Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour: Mansions & Dolphins

See what locals miss: celebrity homes and dolphins in one afternoon on the water

A one-hour boat tour through Tampa Bay that takes you past the grandest homes on Davis Islands, including the largest residence owned by a New York Yankee. A live English-speaking guide shares little-known facts about Tampa's history and the celebrities who live there, and dolphins often join the tour as they hunt and play. Soda and bottled water are included. Departures run at 12:30pm or 4:00pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour

• Board boat in Tampa Bay
• See homes on Davis Islands
• View biggest home of New York Yankee
• Spot dolphins playing and hunting
• Learn Tampa pirate history
• See Pirate ship “Gabriella” up close
• Ask guide about Pirate beard
• Disembark and end tour

The experience

You've got a free afternoon in Tampa and want to see something more than the usual tourist stops. This tour puts you on the water heading straight into Davis Islands, where the canals are lined with the grandest homes in the city. The boat moves slowly enough that you can see the architecture and the scale of these places up close, including the biggest home in Tampa owned by a New York Yankee, which the guide will point out and explain. Most trips bring dolphins into the scene as they hunt and play in the same waters.

The guide doesn't just name the homes. They divulge facts about Tampa that even people who've lived here their whole lives didn't know. You'll also learn about the city's pirate history: the tour passes the pirate ship Gabriella, and the guide has answers to questions locals themselves ask, like what a "pirate beard" actually means in Tampa. After ninety minutes on the water, you leave knowing more about the city than you expected to when you boarded.

The tour runs for one and a half hours and includes soda and bottled water. You can choose the 12:30pm or 4:00pm departure depending on your schedule. Service animals are welcome, and the tour suits all fitness levels. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Child rates apply only when two adults are paying for the tour.

What’s included

• Live guide in English.
• soda and bottled water.
• one-and-a-half-hour cruise through Davis Islands' canals and past celebrity homes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Celebrity home tour at 12:30 pmGuide in English · 12:30

Celebrity home tour at 4:00 pmGuide in English · 16:00Lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:30 and 16:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (2 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 10

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by Tampa water taxi

Is this one for you?Pick the 12:30pm departure if you want the afternoon free after the tour, or the 4:00pm slot if you're exploring Tampa in the morning first. Either way, the guide's knowledge of the city and the dolphins that often appear make this a faster way to see the grandest homes than driving the islands yourself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 7 years); Infant (under 2): free.

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.

What's the biggest celebrity home I'll see on this Tampa boat tour?

The largest home in Tampa owned by a New York Yankee is the centerpiece of the tour. The guide will point it out and explain its significance as you cruise past it on Davis Islands.

Will I actually see dolphins on the Tampa celebrity homes tour?

Dolphins visit most trips as they hunt and play in the same Tampa Bay waters the boat travels through, though sightings are not guaranteed on every departure.

How long is the Tampa celebrity homes boat tour?

The tour lasts one and a half hours and covers the homes on Davis Islands and the surrounding canals.

What time does the celebrity homes boat tour depart?

Two departures run daily: one at 12:30pm and one at 4:00pm, so you can choose the time that fits your schedule.

What's included in the price of the Tampa boat tour?

The tour includes a live English-speaking guide, soda, and bottled water. Parking and transportation to the boat are not included.