By the Caribbean Journal staff

Holland America Line is returning to Tampa for the 2020 season for Caribbean cruises, the company said this week.

The cruise line will return to Port Tampa Bay for a “full season” including 18 cruises around the Caribbean on the company’s Veendam ship.

The roundtrip Tampa cruises will include stops in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala for the season, which will run from Nov. 2020 through March 2021.

“Port Tampa Bay is a fantastic homeport that opens up a wonderful ability to sail further west and south in the Caribbean for more diverse itinerary offerings,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We’re excited to return to Tampa and give our guests an even wider selection of Caribbean cruises as well as provide a convenient drive market for cruisers along the west coast of Florida.”

Selected cruises will include a five-day cruise to Key West and Cozumel; a 14-day southern Caribbean cruise that stops in ports like St Kitts and Grand Cayman; and four different seven-day itineraries.

It’s yet another boost for Port Tampa Bay, which earlier this month saw the announced entry of MSC Cruises to the market.

— CJ