The Cross-Bay Ferry begins its 6tth season sailing across Tampa Bay at 4:45 pm on Wednesday, October 19.
The service, linking the downtowns of Tampa (Florida) and St Petersburg (Florida), is coming off the most successful season. It attracted a total of 62130 passengers from October 2021 through to May 2022, a jump of ~10,000 annual passengers.
This year, the ferry adds an extra month of service and an expanded daily schedule including later evening runs. Final departure times from Tampa are as late as 11 pm on Friday & Saturday nights.
The Cross-Bay Ferry is due to operate from the same locations as in previous seasons. In Tampa, it will depart from the dock at the Tampa Convention Center, while in St. Petersburg, from the dock at North Straub Park, close to the Vinoy Marina.
First departures from St Petersburg start at 4:45 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 am on Fridays, 10 am on Saturdays, and 11 am on Sundays. Final departures from Tampa will be at 10:45 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:30 pm on Sundays.
Cross-Bay Ferry adult ticket prices increased to US$12 per one-way trip. Discounted tickets are available for seniors/youths/college students/people using wheelchairs/active or retired members of the military.
The feryboat Provincetown III (2004-built, IMO 9329394) is a twin-hull aluminum catamaran with max passenger capacity 149 and average speed 30 mph/50 kph.
In February 2022, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority was awarded by the Federal Transit Administration a US$4.9 million grant to buy a new 350-passenger ship.