According to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, Premier Cruise Lines founder Bruce Nierenberg has plans to begin ferry service between Tampa, Fla., and Mexico, probably the Cancun area. The ferries would be large, modern ships like those used as ferries in Europe, carrying several hundred vehicles and more than a thousand passengers. Nierenberg says service would be twice weekly and may begin in early 2012. The Tampa-Mexico trip would take about 30 hours.

The last auto/pedestrian ferry service between Tampa and the Yucatan was in 2002-early 2003 and lasted only a short time.

And here's a link to another newspaper story on the ferry, this one from the St. Petersburg Times: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/tampa-hopes-for-ferry-service-to-yucatan-cuba/1157412

Why on EARTH would anyone spend $300 and 30 HOURS on a ferry from Tampa to Cancun, when you can fly for almost the same cost and be there in 2 hours from MIA???


DC

you can take your car thats one reason. and some folks hate flying

You can't pay me enough to fly from, to or through MIA! One of the worst airports on earth.

Thanks for the reminder Lan - a few hours too late. I just booked a flight! I will suffer through one more time....

The journey on the ferry will probably be pretty interesting. Not a lot of "open sea." Plenty of islands and boat traffic to keep you occupied and intrigued.

Not much between Tampa and CUN, mostly open ocean. Will be good for the used car dealers buying out of FL.

I guess it depends on the exact route taken. When I sailed down we went through the keys, the dry tortugas, skirted Cuba and then on down to Cancun. I missed most of the enjoyment of the open seas because I was green and sea sick.

MIA is much improved in the last three years and the last few times I have got through much quicker. Even saw an Immigration Officer smile!!

Did his face crack? LOL. The last few times I went through I do think there has been a little improvement in the customer service department. I have still found that it takes about an hour to get through immigration.

I wonder if it is worse or better since the world's #1 bad guy is out of the picture.