- TAMPA, Fla.—Carnival Cruise Line announced that they will expand capacity in the Tampa market by adding Carnival Miracle, to operate seven-day Caribbean cruises from Port Tampa Bay, beginning January 2018.

With this capacity increase, Carnival is further bolstering its leadership position in the popular southwestern Florida port, adding a second year-round ship. Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said that Tampa is a highly convenient and popular homeport, and “we’re delighted to provide our guests with exciting new year-round cruise vacation choices.”

“We are very excited for the 2018 cruise season and welcoming the Carnival Miracle to Tampa Bay’s cruise picture. With this addition the port and the Tampa Bay community will host over a million cruise passengers for the first time ever and bolster its position as a top ten cruise port,” Paul Anderson, port president and CEO, said. “Carnival Cruise Line, our long-standing cruise partner, has continued to show their confidence and commitment in the Tampa Bay market and Port Tampa Bay. We look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come. ”

Carnival Miracle will launch a year-round schedule of seven-day Caribbean sailings from Tampa January 27, 2018. The week-long adventures depart on the weekend and feature four of the Caribbean’s most popular ports of call: George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; and Belize City, Belize, each of which offer world-class beaches, water sports and a variety of shore excursion opportunities.

The seven-day voyages from Tampa are part of Carnival’s exclusive Cozumel Plus program, which feature extended stays that provide guests even more opportunities to experience and explore one of the Caribbean’s most diverse vacation destinations. On Cozumel Plus itineraries, guests have access to a variety of new excursions, many taking place on Mexico’s mainland – with unforgettable tours like swimming with whale sharks, visiting centuries-old ruins and swimming in hidden caverns, complementing nearly 50 existing tours already available.

The 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle joins the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise, which operates year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises from Tampa. Carnival is the only year-round cruise operator from Tampa. The two ships will offer the widest variety of four-, five- and seven-day itineraries from Tampa and carry 320,000 guests annually.

Prior to its repositioning to Tampa, Carnival Miracle will offer a 14-day Panama Canal cruise departing Long Beach, Calif., January 13, and arriving in Tampa January 27, 2018.  Ports of call include Cabo San Lucas; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puntarenas, Costa Rica; followed by a transit of the Panama Canal, then stops at Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Carnival Miracle will also offer a unique eight-day Panama Canal cruise round-trip from Tampa April 14-22, 2018, with stops at Limon, Costa Rica; prior to a partial transit of the Panama Canal, then a call at Grand Cayman.

A special 14-day Carnival Journeys cruise featuring a partial transit of the Panama Canal, along with visits to Cozumel, Limon, Cartagena, Aruba, Curacao and Ocho Rios, will also be offered by Carnival Miracle round-trip from Tampa Dec. 2-16, 2018.

Guests sailing on Carnival Journeys cruises enjoy unique local dining and entertainment experiences and a number of shipboard enrichment activities.  For additional information and reservations on Carnival Cruise Line, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.