New cruise terminal planned, but Manatee has history with passenger ships
A company is eyeing a piece of Manatee County land to build a cruise port for larger ships, but it wouldn’t be the first time cruise ships docked in the county.
SeaPort Manatee, formerly known as Port Manatee, used to be a starting point for the Regal Empress, a cruise ship that offered trips to Mexico and the western Caribbean. The cruise line ran from Port Manatee from 1993 to 2003, according to Bradenton Herald archives.
The Regal Empress’s Port Manatee destination first brought success, bringing an 86% profit increase after the first two months.
However, the cruise line’s reputation declined.
In 1996, the Regal Empress ran aground during a five-night cruise to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico. No injuries were reported among the 737 passengers and 389 crew, and the ship did not sustain damage.
Then, the Regal Empress was chartered by the adult entertainment industry in 2001 for a cruise to Key West. Port officials raised concern about the cruise, which was said to include adult film stars and a forum on partner swapping.
After that, the Regal Empress moved its departure destination to Tampa before going out of business in 2003. Regal Cruises, the parent company, owed Port Manatee $350,000, but the port only recovered $55,000.
Company looks to bring cruises back to Manatee
SeaPort Manatee, now focused on cargo ships, is north of where SSA Marine wants to build a new cruise port in Manatee County. The company plans to partner with the Tampa-based company Slip Knott LLC to bring a port to the 328-acre Knott-Cowen Tract near Terra Ceia.
“Our vision is rooted in a simple idea: enhancing West Central Florida’s position in an evolving cruise industry, while respecting the surrounding environment, creating long-term economic opportunities for the local community, and supporting regional tourism,” Stefano Borzone, president of SSA Marine’s Cruise Division, announced in an op-ed last week.
The Knott-Cowen Tract is a piece of land tucked between the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Rattlesnake Key. SSA Marine bought Rattlesnake Key in October for $18 million under a subsidiary, the Rattlesnake Key Preservation Company.
“We recognize Rattlesnake Key is a treasured local community asset that has long been the subject of concern regarding potential future commercial development. Our intent in purchasing the property is to remove any possibility of private commercialization and ensure its conservation,” Borzone said.
SSA Marine said its new port, the “Knott-Cowen Cruise Port,” will allow larger cruise ships that can’t fit under the Skyway Bridge to come to the region. The Skyway Bridge has a vertical clearance of 190 feet.
In his op-ed, Borzone estimated that the port could bring 31,000 jobs to the region and increase labor earnings by $1.6 billion.
“With cruise ships continuing to modernize, the region will be well positioned to align with and support the cruise industry’s future growth,” Borzone said.
