It's Smooth Sailing For Port Of Tampa As It Resumes Cruises

TAMPA, FL — There's good news for residents who have been putting off their dream cruise during the coronavirus pandemic. Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson announced that cruise ships will resume setting sail from Port Tampa Bay as early as mid-October.

Royal Caribbean International will be the first cruise line to sail out of Port Tampa Bay since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, followed by Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line in November and Norwegian Cruise Line in December.

“Port Tampa Bay enthusiastically welcomes back our cruise line partners," Anderson said. "Tampa has long been regarded as an attractive home port, thanks to the variety of quality hotel and dining options, our world-class beaches and nearby attractions. The return of the cruise industry will have a far-reaching economic impact on our region.”

Florida is home to some of the busiest ports in the world, 15 in all including Port Miami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, Port Manatee, Port Tampa Bay, Port St. Joe, Port of Palm Beach, Port of Fort Pierce, Port of Pensacola, Port of Panama City, Port of Fernandina and Port of Key West.

Not only are the ports the berths for some of the country's biggest cruise lines but are integral to international trade, importing and exporting cargo to and from countries around the world.

After losing $14.1 billion in trade during the pandemic, Michael Rubin, program administrator for the Florida Seaports Transportation and Economic Development Council, said Florida's ports are poised for a major comeback.

“While most individual seaports experienced declines consistent with the overall trend for 2020, Florida’s 15 seaports are resilient, and we expect to see a near complete recovery in 2021,” said Rubin. “With $3.3 billion in capital improvements at Florida’s seaports identified over the next five years, we expect our ports to continue playing a leading role in job creation and economic growth."

Florida's 158,992 cruise-related jobs and $8.1 billion in economic impact suffered a crippling blow during the pandemic.

"However, the combination of pent-up demand and widespread vaccinations are expected to result in a full long-term recovery of the industry," Rubin said.

The cruise lines have been caught up in a legal drama since April when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a burdensome list of protocols the cruise lines were required to meet before they could set sail again.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reacted by suing the CDC and, on July 23, the 11th Circuit Appeals Court reversed its decision to uphold the CDC's order and granted Florida a preliminary injunction, arguing that the restrictions imposed by the CDC effectively shut down Florida's cruise industry.

In its decision, the court concluded the rules imposed by the CDC on the cruise industry "are likely unconstitutional and overstepping their legal authority."

After 16 months under a "no sail" order from the CDC, the new Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship was the first ship to set sail from a Florida cruise terminal on its maiden voyage July 31.

However, that wasn't the end of the legal battle for Florida's cruise lines.

In May DeSantis signed a law imposing fines of $5,000 per violation for businesses that require customers to show proof of vaccination (vaccines passports).

This time, the cruise industry butted heads with DeSantis, maintaining that proof of vaccination was needed to ensure the safety of both passengers and employees.

On Aug. 9, Miami U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams overruled the state law and permitted Norwegian Cruise Line's Gem to require proof of vaccination from passengers.

The cruise industry's insistence on mandatory vaccinations was bolstered when Carnival Cruise Line reported that 27 people tested positive for the coronavirus while sailing on the Carnival Vista cruise ship from Galveston, Texas, to Belize in late July and early August.

On Sunday, Carnival Cruise Line announced that all passengers sailing from the U.S. to Bahamian ports must be fully vaccinated, effective Sept. 3.

Currently, at least 95 percent of all guests and crew are fully vaccinated, according to the cruise line. Only children under age 12 and adults with medical exemptions will be permitted on cruises without vaccinations.

DeSantis, however, is appealing the federal judge's ruling in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Celebrity Cruise President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo recently told members of the Economic Club of Florida that the cruise industry is continuing to work with the DeSantis administration over the issue of vaccination passports but added that her company intends to follow CDC guidelines requiring cruise passengers to be vaccinated, using a legal loophole, according to WUSF.

“The state of Florida does not tell us we can’t ask (if people are vaccinated). They tell us we can’t require it," said Lutoff-Perlo. "And so, we are working within those constraints to ensure that we live up to our commitment, as a brand, that we will sail at least 95 percent vaccinated.”

In the meantime, Florida’s seaports have received a much-needed financial infusion of federal stimulus relief funds to help them bounce back.

In late July, DeSantis and DOT Secretary Kevin Thibault allocated $250 million in federal relief to shore up Florida’s seaport industry and replaced the 169,000 jobs and nearly $23 billion lost during 2020.

“This relief funding is incredibly important to Florida’s seaports and the many thousands of jobs that depend on our success," Capt. John Murray, chairman of the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council, said. "Our role and responsibility as economic drivers for the state of Florida could not be fulfilled without our partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation."

Thibault announced the following allocations to Florida's 15 ports:

• Port Canaveral $72,205,076
• Port Everglades $58,260,881
• Port Fernandina $806,772
• Port of Fort Pierce $806,772
• JAXPORT $13,716,224
• Port of Key West $5,018,855
• Port Manatee $4,885,564
• Port Miami $66,901,040
• Port of Palm Beach $4,050,839
• Port Panama City $806,772
• Port Pensacola $806,772
• Port of Port St. Joe $806,772
• Port St. Pete $806,772
• Port Tampa Bay $20,120,889

These funds will support 900,000 jobs, add $117.6 billion to Florida’s economy through cargo and cruise activities, generating approximately 13 percent of Florida’s gross domestic product and provide $4.2 billion in state and local taxes.

Anderson said the funds will go a long way to ensuring that Port Tampa Bay fully recovers from the impact of the pandemic.

"Port Tampa Bay is incredibly grateful for the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis," Anderson said. "Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation realize seaports are economic drivers that impact the regions they serve and the entire state. Our port remained open and ready to serve our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Port Tampa Bay will use our $20 million allocation to continue to support our strategic priority infrastructure and growth of the port. These funds will have an impact on the more than 85,000 direct and indirect jobs we touch."

Anderson said Port Tampa Bay is Central Florida’s largest economic engine, contributing more than $18 billion in economic impact.

He said Port Tampa Bay is not only Florida’s largest cargo tonnage port, it is also one of the most diversified ports in the country, shipping a wide range of cargo, providing a major shipbuilding and repair center and serving as a cruise home port.

In June, Port Tampa Bay announced a major addition to its client base.

Dole Fresh Fruit, a subsidiary of Dole Food Co., announced that it will use Port Tampa Bay in a new containerized service between Central America and the U.S. Gulf.

Port Logistics Refrigerated Services will provide terminal and stevedoring for the service at Port Tampa Bay including a new state-of-the art 135,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse, 148 reefer plugs as well as an adjacent berth served by two dedicated mobile harbor cranes.

“This marks a major milestone in our strategic efforts to continue to diversify our cargo mix and expand our container volume, which is now our fastest-growing line of business," Anderson said. "In addition, Dole shares Port Tampa Bay's commitment to sustainability. We are so pleased they will bring two state-of-the-art vessels that reduce emissions and lessen their impact on the environment through our port."

“We are thrilled to welcome the Dole Corporation. Our cold storage and port terminal operations facility is ideally positioned to serve the Tampa/Orlando I-4 corridor, which is Florida’s largest and fastest-growing market," said Dick Corbett of Port Logistics Refrigerated Services.

“Dole is a global leader in the production and delivery of fresh produce. Their decision to expand service to Tampa is another strong testament to the supply chain advantages that Port Tampa Bay can offer,” said Raul Alfonso, Port Tampa Bay executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

See related stories:

• Florida Cruise Lines Set Sail Despite Surging Coronavirus Rates
• FL Governor Sues Federal Govt Over Continued Cruise Ship Closures
• Cruise Lines Cancel Cruises For 30 Days Due To Coronavirus Fears
• All American Cruises Canceled Until Sept. 15