Cross-Bay Ferry Announces BOGO and Kids-Ride-Free Promotions to Better Serve Riders
TAMPA AND ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 23, 2023 – The Cross-Bay Ferry today announced that it is offering a new promotion on Wednesdays and Thursdays during January and February for riders to buy one ticket and get one ticket free, and a new promotion to allow kids aged 12 and under to ride free with an adult. The promotions will allow the ferry to better serve customer demand for its mid-week service, build on its Community Partner Program, and mark another step in the ferry’s development as a long-term transportation option for travel across the bay.
The BOGO promotion allows one customer to get up to three free tickets with the purchase of three full-price tickets on Wednesdays and Thursdays during January and February, excluding days of Tampa Bay Lightning home games. The days that the offer is valid includes Jan. 25, Feb. 1-2, Feb. 8, Feb. 15-16, Feb. 22, and Feb. 25-26. To redeem the BOGO offer, customers must use the promo code “CROSSBAYWEEKDAY” when purchasing their tickets online or in person. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.thecrossbayferry.com/st-pete-tampa or at dockside ticket booths in Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Similarly, the kids-ride-free promotion allows up to two kids aged 12 and under to ride free with an adult on Wednesdays and Thursdays during January and February, excluding days of Tampa Bay Lightning home games. The valid dates are the same as for the BOGO promotion. To redeem the offer, customers must enter the promo code “KIDSRIDEFREE23” when purchasing their tickets online or in person. All children must have their own ticket and be accompanied by an adult.
“Our new BOGO and kids-ride-free promotions will offer substantial savings for people looking for mid-week travel options,” said Matt Miller, president, HMS Ferries, the company that operates the ferry. “We are excited to welcome even more new riders to the Cross-Bay Ferry with these promotions.”
Community Partner Program
The promotions add to another rider benefit, the ferry’s Community Partnership Program, that was launched in December. This program enables local businesses to post their logo and a special offer on the Cross-Bay Ferry website to entice ferry riders to visit their locations. Riders redeem offers simply by showing proof of purchase of a ferry ticket. Businesses participate by simply going to the Cross-Bay Ferry’s Post a Deal page and submitting their logo artwork and promotional message. Once approved by the ferry, the offer is published and promoted on the Cross-Bay Ferry website at no cost to the business.
“Just as our new promotions offer the benefit of big savings to individual riders, our new Community Partnership Program offers the benefit of a quick, easy, and free economic-development tool for local small businesses and destinations,” said Miller. “The partners that have joined since the program’s launch confirm the Cross-Bay Ferry’s role as an economic driver and as a reliable regional travel option for reaching the area’s most popular restaurants, museums, events, and shopping destinations in Tampa and St. Petersburg. It’s a win-win for both Tampa Bay businesses and ferry riders.”
Gasparilla Schedule
The Cross-Bay Ferry announced that although it was able to provide a full day of service to support Children’s Gasparilla and parade, on Jan. 21, it will not be able to provide service on the day of the 2023 Gasparilla Pirate Fest and parade, on Jan. 28, because of U.S. Coast Guard restrictions.
“For safety reasons, on the day of the Gasparilla Parade, we unfortunately are unable to make trips to or from our normal dock in downtown Tampa,” said Miller. “However, we’re continuing to work with the authorities to explore options for offering service on Gasparilla Day in the future.”
The latest information on the ferry’s schedule and access to ticket purchasing is available at www.thecrossbayferry.com as well as at ticket booths at the ferry’s docks.
About the Cross-Bay Ferry
The Cross-Bay Ferry is a regional collaboration between Hillsborough County, city of Tampa, city of St. Petersburg, and Florida Department of Transportation. This season’s service began on Oct. 19 and will continue until May. The ferry normally offers four trips daily between Tampa and St. Petersburg on Wednesdays and Thursdays, eight trips daily on Fridays and Saturdays, and six trips daily on Sundays. In Tampa, the ferry departs from the dock at the Tampa Convention Center, and in St. Petersburg from the dock at North Straub Park, near the Vinoy Basin. More information on the Cross-Bay Ferry, including the latest schedule and ticket-buying options, can be found at www.thecrossbayferry.com.
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