Port Tampa Bay officials welcomed the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Norwegian Sun to Tampa during a plaque exchange ceremony Sunday, November 2, commemorating the ship’s inaugural call in Tampa, as well as the start of the busy 2014-2015 winter cruise season.

Norwegian Sun replaces Norwegian Dawn, as Norwegian’s third home ported ship at Port Tampa Bay. The 1936-passenger Norwegian Sun is sailing a series of seven-day Western Caribbean cruises with stops in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; along with two relaxing days at sea.  

The ship has a gross tonnage weight of 78,309 tons, length of 848 feet, and crew size of 953.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome the beautiful Norwegian Sun for what is shaping up to be the busiest cruise season ever for Port Tampa Bay and to see a continued commitment by Norwegian Cruise Line to make Tampa one of its home ports, bringing significant economic benefit to the Tampa area and the region,” Paul Anderson port president and chief executive, said.