Port Tampa Bay

Getting there

Margaritaville at Sea sails Islander from Cruise Terminal 6 at Port Tampa Bay. (source)

Tampa International Airport is a 15-minute drive from the Channel District, where all three Port Tampa Bay cruise terminals sit. (source)

Rideshare and taxi drop-off is at the terminal. Port Tampa Bay signs a RED ROUTE to secure cruise parking. (source)

Check Port Tampa Bay’s terminal guide for directions, arrival information and drop-off details before you travel. Port Tampa Bay — Terminal Guide and cruise FAQs ↗

Parking

Options

Pre-pay self-parking, pre-pay valet parking, or self-park and pay on arrival.

Published rate

Port Tampa Bay does not publish a self-parking rate. It is quoted through the pre-pay portal, selected by cruise line.

Valet

The valet upgrade fee is $20 over the base rate.

Reserve ahead

Self-parking spaces closer to Terminal 6 are limited. Port Tampa Bay encourages guests to pre-pay for self-parking to reserve the closer spaces.

Parking location

Port Tampa Bay names 1331 McKay Street as the cruise parking location serving Terminal 6.

Do not use

The Channelside garage across from Terminal 3, at 815 Channelside Drive, serves Terminals 2 and 3. It is not the Terminal 6 lot and there is no practical walking route from it to Terminal 6.

Luggage storage

There is no luggage storage in any Port Tampa Bay terminal. The Florida Aquarium, next to Terminal 2, stores luggage free with the purchase of a discounted admission ticket.

Accessibility. Posted rates apply to all guests with a disabled permit or tag except as provided by Florida law. Only vehicles with specialised equipment such as ramps, lifts or hand controls, vehicles displaying a Florida Disabled Veteran licence plate, or vehicles displaying a Florida Toll Exemption permit are exempt from parking charges. The disabled veteran to whom the plate was issued must be in the vehicle. Exempt parking is available at 810 Channelside Drive and 1331 McKay Street only when a ship is in port, and is subject to availability. This is advisory guidance based on what the operator publishes and is not a guarantee. Confirm with the port before you travel.

Source: Port Tampa Bay — Cruise Parking, checked 25 September 2026. Rates change. Confirm before you travel.

Assigned arrival windows

Arrival windows are assigned by stateroom location. Guests with a pre-booked Express Pass, a pre-purchased Signature Package containing Priority Boarding, and guests in Suites are assigned the earliest windows and use the VIP Check-In Lane. Guests without a boarding pass, and guests who arrive before their assigned window, are directed to the Standby Check-In Lane and may be delayed.

How assigned

By stateroom location.

When issued

Approximately 21 days before sailing.

Where issued

Emailed to the primary guest on the reservation, and viewable in the Cruise Control guest portal. Signing in requires the Booking ID and the primary guest’s last name.

Earliest windows

Express Pass holders, Signature Packages containing Priority Boarding, and Suites.

Outside your window

Standby Check-In Lane, with possible delays.

Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Port Tampa Bay: Arrival & Embarkation, checked 25 September 2026.

What to bring

Travel documents

Current, valid and accepted documents for every member of the party. Originals only. Photocopies, photographs and digital copies are never permitted. Check the line’s travel requirements page for what is accepted for your itinerary. (details)

Boarding pass

One per stateroom. Print it and bring it. It is checked on arrival to confirm your window. Guests without a printed or digital boarding pass are directed to the Standby lane.

Payment card

A valid credit card for onboard charges.

Luggage tags

Tags are emailed with the boarding pass and are available in Cruise Control from approximately seven days before sailing. Download and pre-tag every bag you plan to check. Tagging carry-on bags as well is useful if they become separated from the party.

Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Port Tampa Bay: Arrival & Embarkation, checked 25 September 2026.

Check-in and boarding, vehicle to ship

1. Arrive inside your assigned window. Parking attendants direct vehicles to the parking area.
2. A member of the terminal operations agency confirms your arrival window and checks your boarding pass as you arrive.
3. Drop checked luggage with the porters. It is delivered to your stateroom later, which is why the tags matter.
4. Clear security.
5. Check in and collect the stateroom keys for every member of the party.
6. Board. Your stateroom may not be ready immediately, so keep medication, documents and anything needed for the first few hours in a carry-on.

At check-in every member of the party, including minors, is issued a personalised stateroom key carrying their name and stateroom number. It is used to leave and re-board the ship at every port and for all cashless transactions on board. Carry it at all times. A lanyard is useful.

Source: Margaritaville at Sea — Port Tampa Bay: Arrival & Embarkation, checked 25 September 2026.

Debarkation

Self-assisted walk-off

You carry all of your own luggage off the ship. No luggage is collected the night before.

Earliest departure

Suites and Signature Packages that include priority debarkation may begin at approximately 7:00am.

Stateroom vacate time

Other self-assisted guests must vacate the stateroom by 8:00am.

Luggage assistance

Guests using luggage assistance cannot begin before approximately 8:15am.

Times vary by sailing. The printed debarkation instructions delivered to your stateroom on the last evening are the only times that apply to your sailing. Read them.

Not verified against a public page. These timings were supplied as verified in the editorial brief for this guide. They could not be located on a public Margaritaville at Sea page on 25 September 2026, so they are published here as advisory guidance only.

Tips

• The hard number on this page is 2:30pm, which has applied since 1 July 2025. If you sailed from Tampa before that date, the cut-off you remember is wrong.
• Pre-pay for self-parking. Port Tampa Bay states the spaces closer to Terminal 6 are limited and pre-paying is how you reserve them.
• Terminal 6 is not the Channelside garage. That garage serves Terminals 2 and 3 and there is no practical walking route from it.
• Two street addresses are published for Terminal 6. Follow port signage and the RED ROUTE on the day rather than a saved map pin.
• If you arrive in Tampa before check-in opens, The Florida Aquarium stores luggage free with a discounted admission ticket.

Check-in, arrival, embarkation and debarkation processes are specific to each departure port, are run by third-party terminal operations staff, and can change. Margaritaville at Sea advises that even repeat guests re-read the procedures for their port before every sailing. Margaritaville at Sea — Port Tampa Bay: Arrival & Embarkation.

Questions

What happens if I arrive after 2:30pm?

You will not be permitted to enter the terminal or board. The booking is treated as a no-show and is subject to the penalties and fees in the Margaritaville at Sea cancellation policy. The 2:30pm close has applied since 1 July 2025.

Is the terminal at 1331 or 1333 McKay Street?

Both are published. Port Tampa Bay lists the terminal at 1333 McKay Street and names 1331 McKay Street as a parking location. Margaritaville at Sea uses 1331 on one page and 1333 on another. They are on the same block. Follow port signage on the day.

How much does parking cost?

No rate is published. Port Tampa Bay quotes it through its pre-pay portal, selected by cruise line. Valet is $20 over the base rate.

Can I park at the Channelside garage and walk?

No. That garage serves Terminals 2 and 3, and there is no practical walking route to Terminal 6.

Can I leave my bags somewhere before check-in opens?

Not in the terminal. The Florida Aquarium next to Terminal 2 stores luggage free with a discounted admission ticket.

Sources