Pirate Water Taxi Tampa: What It Is
The Pirate Water Taxi is a fleet of pirate-themed boats that loop the Hillsborough River and the downtown waterfront. You buy one all-day pass, get a wristband, and hop on and off at 10 stops near the Riverwalk's best family spots.
It's part tour, part transportation. Kids think they're on a pirate ship. You get to skip parking twice. We checked stops, hours, and rules on piratewatertaxi.com on September 28, 2026.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ticket | All-day hop-on, hop-off pass with a wristband |
| Ticket types | Adult (13+), child (2–12), infant (0–1); group rate for 8+ |
| Price | Check piratewatertaxi.com; online prices aren't published outside the booking page |
| Hours (2026 schedule) | Mon–Thu 11:30 AM–6:30 PM; Fri–Sun 11:30 AM–9:30 PM |
| How often | About every 90 minutes at each stop, in each direction |
| Stops | 10, on two routes that meet at Stop 7 |
| Main dock | Stop 7, 333 S. Franklin St, next to the Tampa Convention Center |
| Strollers | Allowed, folded during the ride |
| Dogs | Service animals only |
Pirate Water Taxi Stops
The stops are numbered, but not every number is in use. Here are the 10 current stops and what's near each one for kids:
| Stop | Location | Nearby for families |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Aquarium / American Victory Ship | The Florida Aquarium |
| 2 | Sparkman Wharf / Yacht StarShip / Craft | Sparkman Wharf lawn and food stalls |
| 3 | Benchmark International Arena / Tampa Bay History Center | Tampa Bay History Center |
| 4 | Harbour Island | Waterfront walk |
| 7 | Convention Center / Marriott Water Street | Main dock and ticket booth |
| 8 | Tampa General Hospital | Davis Islands side |
| 11 | Arabelle Riverwalk | Riverwalk access |
| 12 | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park | Glazer Children's Museum, big lawn |
| 15 | Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park | Playground, open lawn, river views |
| 16 | Armature Works / Ulele | Food hall, Water Works Park playground and splash pad |
The boats run two routes: the River Route up the Hillsborough River and the Island Loop around the waterfront. Transfer at Stop 7. Your all-day pass covers both.
Note: the boats don't go to St. Pete, and the old zoo route ended in 2017.
How the Schedule Works
This is where families get tripped up. The taxi isn't a shuttle that shows up every 10 minutes. On the posted schedule, a boat passes each stop about every 90 minutes in each direction.
For example, the first boat leaves Stop 7 toward Armature Works at 11:30 AM. It reaches Stop 16 around noon, then heads back past Stop 7 around 12:30 PM on its way to the Florida Aquarium.
Two things help:
- Use the live tracker on piratewatertaxi.com before you leave a stop.
- Plan stops around the schedule, not the other way around. A 90-minute gap is perfect for lunch at Armature Works or the Water Works Park playground. It's too long to wait at a hot dock with a toddler.
Tickets and Prices
You can buy the all-day pass:
- Online through the Pirate Water Taxi website (booking ahead is encouraged)
- At the ticket booth at Stop 7 by the Convention Center
- On board, after you board at any stop
Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable, and good only for the date you pick. Prices are shown when you choose a date on the booking page. We couldn't confirm the 2026 all-day rate from the public site, so check there before you go.
Pirate Perks: your wristband gets you discounts at some businesses along the route. The list is on the Pirate Perks page.
Annual membership: if you live downtown or visit often, the taxi sells a yearly unlimited-ride membership. It sometimes goes on sale around Black Friday.
Best Ways to Ride with Kids
Just ride the loop
For kids under 5, the ride is the whole activity. Board at Stop 7, ride up the river to Armature Works and back, and call it a morning. Stay near the front for the best view.
Half-day hop-on, hop-off
This is the sweet spot for most families:
- Park near Stop 7 and grab wristbands at the booth.
- Ride to Stop 16 (Armature Works). Let the kids run at Water Works Park, then eat at the food hall.
- Catch the next boat to Stop 12 (Curtis Hixon). Spend an hour at Glazer Children's Museum or on the lawn.
- Ride back toward Stop 1 for the Florida Aquarium, or get off at Stop 2 for Sparkman Wharf and head home.
Special cruises
The taxi runs ticketed seasonal cruises too, and several are made for kids:
- Haunted River Tours (October): a 45-minute spooky cruise with a stop at Captain Patchy's pumpkin barge, where each child gets a small pumpkin. See more in our Tampa Halloween events guide.
- River of Lights (December): a holiday cruise with sing-alongs, fake snow during "Let It Snow," and a letter-to-Santa station.
- Holiday Lighted Boat Parade: a 90-minute cruise in the parade.
- Tampa Sunset Tour: $29.95 per adult and $24.95 per child.
For more December ideas, see our Tampa Christmas events guide.
Rules Parents Should Know
- Kids 13 and under must ride with someone 14 or older.
- Life jackets: every boat carries adult and child life jackets.
- Strollers: allowed, but fold them during the ride. A light umbrella stroller is easier than a big jogger.
- Dogs: not allowed. Only registered service animals can ride.
- Weather: service stops for lightning, heavy rain, and high winds. The captain decides. If a storm stops service for more than 90 minutes, the Rain Day Guarantee lets you come back the next day.
Parking
Parking isn't included, and the taxi doesn't run any garages. For the main dock at Stop 7, the company suggests the Tampa Convention Center Garage, Pam Iorio Parking Garage, or Fort Brooke Garage. Leave extra time; the boat won't wait for late passengers.
You can also park anywhere near another stop, like Armature Works, and start there.
Tips for Families
- Sunscreen and water. Parts of the ride are in full sun, and waiting at a dock in July is no joke.
- Go on a weekday for smaller crowds, but remember the Monday–Thursday schedule ends at 6:30 PM.
- Save the sunset for Friday through Sunday, when boats run until 9:30 PM.
- Watch for dolphins and pelicans on the bay side near the aquarium.
- Plan a bathroom stop on land. Armature Works, the aquarium, and the museums are easier than a boat with a toddler.
More Downtown Tampa Fun
- Tampa Riverwalk with kids - what to do between stops
- Sparkman Wharf family guide - food, lawn, and bay views at Stop 2
- Florida Aquarium with kids - right at Stop 1
- Tampa family fun guide
