Public service to begin November 1, 2018
(TAMPA, Fla., October 30, 2018) – The return of the Cross Bay Ferry’s service begins on November 1, and new lower-priced tickets are now available for purchase.
Back by popular demand, the Cross Bay Ferry is returning to the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas for another six-month run. This season will be a bit different from the previous one, though. The Cross Bay Ferry has lowered its ticket prices to make it more affordable and practical for everyone to enjoy its services. The new prices are $8 for adults and $3 for children ages 5-18, with discounts available for seniors, active/retired military and college students.
Passengers can purchase tickets at the docks in St. Petersburg and Tampa, at www.TheCrossBayFerry.com or by calling 727-273-5932. The launch of the Cross Bay Ferry became possible through a unique collaboration between the City of St. Petersburg, the City of Tampa, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
“We wanted to make the ferry accessible to as many people as possible,” said Ed Turanchik, HMS’s spokesperson. “Despite a popular and successful first season, we knew that we could make the experience even better for riders. With a couple of exciting new features and lowered ticket prices, we think that this season is going to be something special.”
As with the previous season, the Cross Bay Ferry will run for sixth months from November through April. In St. Petersburg, the ferry will dock near the Vinoy Park within walking distance of Straub Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the shops and restaurants along Beach Drive. In Tampa, the ferry will dock adjacent to The Florida Aquarium, just steps away from Sparkman Wharf, Amalie Arena, the Tampa Bay History Center and the Tampa Riverwalk.
The vessel will be fully equipped with a café serving coffees, pastries, snacks, wine, beer and cocktails for riders. Riders will be able to enjoy their food or drink while taking in the breathtaking views.
Another major change for the ferry is its new schedule. The Cross Bay Ferry will run Tuesday through Sunday with new, late-evening runs so people can enjoy evenings in both cities. For instance, people from Tampa can take a 5:30 p.m. run to St. Petersburg, have dinner, and take a 10 p.m. run back to Tampa. Similarly, people in St. Petersburg can take a 4 p.m. run to Tampa to see a hockey game or concert and take a 10:45 p.m. run back home.
The new schedule also features four roundtrips on Fridays and Saturdays. “With these new lowered ticket prices and extended hours, the Cross Bay Ferry opens up fresh ways to get to great dining and entertaining venues instead of fighting traffic.” said Turanchik.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Ticket prices
One-way tickets will cost $8 for adults, $3 for youth (5-18) and $5 for Seniors, Military (Active/Retired) and college students. Children under 4 are free.
Schedule
Sunday Departures
STP – 4:45pm TPA – 5:45pm
STP – 9pm TPA – 10pm
Monday – No service
Tuesday – Thursday Departures
STP – 4:45pm TPA – 5:45pm
STP – 9:45pm TPA – 10:45pm
Friday – Saturday Departures
STP – 10am TPA – 11:30pm
STP – 1pm TPA – 2:30pm
STP – 4:45pm TPA – 5:45pm
STP – 10pm TPA – 11pm
Tickets
Passengers can purchase tickets at the docks in St. Petersburg and Tampa, or at www.TheCrossBayFerry.com. You can also call (727) 273-5932.
Transit Time
The trip between St. Pete/Tampa is expected to take about 50 minutes, subject to weather and other vessel traffic.
Dock in Tampa/St. Petersburg
In Tampa, the ferry will dock adjacent to the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive. In St. Petersburg, the ferry will dock at the North Yacht (“Vinoy”) Basin, adjacent to North Straub Park – roughly 418 Bayshore Drive NE.
Disabled Accessibility
Yes, accommodations can be made for guests with disabilities. The vessel design supports ADA needs. Feel free to contact the Customer Service department before your voyage for any information.
Beer/Wine, Restrooms
The vessel has a café with a selection of beer, wines and cocktails. The ferry is equipped with two restrooms on the main deck, including one that is ADA-accessible.
Bikes
The Cross Bay Ferry encourages bike transit and happily provides space aboard for bikes. For capacity reasons, the vessel can accommodate up to 30 bicycles at a time. No charge to carry on bikes.