Tiki Boat Cruise Tampa: BYO Drinks on Hillsborough River

Drift past skyscrapers and the Riverwalk with your own drinks, a cooler of ice, and a captain at the helm

A 90-minute cruise on a floating tiki bar down the Hillsborough River in Tampa, piloted by a USCG-certified captain, lets you bring your own alcoholic beverages and food while drifting past downtown landmarks, the Riverwalk, Amalie Arena and the Straz Center. The boat includes a cooler with ice and a Bluetooth radio so you can play your own music. Children age 6 and up are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cruise Tampa Riverwalk and landmarks

• Meet at Waterworks Park Boat Dock
• Bring your own drinks aboard
• Cruise Tampa's Downtown Riverwalk
• Cruise by Straz Center
• Cruise by Amalie Arena

The experience

You meet the tiki boat at Waterworks Park Boat Dock, just south of Armature Works, and board with whatever drinks and snacks you've brought. The captain: licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard: takes the helm while you settle in with your group. For the next 90 minutes, the boat drifts down the Hillsborough River past downtown Tampa's skyline, the Tampa Riverwalk, and the neighborhoods where locals actually eat and drink. You pass Amalie Arena and the Straz Center, close enough to see them from the water but far enough to feel like you're moving through the city instead of standing in line outside it.

The boat comes equipped with a cooler full of ice and a Bluetooth radio: plug in your phone and play whatever you want. There's no canned playlist, no bartender upselling you on top-shelf pours, no cover charge. Bring your own beer, wine, spirits, whatever fits your budget and your taste. Bring snacks too. The whole point is that you're not paying land-bar prices for drinks you could've brought yourself. Groups often book this before a game at Amalie Arena or a show at the Straz Center, turning a cruise into a pre-event tailgate that actually moves.

Service animals are allowed, and the boat works for all fitness levels. Public transit options are nearby if you don't have a car. If you want to add a gratuity for the captain, you can do that at checkout.

What’s included

• USCG-certified captain piloting the boat.
• cooler with ice.
• Bluetooth radio for your music.

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs every day, 7 start times, from US$ 59.95 per person, with a live guide in English and in groups of up to 6.

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: 11:00, 12:45, 14:30, 16:30, 18:15, 20:00 and 21:45

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

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

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cruisin Tikis Clearwater

Is this one for you?If you've got a free afternoon or a couple hours before a game and you're tired of paying bar prices for drinks you could bring yourself, this boat removes the markup and the land-bar wait. The captain handles navigation and safety while you control what you drink, what you eat, and what plays: the only floating tiki bar in Tampa where that's actually possible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What's the Hillsborough River cruise actually like, what do you see from the boat?

The Hillsborough River cruise passes downtown Tampa's skyline, the Tampa Riverwalk, Amalie Arena, and the Straz Center from the water. You drift through the neighborhoods where restaurants and bars line the riverfront, seeing the city from a vantage point you don't get from the street.

Can I bring my own alcohol and food on the tiki boat?

Yes, bring your own alcoholic beverages, beer, wine, snacks or food. The boat provides a cooler with ice so your drinks stay cold for the full 90 minutes.

How long is the cruise and when does it depart?

The cruise runs 90 minutes. You meet at Waterworks Park Boat Dock, just south of Armature Works, and the USCG-certified captain takes your group down the Hillsborough River from there.

Can I play my own music on the boat?

Yes. The boat has a Bluetooth radio, so you can connect your phone and play whatever you want instead of a fixed playlist.

Is this a good option before a game or concert?

Yes, many groups book the tiki boat as a pre-event cruise before Amalie Arena games or Straz Center shows. You pass both venues from the water, and the 90-minute timing works as a tailgate or warm-up before you head to the event.