Caribbean and Panama Canal from Tampa throughout March 2026, taking a month off from sailing out of Miami.
Oceania said it would be the first ultra-premium cruise line to sail from the port. It will offer seven- to 20-night itineraries in the Caribbean with calls that include St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Tortola, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Belize City. The ship will transit the Panama Canal and overnight in Panama City.
"This is a natural expansion for our brand, as Tampa echoes the cosmopolitan essence of our beloved hometown of Miami with its diverse mix of international influences and cultures," said Frank A. Del Rio, president of Oceania Cruises.
The 670-guest Insignia's deployment marks a significant milestone for boosting Tampa's status, said Paul Anderson, president and CEO of Port Tampa Bay.
Itineraries include a nine-day cruise from Barbados to Tampa on Feb. 22 with calls including Aruba, Montego Bay, Costa Maya and Cozumel.
Other itineraries include a 15-day round trip voyage via the Leeward Isles, including calls at St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua and Dominica; a seven-day roundtrip Western Caribbean itinerary; a 10-day open-jaw cruise to Panama City; and a 20-day voyage from Tampa to Miami.