TAMPA, Fla. – People on either side of Tampa Bay have yet another option of getting across without taking a bridge: Cross Bay Ferry water service is back.
Officials on Tuesday announced service will start Thursday, Nov. 1, with six months of trips between Tampa and St. Petersburg scheduled through April 2019.
The ferry will dock in the marina near Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg and in Tampa, the dock adjacent to the Florida Aquarium will be a stopping point.
Tickets are $8 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-18 with discounts for seniors, people serving or retired military and college students. Additional information is posted on the Cross Bay Ferry's website.
This year's rates are $2 cheaper than during the 2016 trial run. This time around, the service will also offer later evening runs, which promoters say is good news for people like Lightning fans who could catch the ferry to go to a game.
Departure times are as follows:
Sunday
- Leave St. Petersburg at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; leave Tampa at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
No service Monday
Tuesday-Thursday
- Leave St. Petersburg at 4:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; leave Tampa at 5:45 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
Friday-Saturday
- Leave St. Petersburg at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.; leave Tampa at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 11 p.m.
The cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, along with Hillsborough and Pinellas counties kicked in a combined $600,000 taxpayer dollars to subsidize the service.
More than 40,000 passengers rode on the ferry during the pilot phase of the project.
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