Cross-Bay Ferry returns to Tampa Bay

The CrossBay Ferry, a seasonal service connecting Tampa and Saint Petersburg, will return November 1 with new hours of operation and cheaper fares.

Operated by Seattle-based HMS Ferry, the ferry will run from Tuesday through Sunday and offer later hours, including 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday; and 4:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday.

“It's going to provide better access to events, recreation, and hospitality in both cities,” Ed Turanchik, an HMS Ferry attorney and Tampa mayoral candidate, says. “[It will be] much better for people going from Tampa to dine in Saint Petersburg and better for people in Saint Petersburg to come over and go to events at Amelie Arena, for example.”

One-way adult fares will cost $8 per person, compared to $10 charged in its pilot season. Fares for kids aged 5 to 18 will cost $3, while seniors, college students, and military members will cost $5.