Carnival Cruise Line commemorated three decades of business and community partnership with the Tampa Bay region today with a VIP celebration aboard Carnival Paradise that sails from Tampa year-round. In tandem with International Coastal Cleanup Day, Carnival Paradise team members also marked Carnival’s 30^th anniversary of cruising from Port Tampa Bay by taking part in a beach cleanup and the cruise line donated a hybrid pick-up truck to support the ongoing efforts of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Carnival’s Chief Communications Officer Chris Chiames thanked local leaders for their strong partnership, which has helped deliver jobs, economic activity, tourism demand and memorable cruise vacations to millions of guests cruising from Tampa over the years. Carnival became the first cruise line to begin year-round cruising from the city in 1994.           

“Thirty years ago, Carnival saw the potential for year-round sailing in Tampa – and we were right!” said Chiames. “We appreciate the tremendous partnerships we’ve built together over the years and as we celebrate this milestone, we’re not just looking back on three decades of great memories. We’re looking forward to building on our contributions to the Tampa Bay economic story and more fun for many years to come for our many, many loyal guests who love sailing from Tampa.”

“Carnival Cruise Line is a special part of our port’s history and has welcomed millions of guests to our beautiful region. Carnival contributes greatly to the region’s tourism and economy and we look forward to many years of partnership ahead,” said Paul Anderson, president and CEO of Port Tampa Bay.

In honor of International Coastal Cleanup Day and to further reaffirm its appreciation to the community and its commitment to sustainability, team members from Carnival Paradise also spent the morning volunteering at a cleanup, organized by Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, along the shore of East Bay near Licata Bridge. Carnival donated a hybrid pick-up truck to Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful to assist the organization with clean-up efforts supporting their mission to protect the beaches and oceans of Tampa Bay.

“This donation is not just the gift of a vehicle; it is the gift of opportunity, growth, and a brighter future for our community. This truck will be a driving force – literally and figuratively – and it will help us complete more cleanups, plant more trees, and host more educational events than ever before,” said Debbie Evenson, executive director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.

Carnival also marked the special day by revealing a new sculpture created by 16-year-old Tampa artist and conservationist Ryan Moralevitz from discarded materials he’s picked up at local cleanups to raise awareness of the importance of protecting Tampa’s oceans and beaches.

Carnival Paradise is one of two Carnival ships cruising from Tampa. Carnival Legend will arrive on Oct. 26, after a transatlantic sailing from Rome, to begin a seasonal series of cruises through spring 2025. From Tampa, on both Carnival Paradise and Carnival Legend, guests enjoy four- to eight-day sailings to popular destinations in The Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean. Next year, Carnival Paradise will offer a variety of itineraries visiting Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination set to welcome its firsts guests in July 2025. Carnival also recently opened new cruise options from Tampa through the spring of 2027. To see all sailings available from Tampa, click here.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.