With the Tampa Bay and Hillsborough River right along downtown, spending the day on the water with your love makes perfect sense. Day or night cruises are a wonderful way to see the sights and learn the history that made Tampa, Tampa.
The Bay and the river offer views of mansions, historical sites, downtown, attractions, and aquatic life, plus the area has a rich and interesting history!
<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>Featured Day Cruise in Downtown Tampa
Yacht Starship Day Cruise
- Boarding location: 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa
- Cost: varies
Yacht Starship is a company based out of Tampa and Clearwater. They offer several types of short cruises throughout the day.
Yacht Starship offers a 2-hour brunch buffet cruise on Saturdays and Sundays with $10 unlimited mimosas! Most days, Starship offers dinner cruises that take people around the Bay and have views of the Downtown skyline, mansions, and more.
They also offer seasonal holiday cruises for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Gasparilla, and more!
More of The Best Day Cruises in Downtown Tampa
History Day Cruise
- Boarding location: 801 Old Water St.
- Cost: $29 per person
Tampa Bay has a rich history with many little-known facts. The River and Tampa Harbor have a history on both sides.
One of the buildings on the tour is historic Plant Hall, formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel, which was the site of a headquarters during the Spanish-American War, where Babe Ruth signed his first baseball contract and has had many famous guests, including Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Clara Burton, Queen Elizabeth II, and Booker T. Washington.
Visitors will get to see museums, million-dollar homes, historic landmarks, and the Gasparilla Ship along the way, and learn many interesting facts about Tampa and its history.
Booze Day Cruise
- Boarding location: 333 South Franklin St., Tampa
- Cost: $52.68+ per person
A typical sight on the Hillsborough River is the Paddle Pub Kraken CycleBoat booze cruise! Kraken offers a unique 2-hour experience where guests paddle with the boat from pedals in front of their seats. They have regular party cruises, a Glow Party Paddle Pub Cruise, or a Sunset Paddle Pub Cruise.
Guests do have to bring their own alcohol, but they do get ice, a souvenir cup, a captain, and fantastic views of downtown and the Riverwalk. A booze cruise is a fun way to see the bay while having a good time relaxing with friends.
Craft Scenic River Cruise
- Boarding location: 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa
- Cost: $59.95+ per person
Craft Tampa offers brunch, dinner, and happy hour cruises with great views of the Hillsborough River. This multi-million dollar river cruiser allows the boat to navigate under low bridges, similar to river cruises in Europe.
All cruises aboard craft are 2 hours, and special cruises are available for holidays.
Make Your Own Day Cruise
- Boarding location: 375 S Franklin St, Tampa
- Cost: $89+
The Riverwalk provides a way for people to captain their own small boat and decide what they want to see. The Riverwalk Boating Company has green mini powerboats with room for two guests.
The boats and all safety equipment are available to rent for 60 minutes and 120 minutes. You get to drive yourself along the River and Bay to see what sites you want to see and just spend time with your significant other, friend, or dog!
They also have retro boat rentals with classic fiberglass boats from the jet-age era (1958-1963). Retro boats can be rented for the same amount of time as the powerboats.
As long as you have cell reception, you can look up facts about each place on your phone and move the boat around so you can get the perfect angle for your photo! It’s a laid-back way to see the area without other tourists if you are shy or want to be alone with your date.
Fun Boat Day
- Boarding location: 333 South Franklin St., Tampa
- Cost: $25 for adults, $12 for children
The Tampa Bay Fun Boats are perfect for a group date night out with their Sightseeing and Sunset tours. Boats can hold up to 35 passengers, as well as dogs, are wheelchair accessible and have a bathroom onboard.
During the day, passengers will enjoy a picturesque view of Harbour Island and Davis Island and be on the look-out for dolphins. At night, riders will enjoy a beautiful view of lit-up downtown and can search for alligators enjoying a night swim.
For groups who want a private night out, Fun Boats offer private charters for rent by the hour. Fun Boats is the best way to just enjoy the water without having any other agenda!
Wild Dolphin Day Cruise
- Boarding location: Outdoor plaza at The Florida Aquarium
- Cost: $17 per adult, $15 per child (a general admission ticket to the aquarium is also required)
Dolphins are commonly associated with Florida and are commonly seen swimming in Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River, so going on a dolphin cruise is a must-do!
Take a trip and spot some dolphins with The Florida Aquarium aboard the Bay Spirit II, their 72-foot catamaran, where an experienced naturalist will guide you through the natural beauty of the Bay’s ecosystem.
Members can enjoy buy-one-get-one-free on Wild Dolphin Cruise tickets when logged into their account.
