Great idea to have this service. I hope they eventually run more trips on weekdays for tourists or just anybody why might like to take a nice day trip. They could use more signage at the St.Pete departure area. No one is in the booth and there are no signs at all to indicate where we should board. There is no phone number and nowhere to text. They don't even have their schedule on their website. Some signeage and a website designer and an ability to reach someone with questions would be a big help. I can see from the boat that this is Bay State Cruises and they normally run boats from Boston to P-town. I know they have lots of experience and I hope they will apply that to this branch of the business. read more

Bring it back!!! It is very convenient and only makes sense! Who wouldn't want to spend time on the bay to go from st Pete to Tampa. This is a needed service. read more

What a funnnnn way to cross the bay! You don't have to worry about parking in either TPA or STP... that along with a fun ride over and back. The wind blowing in your hair (if you choose to hang out on the bow) or sit back in air conditioned cushioned seats... The line and loading area in Tampa, however, in the dead of the summer heat would be very uncomfortable. Interestingly, they don't run the ferry over the summer for some reason. So at the moment, we don't need to worry about it - but when they do (and they've been hinting around doing this year-round finally) they will need some kind of covering and for those who cannot handle standing in long lines, they need to accommodate those as well with seating, etc. On the St Pete side, the loading and unloading appeared a lot less stress...but could have been that there were less people coming back over? I do think they will also need to accommodate shade and seating. Seems kinda simple with no frills at the moment but comfort will definitely add to the experience and likely draw more people! They provide bar service, which is nice. Not just beer and wine, but a full bar. That's nice! Since you're not driving, why not?! Definitely buy tickets in advance or run the chance of not getting on when you want to go. Found they can sell out of seats before the boat floats... I definitely see a need to re-look at the scheduling. If there's an event in STP and you live in TPA, you'll have to leave early to get the ferry back as the last one on weekends leaves at 9:45 pm. When the people who live in STP have until 11 pm in TPA to play. Not fair! That needs to be fixed. They also need to offer a season's pass. It would probably pay for some of the upgrades they need. I'd give it a 3 for these reasons but I had such a good time - they'll get a 4 for now until things change one way or the other. read more

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First time on Theo but not the last. So fun! Tickets are cheap and times are conducive to a day trip to Tampa. Hopped over and had lunch at the Columbia and headed back. Can't wait to do this again read more

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Wowie! On Friday I took the Cross Bay Ferry to Tampa from St Pete. One hour ferry ride and everything about it was perfect. They sell snacks and the best bloody Mary's. They also sell beer water soft drinks etc. You can sit on top deck or below inside or out. Once you reach Tampa there's a trolley stop to Ybor or Riverwalk. We chose Ybor and had lunch at Columbia rest. After lunch we hopped back on the ferry to St Pete. People had Their bikes on board too. Several options like one way round trip and different drop off and pick up times. We paid $16 round trip and booked again for this Saturday cause we had so much fun. They are gone for the summer but return in October. PS there was a party of 6 Milwaukee Brewer fans from Tampa who were going to the Trop in St Pete. They lost. Sorry guys! read more

Cross-Bay Ferry - Me having fun on the Cross Town Ferry! - Public Transportation Near Me - Saint Petersburg, Florida

Our experience with the Cross-Bay Ferry has been hugely frustrating and probably a SCAM. We've been trying to reach someone by phone and by email for days to answer our questions, but have never received a return reply. So, we haven't yet actually taken the ferry. We have tried to reach these folks many times at different times of the day by phone as indicated on their website and they have never returned our calls. We have even sent emails trying to contact them and have received a "case number" reply stating that they will get back to us. They have not. We understand that they suspend their crossings from the end of May to October, but it's still May and expect some sort of basic communication from them. If it's too much of an effort to return calls and emails, then perhaps they need to suspend their business PERMANENTLY. We agree with Anthony S who commented on 1.14.2024 that this is such a scam. BUYER BEWARE before you book and send in your money online. read more

Terrible experience. A complete scam. No address on the confirmation email sent so relying on the information online. Apparently they moved the pickup spot miles away so we missed the 1:30 ferry from St Pete. Phone numbers listed online also out of service. Got another number and no one picked up and had to leave a message. Infuriating read more

I used to use the ferry a lot and found it enjoyable. On our way back from Tampa today, they proceeded to let a bunch of douche bros and influencers overcrowd the back of the boat. Not a single one of them was wearing a mask. Their liberal policy lets them take it off whenever drinking which was common with this group. They came inside and ordered more drinks without masks. No one is enforcing it and they are saying they can't do anything. Well I can't do anything but not use your boat line and make sure everyone I know knows about it. I won't even consider coming back until the pandemic is under control. read more

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This is such a cool way to get between dt st Pete and dt Tampa! There is a bar on the boat, the ride is smooth, and it costs $10 one way. So much more convenient than driving over, sitting in traffic and paying for parking. read more

Cross-Bay Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me - Saint Petersburg, Florida

The trip was good, but I tried contacting them for 2 weeks and no answer or call back. If you are just passing by and they are in the deck take it but if you are planning ahead to go on a trip I wouldn't recommended since you are not going to know if they will sail due to weather and they do not call you or email you to let you know. I recommend to get a person in customer service. read more

My husband and I took advantage of the lovely cool weather last weekend and took the ferry from St. Pete to Tampa. What a fun, stress-free ride! It beats driving over the Howard Frankland any day. We were meeting some friends at Sparkman Wharf so this was the perfect time to try out the ferry, since it drops off at the aquarium just around the corner. We parked in my husband's space downtown, but they do validate parking in the Sun Dial garage which is nice. The ship was easy enough to find right in front of the Vinoy. We bought our tickets ($8/each way plus .80 convenience charge added to the entire order) on the mobile app the day before and are glad we did. When we bought them, it said there were 88 seats left on the boat, so when we got in line to board we were surprised to hear them say it was sold out! It was also sold out for our 3:15 trip back to St. Pete. The boarding process was quick and easy and we got some nice seats outside. It was windy but not too windy to be out there. There was a snack bar serving beer/wine/mimosas but I wasn't able to see the prices. My only complaint is that I wish 1) it wasn't ending in April and 2) they had more frequent times available. I'm meeting a friend for happy hour in Sparkman Wharf in a few weeks and don't want to wait until 10:45 to come home. It would also be nice to have a round trip discount - even if just a dollar or two. However, it's a great way to get to Tampa without driving and a cheap way to be out on the water. We will be utilizing the ferry to get to the next Lightning game we are attending in March! read more

Our group of five all agreed that this was not only a smooth ride but a great, stress-free way to cross the bay and enjoy spending time in downtown St. Pete. We planned our trips weeks in advance and monitored the weather and the ticket availability for the time and date we wanted to board. Purchased round trip tickets a few days in advance so we were all set. For some unknown reason, which seems to be the case more and more these days, the most direct route to the Florida Aquarium driving from downtown, passing the Amalie Arena, was closed to traffic. Circled around a bit and finally accessed the public parking garage across from the aquarium. Take note, Saturday mornings can be quite busy due to traffic from cruise ship passengers. And blocked roads. Walked towards the aquarium a little unsure where to board the ferry. Fortunately two members of our group were already there and showed us the way. However, maybe small signage just to get folks moving in the right direction would be good to add. Boarded on a beautiful day and enjoyed a gusty ride along the waterfront. Docked in downtown St. Pete and spent the rest of the day visiting various venues, like the Saturday Morning Market and Locale Market, enjoying great food and generally walking about sightseeing, enjoying the holiday decorations and taking advantage of a beautiful December day. The ferry is well maintained and offers lots of seating on deck, inside where passengers are protected from the elements and upstairs where the area is partially covered and partially open air. There is food and drink sold on board but we didn't sample any. However, lots of other passengers were enjoying the concessions. The trip is long enough to be relaxing and let people really enjoy the views but quick enough that you don't feel trapped aboard a slow-moving vessel. read more

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A very nice ride. A little pricey on drinks. I ordered captain and coke and it was $10. Tickets one way cost $8. I think they should give you a discount for round trip. My mom's ticket (seniors over 65) was $5. read more

I rode the Cross-Bay Ferry for the new season and saw an incredible sunset on the boat for literally $8. Where else are you going to get that? It transports you between Downtown Tampa and Downtown St. Pete and honestly there could be nothing better considering traffic and parking nowadays on both sides of the bridge. The view is beautiful - you get to see both skylines and the ferry is equipped with alcohol, beverages, and snacks which is a plus. I couldn't be happier to have this option and I hope the fleet expands in the future. The great thing is Downtown St. Pete is very walk-able so once you land you are on your way to wherever you want to go and St. Pete has trolleys connecting the beaches to Downtown as well so there is lots of options. In Downtown Tampa you have the TECO Streetcar as well and the Downtowner to get around. Support transit in Tampa Bay. We desperately need more. read more

What not to like about it. You are on boat coming from beautiful downtown to another ! Simply the best. They have ac room if you feel to hot being outside . Ride takes an hour by you won't feel it. Customer service very friendly and helpful. When boarding line moves very fast. Drinks and snacks are on board if you forgot your own. read more

I have never felt the need to write a bad review besides this. We were one minute late to the ferry and we got there as one of the employees was closing the gate. When approaching them he refused to open the gate and told us we missed it. I have never been more livid in my life. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!! Very rude crew, terrible service, and very hard to find. They also wouldn't give us a refund when they wouldn't let us on the boat. I will never be using Cross-Bay Ferry's again and I suggest you don't either. read more

Was excited, but worried about people still not getting it. Wear your mask! And to not start any kind of fight because people get so sensitive about telling them, ill kindly ask one of your employees to do it. Enforce it! Signs don't mean anything unless you enforce the rule, law or whatever you wanna call it now. read more

A great way to see the other side of the bay, this is a nice day trip. The boat was a little older than I expected and had some pretty strong fuel fumes at boarding, but this went away after taking off. There are inside areas with tables and a full bar. The bar is a bit pricey and prices fluctuated between bartenders. There are outside seating areas on both decks. I'd definitely use this again as a good way to see some of the sights of St.Pete that I haven't visited before. The trip takes about 45-55 minutes and a few minutes to unload everyone, so plan for about an hour. read more

Tried out this new pilot ferry that is currently running back and forth from the Tampa Convention Center to the Downtown St. Pete Yacht Basin on a recent Sunday. Viewing schedules and buying tickets in advance can be done online at their website or you can always purchase tickets at the marinas where you'll be catching the ferry. There's supposedly validated parking at the Amalie Arena surface lot across from the Marriott Waterside, but various ticket agents I asked had no idea what I was talking about, so be prepared to pay $10 if you park in that lot. I was impressed at the boat and it's overall smoothness as we sailed across the bay on both the voyages I took. The boat is very comfortable offering interior seating areas/tables and an outdoor upper level seating area that is outside so you can enjoy the fresh air and scenery. There is also a fully stocked bar/snack bar inside that has reasonable prices for beverages. The journey either way takes about an hour and it does leave promptly at its scheduled times. I hope this works out for the area as it offers an great alternative to getting to St. Pete or Tampa if you don't feel like making the drive across the bridges and dealing with road traffic. read more

Such a pleasant way to spend a Saturday! Make sure you book your tickets early (apparently they sell out by Thursday for most weekends) and consider sitting on the top deck for the breeze. Just hoping they open up a more frequent schedule-- usually I take a left back for convenience. read more

Great feature for the Bay Area. Locals and visitors will both enjoy the ride between sSt Pete and Tampa. Comfortable seating, snack and drink bar(beer, wine and alcohol along with water and soft drinks) and courteous crew. Awesome way to see the area. My only gripe?....music over the sound system would be nice. read more

No masks in cabin. Poorly supervised children under 5 climbing on railings and running around deck. Parking voucher didn't work. Beautiful ride. read more

Great sunset views! Love the ferry! The reason for the 3 star review is for the staff. One person in particular wanted to give my boyfriend a rough time because he tried to exit off the ferry out of the wrong door. This employee was completely condescending towards him and embarrassed him. What a great way to ruin the boat ride. Wish he could have shown a little more compassion, or maybe just get a different line of work... ‍ read more

We stopped by to clarify timing of the ferry on hockey nights given the chance of overtime. The ferry will wait for Bolts fans. The booth operator was very friendly and helpful. We just bought tickets for day excursion to the aquarium to give the ride a trial run. So excited! read more

Some friends and I took the ferry between St. Pete and Tampa this past Sunday evening and it was a great way to travel between the cities. The price is great, the ride was smooth, it boarded and disembarked quickly and efficiently, and it departed on time. The only negative is that the bartender was not prepared. He left for a fairly long period of time saying he needed "ones" and he stopped what he was doing to talk to other crew members while there was a line of people waiting to get something from the bar. No apology was offered. I wish it ran year round! I will definitely take it again with friends. read more

Only giving them one star because I had no 0 star option. Rudest staff I've possibly ever encountered. My 7 friends and I showed up minutes early, before the email said the boat departures. The entire boat staff watched us stand in front of them, as they turned on the boat motor. We said "you don't take off for another couple minutes can we get on the boat please?" But they insisted no, our motors are now on, we are leaving. How can you leave before your departure time? Waste of money, time, and not to mention my friends birthday was ruined. Never will use this service again. Rude staff who clearly don't care about their customers. read more

Very efficient operation. Very clean boat and restrooms. Excellent bar and snack. Very friendly staff. I give the whole operation TEN stars! I loved EVERYTHING about it. read more

I rode the Cross-Bay Ferry this weekend with a large group of friends from Tampa to St. Pete. We wanted to try something new and it was a pleasant experience! We enjoy downtown St. Pete, but never want to drive. The ferry is only $8 each way and eliminates the hassle of driving/ubers, finding parking, etc. I will definitely take the ferry again! read more

Took the ferry round trip yesterday from St. Pete to Tampa. Left on time (to the second), enjoyed a wonderful day in Tampa with all its activities, and returned to enjoy a beautiful sunset on the on-time return trip. Staff was extremely courteous and safe. Probably the GREATEST enjoyment for $10 going!! If you like water excursions, do it NOW!!! read more

Great, fast ride. Fun for kids, especially the 25-kn wind when underway. Only complaint is the snack bar. Why list pizza, hot dogs, and sandwiches if you aren't going to serve them? And $2 for 8 oz fountain drink? Otherwise a great experience. Hope it makes it. read more

Great way to get between Tampa and DTSP! My only complaint would be that it needs to run all year and more frequently, but I'm sure that will come with time. read more

Really enjoyed the round trip ride on the ferry! Very smooth and comfortable cruise. Well worth the $32.00 round trip for two adults. The beer and wine was good and fair priced we did not take advantage of the hot dogs and chips that I noticed available. The boat departed on time and the crew was friendly. To guarantee a seat purchase your tickets days in advance. read more

Amazing service and a relaxing way to get to St. Pete from Tampa. (Or vice/versa). I can see this being a Sat/Sun ritual. Great staff, reasonable prices, and you can have a couple drinks while you're enroute. Hopefully with more dedicated ridership, the hours of operation can expand. read more

This ferrys hours and depart times suck and are inconsistent Day to day and week to week. The staff is unhelpful. There are people waiting to get on but it's sold out. And then it doesn't run only once a day there and once back. It makes no sense. But there is a 5 hour window of the ferry doing nothing!! They need to get it together!! read more