Getting to the Tampa cruise port from the airport
Tampa International (TPA) is only 9.5 miles from the terminals, 15 to 20 minutes by car. A taxi is a flat $40, according to the airport, and an Uber averages about $35, so for two or more people a cab or rideshare usually beats the cruise lines' $20 to $25 per-person transfers.
From Orlando it's 85 miles and no cruise line runs a transfer: a private car is about $154, or rent a car one way. The port has no luggage storage, so plan your day around your bags.
Fares and schedules checked . How we check
From Tampa International Airport (TPA)
9.5 miles, 15 to 20 minutes by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| TaxiYellow Cab and other county-licensed taxis | A flat $40 to downtown and the cruise terminals, according to the airport's ground transportation page (its arrivals guide still says $35). Confirm the fare before you get in. For 2 to 4 people a taxi is usually cheaper than per-person transfers. | Taxi stands are at the curb outside baggage claim (Level 1), at Red 1 and Blue 2. No booking needed. |
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's own airport page shows an average of about $35 to the Water Street hotels next to the port. The airport adds a $5 pickup fee. | Pickups at the Red and Blue Express curbs, or the SkyCenter One curb. |
| Cruise line transferCarnival Cruise Line | $24.99 per person, airport to pier on sailing day. | Buy up to 2 days before sailing. Your flight must land by noon; a rep meets you at baggage claim near the elevators. |
| Cruise line transferRoyal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity | Sold by each line; current prices aren't published. Older figures put Royal Caribbean at about $21.50 and Norwegian at $20 per person each way. Margaritaville at Sea doesn't sell transfers. | Book in your cruise booking or the line's app: Royal Caribbean recommends two weeks ahead, Norwegian at least 4 days. |
| Shared shuttleBlue One Transportation | About $15 per person shared, or $90 for a private van for up to 4, according to a 2026 travel guide. Quotes on request. | Pre-book with your flight details at (813) 282-7351. |
| Bus and streetcarHART Route 30 and the TECO Line Streetcar | $2 for the bus, and the streetcar has been free. Over an hour and impractical with big bags. | Take SkyConnect to the Rental Car Center, then Route 30 hourly to Kennedy Blvd and Whiting St, and the streetcar to the Florida Aquarium or Port Tampa Bay stop. |
From St. Pete-Clearwater Airport (PIE)
18 miles, 30 minutes to an hour, depending on bridge traffic by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Uber or LyftRideshare apps | Uber's airport page shows an average of $42 to Tampa. | Pickup in front of the terminal at Arrivals. |
| TaxiUnited Taxi and Yellow Cab | Metered; the airport doesn't publish a fare. Expect roughly $50 by our estimate. | Taxis wait in the ground transportation lot outside baggage claim, (727) 777-7777. |
| ShuttleBlue One Transportation | Quote on request. No cruise line sells transfers from PIE. | Pre-book at (813) 282-7351. |
From Orlando International Airport (MCO)
85 miles, about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on I-4 traffic, by car
| Option | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Private carPre-booked car services | About $154 for a sedan and $225 for a minivan, one way, from a booking broker in October 2026. | Pre-book. No cruise line sells transfers from Orlando to Tampa. |
| One-way rentalRental car, dropped in Tampa | Often about $70, according to a travel guide, plus a $40 taxi from the Tampa airport drop-off to the port. | Drop the car at TPA's Rental Car Center, then take a taxi to the terminal. |
| BusFlixBus | From $13.98, about 1.5 hours. | Leaves from the Orlando bus station and the Florida Mall, not the airport, and arrives at Tampa's Marion Transit Center. You'd need rides at both ends. |
Want a private car or shared van booked ahead? Compare airport-to-port transfers in Tampa from several companies on Viator.
Booking.com Taxis also books a private car from the airport to the terminal at a price fixed when you book. The driver tracks your flight and waits if it's late, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Good to know
- The port has no luggage storage at any terminal. The Florida Aquarium, next to Terminal 2, stores bags free with a discounted admission ticket, but it opens at 9:30 a.m.
- Carnival won't put you on its transfer for a flight home before noon. Tampa's airport is close, but give yourself until late morning for domestic flights, and mid-afternoon if you're flying out of Orlando.
- Margaritaville at Sea's Terminal 6 closes its doors at 2:30 p.m. sharp, and later arrivals are turned away.
- The free TECO Line Streetcar stops by Terminal 6 and next to the Florida Aquarium, but it starts at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 a.m. on Sundays, too late for most people getting off a ship.
- SuperShuttle, still named in old guides, closed in 2019.
Common questions
How much is a taxi from Tampa airport to the cruise port?
Tampa International's ground transportation page lists a flat $40 to downtown and the cruise terminals; its arrivals guide still says $35. Confirm with the driver before you leave.
Is there a shuttle from Tampa airport to the cruise port?
Carnival sells one for $24.99 per person on sailing day, and Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity sell their own. Margaritaville at Sea doesn't. Blue One Transportation runs shared vans for about $15 per person. SuperShuttle closed in 2019.
How do I get from Orlando airport to the Tampa cruise port?
No cruise line runs this transfer. A pre-booked private car is about $154 for a sedan, or take a one-way rental car to Tampa airport and a $40 taxi from there. Allow at least 2 hours for I-4 traffic.