Following strong response to its first-ever cruises to Cuba announced earlier this year, Carnival Cruise Line has added five more voyages from Port Tampa Bay featuring extended calls in Havana in 2018.
The new voyages include three five-day cruises to Havana and Cozumel or Key West departing Feb. 17, July 2 and Sept. 5, 2018; a six-day sailing featuring Havana and Grand Cayman departing Aug. 26, 2018; and an eight-day voyage with stops at Havana, Grand Cayman and Cozumel departing Aug. 18, 2018.
Earlier this year, Carnival announced a series of four and five-day voyages to Havana that kicked off in late June. Upcoming voyages in the initial program include four-day cruises departing Aug. 24, Sept. 7 and 21, and Oct. 5 and 19, 2017 as well as May 3, 2018 and five-day voyages departing Aug. 28, Sept. 25 and Oct. 9, 2017.
The visits to Havana comply with regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury that permit travel operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
About Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine in west central Florida, supporting nearly 85,000 jobs and generating over $17 billion in annual economic impact. In addition to being a top 10 U.S. cruise port, the port handles a wide array of bulk, break bulk, containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, and is a major shipbuilding and repair center. Port Tampa Bay was honored as 2016 Best Port Operator by Lloyd’s List. For more information, visit www.portTB.com.
Port Tampa Bay
Statement from Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson
Statement from Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson on Governor Scott’s
Appointment of Mike Griffin to the Port Tampa Bay Board of Commissioners
“We welcome Mike Griffin to the Port Tampa Bay Board of Commissioners. Mr. Griffin’s years of experience in the business and commercial real estate community will be an invaluable resource as we continue to grow and strengthen the Port, creating more local jobs and opportunities. As a direct result of the millions of dollars generated in recent years, Port Tampa Bay remains on pace to be off county tax rolls within nine years. Port Tampa Bay uses approximately $11 million in taxpayer money strictly for infrastructure projects (i.e. construction of cruise terminals) from a separate account. This year, Port Tampa Bay is expected to break all-time revenue records. Although we are currently reviewing all Port Tampa Bay expense policies, I believe there is a misperception about the integrity of how we spend Port Tampa Bay dollars. I look forward to the opportunity to provide a detailed explanation of our budget, and illustrate how our investments have vastly improved the economic landscape in the Tampa Bay area. We are excited to work with Mr. Griffin and welcome him to the Port Tampa Bay family.”
About Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine in west central Florida, supporting nearly 85,000 jobs and generating over $17 billion in annual economic impact. In addition to being a top 10 U.S. cruise port, the port handles a wide array of bulk, break bulk, containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, and is a major shipbuilding and repair center. Port Tampa Bay was honored as 2016 Best Port Operator by Lloyd’s List. For more information, visit www.portTB.com.
Port Tampa Bay Names Director of Special Projects
Port Tampa Bay announced this week that Jamal Sowell has been named director of special projects. Sowell, a former member of the United States Marine Corps, will support internal, external and special projects. He will also assist the executive team with management oversight and serve as a liaison on a wide variety of port business matters.
He brings a variety of experience from the local, state and federal levels.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jamal to Port Tampa Bay,” said Paul Anderson, president and CEO of Port Tampa Bay. “His diverse background will not only benefit the Port, but the entire Tampa Bay region.”
Sowell, a 6th generation Floridian from Orlando, was most recently involved with the Indiana Journal of Constitutional Design and Center for Constitutional Democracy. During this time, he also worked in Israel for Shurat HaDin and was appointed to the Indiana Board of Health Facility Administrators by Vice President Michael Pence (then Governor Pence).
“Port Tampa Bay’s accomplishments and reputation reverberate across this country,” said Sowell. “I am honored to return home to Florida and work with an outstanding organization like the Port.”
Sowell has previously served as a contributing writer to the Orlando Sentinel, Tallahassee Democrat, Gainesville Sun, and named the 2013 Impact Washington, D.C. Leader of the Year; named to the 2016 Jeb Bush National Veterans Coalition and listed as a 2017 Maverick PAC 40 under 40.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in religion from the University of Florida, master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and law degree from the Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law.
About Port Tampa Bay
Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest port and the largest economic engine in west central Florida, supporting nearly 85,000 jobs and generating over $17 billion in annual economic impact. In addition to being a top 10 U.S. cruise port, the port handles a wide array of bulk, break bulk, containers and roll-on/roll-off cargoes, and is a major shipbuilding and repair center. Port Tampa Bay was honored as 2016 Best Port Operator by Lloyd’s List. For more information, visit www.portTB.com.
