The Tampa Port Authority (TPA) Board of Commissioners today approved a new agreement to homeport Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) ships at the Port of Tampa through 2017. The agreement further solidifies CCL’s long-term commitment to the Tampa cruise market and strengthens marketing initiatives between the cruise line and the port authority.

Carnival Cruise Lines is one of the port’s main customers, having first sailed from Tampa in October 1994. Holland America Line, parented by CCL, began calling at the Port of Tampa in 1982.

Today’s contract agreement falls immediately on the heels of yesterday’s unveiling of the new  economic impact study completed for the port authority by Martin Associates, underlining the port’s impact of $15.1 billion.

Port executives and cruise industry executives are optimistic about Tampa’s continued success and appeal as a major cruise home port destination. Carnival sails from Tampa year-round, to Western Caribbean destinations.

“This new contract with Carnival Cruise Lines is a definite sign of a strong, continuing  partnership with the world’s largest, most popular cruise line, and it is very exciting to see the Port of Tampa near its twentieth year as a home port for Carnival ships, providing quality vacation experiences from our port and our facilities,” Paul Anderson, Tampa Port Authority CEO and port director, said.