Cruise Ship Accident Lawyers Talk about Embarking from Tampa Bay
Our experienced maritime attorneys tend to witness the worst results of going on cruises, helping those who have suffered through accidents, injuries, and illnesses on trips they expected to be full of excitement and joy.
But that does not mean that we believe going on a cruise is inherently dangerous or that you are setting yourself up for disaster. When you really look at the statistics, most people who embark on cruise vacations each year have no problems whatsoever, instead lauding the experience and feeling eager for more.
The key is simply learning what you are getting into and planning as much in advance as possible so you get the trip you really want. Most people tend to focus their planning efforts on the destination, the cruise line, and what to pack – and all of that is quite valuable. But important and often overlooked factor is where you are going to depart from.
Port Tampa Bay (and, of course, the city itself) offers a number of reasons to make this your jumping off point for adventure and fun. Mere steps from the cruise terminals, you can find shopping, dining, live music, a relaxing outdoor plaza at Channelside, and the Florida Aquarium is right next door.
Those who decide to stick around for a few days before or after will find that they have a plethora of options available to them. Stay in town and you can explore Busch Gardens, Ybor City, and world-class zoos, museums, and shopping while staying in one of the area’s many luxury hotels and enjoying fine dining. Or you can make the short, one-hour pilgrimage to Orlando and visit Disney World or one of the many other attractions that city has to offer.
Cruise Injury Lawyers: Where You Can Go from Port Tampa Bay (and Who Will Take You There)
Of course, as nice as it is to choose a fun departure city, the point of going on a cruise is just that – the cruise! Luckily, those leaving from Port Tampa Bay have several different options available to them.
Four major cruise lines have vessels that operate out of Port Tampa Bay – Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean – and in 2016, Aida Cruises AIDAmar will start calling this port home as well. Below we have put together a detailed itinerary for every cruise leaving out of Tampa Bay.
Carnival. The cruise giant houses one ship at this port – Paradise. It operates year round, offering two different cruise options to customers.
- This short 4-day trip is just long enough to whet your appetite for this port of call.
- Grand Cayman. Take the longer 5-day trip and you will stop at both Cozumel and Grand Cayman.
Holland America. A large but still lesser-known cruise line in North America, Holland America also has one ship at Port Tampa Bay, the Veendam. This cruise ship only heads to one area – the Caribbean – but you can book 7-, 12-, 14-, or 21-day cruise vacations there, and your port of call will vary depending on the length of your trip. Check the dates, though – the Veendam only runs out of this port from January to April.
Norwegian. Just like Carnival and Holland America, Norwegian only keeps a single ship at this port. But the Norwegian Star has an extensive selection of cruise options that you can choose from.
- 14-, 21-, 28-, 30-, and 37-day trips to Copenhagen. Longer cruises also stop in the Caribbean, Mexico, and more.
- Western Caribbean. You can find a wide assortment of Caribbean cruises that range from 5 to 10 days and dock in a wide variety of ports of call.
Royal Caribbean. Unlike the other well-known cruise lines on this list, two Royal Caribbean ships call Port Tampa Bay home. The Brilliance of the Seas specializes in shorter 4- and 5-day cruises, while the Vision of the Seas offers 7-day trips.
- Technically all of the Royal Caribbean cruises out of Tampa Bay visit Cozumel, but the shorter trips of the Brilliance of the Seas make it the point of the trip. It is the only stop on the 4-day cruise, and the 5-day cruise adds only one extra port of call – Costa Maya.
- Grand Bayman. Take a 7-day cruise on the Vision of the Seas and you will stop at Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Grand Cayman.
Don’t Let an Illness or Injury Ruin Your Cruise Out of Tampa Bay, Say Cruise Accident Attorneys
If you do end up suffering from an accident, illness, or injury while on your cruise, take matters into your own hands. No matter which cruise line you used, remember that all of them are businesses at heart. As such, their ultimate concern is the bottom line – they want to minimize the money they have to hand out to people and sweep negative incidents under the rug as quickly and quietly as possible.
But if a cruise line caused you harm because they acted in a negligent manner, it absolutely should not get swept under the rug. Not only do you deserve to receive fair and just compensation for what you have gone through, but a light needs to be shined on what went wrong so those responsible can be made to fix it and prevent others from becoming victims in the future.
Because of this, you should never accept a settlement from a cruise line without first speaking with knowledgeable and experienced cruise injury lawyers who have a track record of success in handling cases like yours. Maritime law is very complex and specific, and only attorneys who specialize in cruise ship injuries will know how to make sure you get the best possible outcome and do not run afoul of little-known legal statutes or bow under the pressure of a giant corporation.
Reach out to us today, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that your voice is heard. Fill out our simple contact form, email us at [email protected], or call:
954-626-3445 (South Florida)
855-347-5475 (Toll Free)