Tampa Cruise Terminal to Skyway bridge

[richbum]

Can anyone tell me approximately how long it takes to go from the cruise terminal to the Skyway Bridge after we set sail?

[bajathree]

1 hour ago, richbum said:

Can anyone tell me approximately how long it takes to go from the cruise terminal to the Skyway Bridge after we set sail?

About 2hrs

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

1 hour ago, bajathree said:

About 2hrs

About 45 minutes - 1 hour at the most.

[RocCruisers]

About the time first dining starts.  

[Capt_BJ]

the distance to be traveled is about 24 nautical miles from Port of Tampa cruise terminal to the bridge.  Now an average cruise ship can travel at 20 knots making this a trip of a lil over 1 hour (1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour.) A cruise ship will typically NOT run full speed thru restricted waters such as narrow channels as exist immediately leaving the port ....

 

 

IME sailing from Tampa is was closer to two hours from departure .... 6 to 630pm and the Captain made an announcement well before arriving at the bridge. But early seating dinner WAS impacted . . . <Tampa Bay has a bad history of significant marine 'incidents' and full speed ahead is very seriously frowned upon .... I was a serving USCG Officer stationed here for the USCGC BLACKTHORN sinking (loss of life) and the knock down of the bridge (loss of life) ... not much later there was a case of two barges running into each other <no big deal> each carrying gasoline <now a big deal> .... TAMPA BAY now takes ship control VERY seriously . . . 

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by Capt_BJ

[bajathree]

13 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

About 45 minutes - 1 hour at the most.

Not on any sailing I have been on out of Tampa

[SemperFi_Cruiser]

I have cruised out of Tampa six times. It will take approx. 2 hrs & 15 minutes. The ship's speed is restricted because the Tampa ship channel is narrow and has  many turns along the trip, plus it is a very busy area. If you have early dinner seating, you'll go under the bridge about the same time as dinner seating  begins. I usually opt for.my time dining so I can be on deck for the bridge passing- its quite a notable moment - then on to dinner afterwards. Also be aware of sunset times. I've gotten quite a few great photos on past cruises during the bridge moment. But if you cruise during late Fall/Winter it will be dark as you go under the bridge and you won't be able to see much.

[SemperFi_Cruiser]

On 8/29/2022 at 5:50 PM, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

About 45 minutes - 1 hour at the most.

Begging your pardon but you are dead wrong. It generally takes about 2 hours  15  minutes +/- There is  no way any cruise ship makes that transit in 1 hour.

[hrhdhd]

On 11/14/2022 at 6:00 PM, SemperFi_Cruiser said:

 But if you cruise during late Fall/Winter it will be dark as you go under the bridge and you won't be able to see much.

The bridge is well lit, and you can see the whole thing. This picture from last December.

[richbum]

Thank you all for your replies...I hope we get to see it...We have early dining...so might have to make a quick run outside for pix!