Tampa–St. Pete Ferry Is Becoming a Year-Round Reality: PSTA Buys Two Boats

The on-again, off-again dream of hopping a boat from downtown Tampa to downtown St. Petersburg just got a lot more concrete. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has announced it purchased two vessels to power a revamped Tampa Bay Ferry — and this time the goal is daily, year-round service rather than a seasonal experiment.

For anyone who has sat on the Howard Frankland in rush-hour traffic or skipped a St. Pete event because of the drive, the appeal is obvious: a relaxing ride across the bay instead of a white-knuckle trip across the interstate.

Why two boats changes everything

The earlier Cross-Bay Ferry, which ran seasonally starting in 2016 and wrapped up its final season in April 2025, relied on a single leased vessel brought in from out of state. As PSTA has explained, one boat simply can't run seven days a week — when it needs maintenance, the service stops.

A two-vessel fleet solves that problem. One boat can stay in service while the other is serviced or repaired, which is the foundation officials say is needed for reliable, year-round operation, according to St. Pete Rising's reporting on the April plan.

Meet the fleet

The Bay Breeze was approved by the PSTA board back in December for up to $2.5 million, while the San Juan Clipper — which had been working as a whale-watching boat in the Pacific Northwest — was the second preferred option at an estimated $2 million for purchase and renovation. Officials previously estimated refurbishment for both boats at three to six months. Renovations may include updated interiors, mechanical work, and onboard amenities such as a bar serving snacks and drinks, according to the April presentation.

The long voyage home

The boats aren't simply going to motor over. Because both vessels currently sit on the West Coast, they face a long journey to Tampa Bay — and PSTA has said the fleet is expected to arrive sometime by late summer after completing sea trials and surveys.

Where you'd catch it — and what it might cost

On the Tampa side, the ferry is planned to operate from the east end of the Tampa Convention Center near the Harbour Island bridge — the same spot the old Cross-Bay Ferry used. In St. Pete, the boats are slated to dock at the Vinoy Yacht Basin on the downtown waterfront, with a permanent dock eventually planned near the St. Petersburg Museum of History on the St. Pete Pier.

As for fares, PSTA has said it is targeting a $10 one-way fare — lower than the $12 the Cross-Bay Ferry charged in its final season — with discounts planned for seniors and riders with disabilities.

What it means for local life

For Tampa-area residents, a dependable ferry reshapes how a Saturday or a workday could look — dinner on the St. Pete waterfront without parking headaches, a Rays or arts outing across the bay, or a calmer commute for downtown workers. Tampa Convention Center leaders have also pointed to the hundreds of thousands of convention attendees each year who could use the boat to explore both sides of the bay.

For now, the immediate work is finishing renovations, completing the docks, and getting the vessels across the country and into Tampa Bay waters. If the timeline holds, the region could be boarding a true year-round ferry before the year is out.

Want to weigh in on whether you'd ride? Join the conversation in our Community Forum and tell us what schedule would actually get you on board.

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