Tampa Tours
1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa
3.5

1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa

By Tampa Water Taxi Company
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About
Become a bottlenose dolphin expert on a dolphin watching cruise from Tampa Bay. Your boat’s captain takes you to the dolphins' most popular hangouts to see the playful and majestic creatures. Observe mothers and their calves and take photos from as close as 30 feet (10 meters). Along the way, learn about the habits and daily life of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.
from
$30.77
per adult
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 1-99, max of 60 per group
Duration: 1h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: German, English, French, Spanish
More

Highlights
  • Observe dolphins in their natural habitat
  • Photograph wildlife from an ideal vantage point
  • Learn all about Atlantic bottle nose dolphins
  • Choose from multiple start times

  • 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise
  • Live commentary on board
  • Professional guide
  • Bottled water
  • Soda/Pop
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • DVD (available to purchase)
  • Parking in front of building (parking charges apply)


Start:
  • PWT3 - History Center/Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
    Departure Point: Behind  The Tampa Bay History Center at the dock Tampa FL. Address: 801 Old Water Street Tampa, FL 33602 Directions: Dock (water taxi dock #3) Parking at parking lots on Chanelside drive Board the blue boat with yellow top
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 10654P1

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children must be accompanied by an adult
    • Most travelers can participate
    • Covid-19 Health operation for our tours. We have lowered the capacity of our vessels from 45 to 15 to allow for social distancing of each group on the boat. Our boats will be sanitized between each departure. ALL guests are required to wear a face covering (nose and mouth) at all times. Boarding will be refused to any guest not wearing a face covering without a refund. We care about your and our staff's health. So Thank You for your cooperation it is appreciated.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 60 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    The tour operator has provided the following answers to customers’ questions.
    Is there parking near the departure point for the 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa?
    Yes - the nearest parking is at either the Garrison Street parking lot or the Channelside Parking Garage. Note: There may be fees for parking.
    Answered May 2021
    Can I bring my young child on the 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa?
    We accept children of all ages from newborn and up. We have personal flotation devices for children and adults.
    Answered Mar 2021
    Can I bring my own drinks on board for the 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa?
    Bottled water and soda are provided complimentary. You may bring and consume adult beverages on your tour as long as you are of legal age (you may use our iced cooler).
    Answered Mar 2021
    Are there restrooms on board the boat for the 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa?
    There are no restrooms on board, however you may use the restroom before or after the tour at the departure location.
    Answered Mar 2021

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 10654P1

    Reserve your spot

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Tampa, FL 33602, USA
      Departure Point: Behind  The Tampa Bay History Center at the dock Tampa FL. Address: 801 Old Water Street Tampa, FL 33602 Directions: Dock (water taxi dock #3) Parking at parking lots on Chanelside drive Board the blue boat with yellow top
    • 1
      After boarding your cruise, you'll travel out in the bay to see pods of friendly Atlantic Bottle-nose dolphins. Your captain will bring you to areas where these dolphins spend their day feeding, playing and raising there young. Just outside Tampa's downtown is the nursery for Tampa Bay's dolphin population where mothers and calves frolic the day away. Your guide will explain the daily life and habits of the dolphin on this 1.5-hour cruise. When your guides spot the pods of dolphins, the boat will stop within 30 feet (10 meters) or less as the guides have ways to get them to come right to the boats. Keep your cameras ready as you will see dolphins closer than you ever thought. You will be a master of dolphin spotting by the end of your cruise! After seeing the dolphins you'll head back to to downtown Tampa, cruising the channels and river and learning about the great city of Tampa.
      Pass by
      Tampa
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Tampa Water Taxi Company
      522
      Tampa, Florida
      Joined in January 2011
    • L1656QTdanw
      0 contributions
      2.0 of 5 bubbles
      Tour is mainly on history of Tampa
      This tour is mediocre as best. The title is celebrity homes Boat Tour. He talked about celebrity homes for about 10 minutes of the tour. Most of it was on the history of Tampa, which is fine, but that’s not what we went for, we did that the day before. It was a hot hot day and they had very little water for us.
      Written September 10, 2024
    • hannahe394
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great value for your money!
      I couldn’t find parking, so I missed my scheduled 12:30 tour. I called Captain Larry and he was super flexible in squeezing me into the 4pm! Our guide, Mark, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and high energy (which I loved). We even got back to the dock a tad early! My only complaint is that the tour promised soda and water but we only had water available.
      Written August 25, 2024
    • LRStravler
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      July 2024 fun trip around the bay
      Fun to see the bay from the water - boat was smaller, and not much shade. Plenty of ice cold water on board and knowledgeable captain.
      Written July 25, 2024
    • robingP9339RT
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      good history cruise with fun facts
      it was hot, but the boat had some cover and cold water bottles. Maybe bring an umbrella for extra shade if you’re sensitive. it was a nice and informative cruise, lots of great history, and fun facts too. Guide was good, funny and kept control of the boat.
      Written July 22, 2024
    • Jaco K
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Bad service
      You could have at least called to inform us the trip was cancelled. We went through all the trouble of paying for parking etc. We could have made alternative plans. There were 3x other families also waiting on the dock already. Doesn't matter what the reason is for cancelling.
      Written July 21, 2024
    • janetwO4614HJ
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Your canceled due to weather
      Unfortunately our boat cruise was canceled on the day of due to possible dangerous weather. Thunderstorms were forecasted for the afternoon. I will get a full refund as the text stayed. Will try to book later.
      Written July 15, 2024
    • Jag02Sam
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      “Tampa Adventure🌿”
      Our boat cruise was very pleasant and informative. We left on time and the ride was always full of information at every point. We were provided with ice water which helped on a hot day. Our captain informed us where to park ahead of time so we would not be late via email after reserving. Thanks for a nice afternoon boat adventure!
      Written June 28, 2024
    • Nancy B
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun view of Tampa
      Pleasantly surprised. The boat was a little uncomfortable, but the capitan/guide made up for it by being informative, insightful, knowledgeable, & charming. Worth the fare.
      Written June 14, 2024
    • emilymT5823QB
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      History cruise
      Trip was awesome, but only provided water, not soft drinks like it advertised.but had a wonderful cruise. Will do it again
      Written May 26, 2024
    • stevepX8452EC
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Horror boat ride! Avoid it!
      This company fraudulently represents the tour claiming the boat is fully covered from the sun. The boat is only partially covered and many seats are fully exposed to the sun-aka the 90+ degree scorching hot Florida sun. You will fry sitting there for 1.5 hours as there is no where to go with a full boat.
      Written May 25, 2024
    • judysC8452CI
      0 contributions
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Disappointed
      I wasn't able to board this cruise due to given the wrong pickup site, even when explaining to that person I was looking for a water taxi with a blue top. Very disappointed?
      Written May 19, 2024
    • elsamms
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Beautiful, informative and interesting way to enjoy Tampa’s waterways
      An interesting and pleasant afternoon along the Tampa Riverwalk and surrounding waters. The captain shared history of the Tampa area from the earliest settlers to the present along with back stories of numerous cultural sites along the way. Homes of the rich and famous along the shores and their backgrounds were also included. All in all, a definite “must do” for visitors that gives a good basis for further exploration of this beautiful area.
      Written May 17, 2024
    • Wander42869986784
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Davis islands Tampa
      Easy to get in/out, safe, quiet and walking distance to Davis island restaurants etc. Quick Uber ride to riverwalk. Clean
      Written May 11, 2024
    • N3386ZOlaurat
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour!
      The views were amazing and the tour operator very informative. We had a great time and recommend the tour! He had ice cold bottled water on board but there are no restrooms so take care of that ahead of time.
      Written May 2, 2024
    • M1082NPsusanb
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Relaxing cruise
      A nice, relaxing cruise, showing the mansions and other interesting buildings on the waterfront. Leave early, as it might be a little hard to find.
      Written April 25, 2024
    See all 522 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    3.5
    3.5 of 5 bubbles107 reviews
    Excellent
    58
    Very good
    9
    Average
    15
    Poor
    3
    Terrible
    22

    Navigator616874
    Endicott, NY1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2020 • Friends
    From the first moment on this trip it was a poor experience. Difficult to park. Dock was not marked and boat wasn't there 5 minutes before it was supposed to leave. We wandered around looking for the boat and almost missed it altogether. The guide was rude as we boarded and the boat was very old, small and crowded and the engine gave off diesel fumes over half the people seated. It was a VERY choppy day and the small crowded boat did not feel very seaworthy. Dolphins don't like choppy water so the chances of seeing them was low. And the guide did add on an interesting trip up the river to the city center. But he could have offered more info about dolphins or Tampa's history in the absence of any dolphin sightings. Needless to say we will not be taking him up on an offer of another trip free of charge. We should have gotten off the boat after our first 5 minutes.
    Written March 5, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Blondie M
    5 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022
    First, the boat is nothing, but an old tub! Its an old boat taxi with no toilet facilities.
    Captain Larry does a TERRIBLE tour & did not even answer my questions regarding a riverfront restaurant & park after he made such a big deal about asking him questions about local landmarks & restaurants. The moronic jokes r really bad & just unnecessary. Captain Larry also turned his siren on behind a boat that smelled like weed just to scare or irritate the 2 occupants. I did not see any evidence of smoking on the other boat. Captain Larry then launched into a tirade concerning his opinion of weed & its use. I asked him to turn off the siren, but he did not. Really embarrassing & in very poor taste. I DO NOT recommend this tour. I'm calling this company when I get home & asking for a refund!
    Written March 1, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Jane H
    Chicago, IL18 contributions
    2.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2022 • Friends
    I know that the tour guide can’t control nature, but our dolphin sightings were limited and brief. The industrial nature of the shoreline is definitely not attractive. On top of all this, who would predict that the tour guide would smoke a cigarette during our tour.
    Written February 17, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Beth Ellen N
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We only had 5 passengers. The 3 of us ladies enjoyed dancing together between dolphin sightings. Saw dolphins jumping off in the distance in the bow waves of a big boat. Later we were with about 3 dolphins within 30-50 feet. Then one swam right along the boat in our waves as we picked up speed to head back and even did a little jump not
    10 feet from me!
    Written November 14, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Ariel S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2023
    What a great experience! The tour guide was very friendly and informative. I learned so much about dolphins and the history of Tampa. I highly recommend this experience to anyone looking to spot some wild dolphins, as we saw many dolphins during our tour!
    Written April 26, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Davida H
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2022 • Family
    It was great! We saw 4 dolphins that day. The captain was kind enough to wait for me as I ran frantically to the boat in hopes to not miss it. The only problem I had was with Trip advisor not being understanding that I had issues making it to the cruise the day before and refused to rebook me for today! Rules are rules they told me! My family still really wanted to see the dolphins so I booked it again! Needless to say I paid double, drove 2 hrs, booked a hotel room just to do this. So be careful when booking through trip advisor, you’re better off booking directly with the company.
    Written September 5, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    luckyteacher
    Flushing, NY105 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2021
    Captain Mark gave us a great day on the water! First we took the dolphin cruise followed by the historic Tampa Cruise. He gave us much information about the area and pointed out celebrity houses.
    Unfortunately, we did not see any dolphins at all. Captain Mark said it was very unusual, perhaps because of Red Tide. We were told that they guarantee their tours so if we are ever in the area again, we can retake the dolphin cruise for free.
    It is not his fault, but it was a disappointment not to see any dolphins at all.
    Perhaps you will have better luck!
    Written August 12, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Barbara M
    Mystic, CT17 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2022
    Very nice tour. Our guide, Mark, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. In addition to helping us see dolphins he pointed out other areas of interest as the mansions and the Port of Tampa. Past reviewers had commented on having difficulty finding the dock. The email I received the morning of the trip was very helpful. Parking information was provided, but perhaps add the information about which streetcar stop to use also.
    Written November 6, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Bill S
    1 contribution
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2022
    The tour was canceled and no one contacted us. We only found out because we called the tour company at the time of the event and no one was there. They told us Tripadvisors was told at 7 am, and they were to contact us that our 2 pm trip was cancelled. We lost a complete afternoon of our 2 day vacation, because it was too late to reschedule another event.
    Written January 22, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    I agree. We must make weather choices on operating for your safety. We make those at 7 am. We inform your ticket supplier of that so they can inform you (they do not give us contact information for you. and they give us a relay system through them only) . We have made issue of this to them many times with no change. We are sorry
    Written January 23, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    BGRaven
    Baltimore, MD4 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2022 • Family
    Southwest cancelled 2500 flights on 12/26 and this vendor will not return my calls to get my money back. We will not book them again. Trip Advisor also tried contacting them on 12/26 and no response. Excursion scheduled for 12/27. Had they refunded me I would have returned later.
    Written December 28, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We are sorry. But we do not set the policies of The on line company you booked through. We did speak and we told you we would accept your booking any time you can make it. This is our accommodation to you and we have no obligation to do it. But we understand that the rules of your ticket vender does not take some things into account.
    Written December 29, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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    1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa provided by Tampa Water Taxi Company

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