10 Things To Know About The New Cross-Bay Ferry Service

TAMPA, FL -- Hop aboard. The Cross-Bay Ferry officially starts serving Tampa Bay today, connecting St. Petersburg and Tampa via the bay.

Ready to take a ride? Here are 10 things you'll need to know:

1. The ferry will run November through April between the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, and the dock in the North Yacht Basin at 418 Bayshore Drive N.E., between the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and the St. Petersburg History Museum. This is a change from the ferry's pilot program in 2016 due to current construction around the Tampa Convention Center and the St. Petersburg Pier.

2. The fare is $8, lowered from the original cost of $10 during the pilot program in 2016. Kids age 5 to 18 ride for $3 and children under 5 ride for free. Discounts are available for seniors, members of the military and veterans. Tickets for the Cross Bay Ferry are now on sale on the group’s website. Riders can also purchase tickets by phone at (727) 273-5932.

3. Passengers can purchase snacks and beverages, including beer and wine, from an on-board cafe.

4. The Cross-Bay Ferry will run Tuesday through Sunday with new, late-evening runs. The new schedule also features four round trips on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit the website for departure times.

5. The ferry service is being funded with $150,000 contributions from the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and the Florida Department of Transportation. Organizers estimate it will generate $200,000 a year in revenue.

6. The ferry, named Provincetown III, is 98 feet long and 33 feet wide. It has a dual-hull catamaran design that provides for comfort and stability.

7. The ferry carries 149 passengers. There is seating available inside as well as outside seating on the main and upper decks.

8. The ferry is equipped with two heads (restrooms) including one that can accommodate wheelchairs.

9. The ferry cruises at a speed of about 33 mph and the trip across the bay takes about 50 minutes. All guests must be ticketed and ready for loading 20 minutes prior to departure. All ticket sales cease five minutes prior to sailing in order to complete the loading process.

10. Guests can bring up to two pieces of luggage and one small personal item on board at no cost. It costs $1 to bring bikes on board. There is no additional charge for strollers. Some pets may be allowed on board the ferry on a case-by-case basis. Those pets with permission to board must be on a leash or in a travel kennel.

Images via Cross-Bay Ferry

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