St Petersburg: Private Island Cruise & Dolphin Watching

Cut the engine and float in Tampa Bay while dolphins pass nearby

You board a private boat with Captain Tyler and spend 2 to 5 hours exploring Tampa Bay's islands and waterways. The core trip includes Coffee Pot Bayou's bird sanctuary and dolphin-spotting along the neighborhoods. Longer upgrades add Shell Key's beaches, Bunces Pass's Gulf-edge sandbar, or Egmont Key's historic ruins and gopher tortoises. Tubing and snorkeling gear are included, and you can bring your own food and drinks. The boat has a full bathroom and swim ladder, and you choose whether to cruise, tube, or anchor and float.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat cruise and wildlife viewing

• Board private boat in St Petersburg
• Cruise to Coffee Pot Bayou
• Visit bird sanctuary and spot birds
• Pass luxury homes and look for dolphins
• Stop in Bay, turn off engine
• Relax, swim, or have a drink

The experience

The boat slows, then stops. Water goes quiet. You're somewhere between the neighborhoods and the open bay, feet trailing in the water if you want, a drink in your hand, watching the light change. That's the moment Captain Tyler builds toward on this private boat cruise in St Petersburg, but it doesn't start there. The 2-hour trip leaves from the dock and heads straight into Coffee Pot Bayou, where the bird sanctuary sits thick with roseate spoonbills, herons, ibis, pelicans and cormorants. You're looking for them, but you're also looking for dolphins, which means the boat moves past some of the largest homes in St Petersburg while Captain Tyler watches the water and points things out.

He's been running these trips for over a decade, and it shows in how he reads the bay. The boat has a full bathroom, a swim ladder, and Bluetooth speakers if you want music playing while you're anchored. You can bring as much food and drink as you want: nobody's selling you anything once you're out there. Tubing is an option instead of the cruise-and-look approach, and if you want to snorkel, the equipment's on board. Two hours gets you the core experience, but the upgrades change what the day is: three hours adds Shell Key, a sandbar between Pass-a-Grille and Fort Desoto known for shells and beach time; four hours takes you to Bunces Pass on the edge of the Gulf, where the water is clearer and the sandbar is packed with locals on weekends; five hours means Egmont Key, which has the ruins of a town from the 1800s and gopher tortoises living in the sand.

The timing matters because the longer trips aren't just more of the same. They're different water, different wildlife, different reasons people come back. Egmont is the one people talk about afterward, the one that feels like you've left the city entirely, but it's also the one that eats the whole day. The 2-hour trip is tight enough that you can do it between other plans, which is why a lot of people book it as the thing they do while visiting family in the area. Either way, the boat leaves from St Petersburg, and you don't have to arrange transport to a marina or figure out where to park. You just show up.

What’s included

• Use of tube and snorkeling equipment, full bathroom on board, swim ladder, Bluetooth music system, and the option to bring your own food and drinks.
• The 2-hour trip includes Coffee Pot Bayou and bird sanctuary stops plus dolphin-spotting.
• Longer trips add Shell Key (3 hours), Bunces Pass (4 hours), or Egmont Key (5 hours).

Options for this experience

6 options

Sunset CruiseGuide in English · 19:00Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, from Downtown St Pete to Shore Acre on a catamaran powerboat

City Lights Cruise After DarkGuide in English · 20:30Lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, from Downtown St Pete to Shore Acre on a catamaran powerboat

2-Hour Cruise on Tampa BayGuide in English · 23 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 19:00Lasts 2 hours, from Downtown St Pete to Tampa Bay on a catamaran powerboat

See 3 more options

3-Hour Cruise to Shell KeyGuide in English · 21 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00Lasts 3 hours, from Downtown St Pete to Shell Key on a catamaran powerboat

4-Hour Cruise to Fort DesotoGuide in English · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Lasts 4 hours, from Downtown St Pete to Ft Desoto on the 2020 World Cat 296DC: this is THE boat to be on this summer! If you're looking for the best luxury small boat charter in the area, you've found it.

5-Hour Cruise to Egmont KeyGuide in English · 17 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00Lasts 5 hours, from Downtown St Pete to Egmont Key on a catamaran powerboat

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day24 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:30

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Captain de Jong Charters

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to explore Tampa Bay's islands and sandbars without arranging your own boat or worrying about navigation: Captain Tyler handles the route and knows where to find dolphins and birds, which is what makes the whole day feel less like sightseeing and more like being shown around.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the cruise?

The standard trip is 2 hours. You can upgrade to 3, 4, or 5 hours to visit Shell Key, Bunces Pass, or Egmont Key.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. The boat passes through areas where dolphins are often spotted, but sightings are not guaranteed.

What's included in the price?

Use of the tube and snorkeling equipment are included. You can bring your own food and drinks.

Can young children go?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available.

Is tubing suitable for all ages?

Tubing is offered as an option during the cruise. Check with Captain Tyler about age or size requirements when you book.

What if the weather is bad?

That's not covered in the tour details. Contact the operator directly about their weather policy.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes, you can bring as much food and drinks as you'd like.

Is there a bathroom on the boat?

Yes, there's a full bathroom on board.