New Carnival cruise ship calls Port of Tampa home

TAMPA (FOX 13) - A second Carnival cruise ship is set to call the Port of Tampa home. The Miracle will join the Paradise in year-round operation in 2018. 

Visit Tampa Bay's Patrick Harrison says the addition of a second ship is a huge bonus for local tourism and could usher in more than a million passengers per year through the terminal.

"We're now a 10-cruise destination," he said. "We figure each leisure passenger that comes through is about 170 per day in spending you can do the math there."

That's music to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn's ears.

"That means people are shopping dining they're getting exposed to Tampa it's a big win," the mayor said.

The Miracle is a 2100 passenger ship; it'll offer week long trips to four Caribbean hotspots.

"It shows that we don't have to compete for those mega cruises there's plenty of business in midsize cruises," Buckhorn said.

Local shops like Precinct Pizza are already salivating at the idea of another boatload of passengers passing by.

"We're very excited that we're going to have a lot more business thanks to the miracle," said worker Amanda Horton.