We’ve entered the time of year where if you don’t have a boat or a friend with a boat, you sure wish you did.
No worries. There are plenty of ways to get out on that cerulean sea without sinking a down payment on a charter. We’ve rounded up sunset boat cruises, bougie chartered yacht experiences, and tipsy tiki rides across Tampa Bay.
Kick off the summer with a dolphin spotting. Pier Dolphin Cruises launches from the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina for a nearly two hour ride past the Coast Guard Base and historic St. Petersburg mansions. The company also offers sunset cruises around Coffee Pot Bayou, private charters (you could host your wedding onboard), and a ferry to Shell Key. And if you don’t spot a friendly flipper, your next ride is free.
Looking for a luxe boating experience for a birthday sail, bachelorette party, or a treat yourself moment? Salt Luxury Charters offers customizable tours around Downtown Tampa + Harbour Island, Egmont Key, Weedon Island, Safety Harbor, and other pockets of TBAY. Plus, the service has a range of yachts to choose from for private sails and snorkeling excursions.
Get My Boat allows you to rent pontoon boats, fishing skiffs, and tons of other floats from folks in our area. Just fill in your party size, location, and whether you’d like a captain.
You might catch a sunset or two on your Pirate Water Taxi cruise.
Photo via @visittampabay
Did you know you can rent one of the iconic yellow Pirate Water Taxis for your own private Hillsborough River adventure? Think: historic tours, bar crawls, or make an entrance and ride up to a Riverfront event.
Surely you’ve seen the floating tikis dancing down the Hillsborough River or around the St. Pete Pier. Rent one of the uber-Florida floating tiki bars via Cruisin’ Tikis Tampa Bay. A captain takes you and five friends for a 90-120 minute cruise. Pro tip: Make sure to bring your own alcohol and snacks to store in the icebox. Or rent out a whole flotilla for the ultimate summertime party — island music included.
Looking for a different eco-adventure? Check out our guide to kayaking in Tampa Bay.
