1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Did you know that Tampa Bay is home to over 600 Atlantic Bottle-nose dolphins? On this 1.5-hour cruise, your captain and guides will teach you have to spot dolphins making you an expert by the end. You can choose from morning or afternoon departures to fit your schedule.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
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.
What To Expect
Tampa Water Taxi Company
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.
Tampa
Our tours are a once in a lifetime experience. The captains spot the dolphins every trip. Keep your cameras at the ready as the dolphins will be closer than you ever thought. Your tour starts out taking you past the homes of the rich and famous on you way to the bay were the dolphins live.
Options
11am Departure
11am departure; 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise
2pm Departure
2pm departure; 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise
What‘s Included
Soda/Pop
Bottled water
Professional guide
1.5-hour sightseeing cruise
Live commentary on board
Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
DVD (available to purchase)
Parking in front of building (parking charges apply)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
656 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
We didn’t get to see many...
Barbara W,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00We didn’t get to see many dolphins. We did see one at the beginning of the trip. We a a good guide who did well in narrating the trip. We expected to see a few more dolphin.
Loved the tour!
Roger W,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What a fantastic dolphin tour! We saw so many dolphins throughout the trip, which made the experience truly memorable. It was also a great way to see the city from the water and enjoy views you simply can’t get from land. Our captain was professional, knowledgeable, and did an excellent job navigating the boat. You could tell he was very experienced and knew exactly where to go to give us the best chance of seeing wildlife while ensuring a smooth, comfortable ride. This tour exceeded our expectations, and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and memorable experience on the water. Definitely a five-star experience! 🐬🌊⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dolphin life
Shane L,Jun 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What s fun day. Mark is a fun loving guide, who provides an educational & joyous experience to his guests. His knowledge of dolphins, their lives & how they enjoy playtime too is not only entertaining it's a very uplifting afternoon. I enjoyed learning about the Tampa Bay area & the dolphins that inhabit the bay. Mark has a professional attitude. He keeps his guests entertained. He manages his duties as captain & guide very well. This is a great way to spend an afternoon with family & friends. Shane
Never Leaves the Industrial Wharves
627natee,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We were disappointed to find that the boat never leaves the industrial areas of the shipping wharves. Of the 1.5-hour journey, close to an hour is spent just getting out of the inner harbor area and back. The remaining half an hour or so is spent boating around the extremely not-scenic backdrops of the industrial areas. Whilst you do see dolphins, it feels very far from nature and doesn’t present much opportunity for nice photography. The boat was very old and clunky, not particularly comfortable, and certainly not quiet, and the constant blasting of music to try and artificially hype up what could have been a more relaxed experience did not help the overall sense of ugly industrialism and human interference with nature. Nor did the heavy focus on billionaire real estate that features repetitively throughout a large portion of the trip. You never get anywhere near the open water of the Bay or the Gulf. We later went swimming at a beach and had the pleasure of encountering dolphins up close, swimming and playing with us. Maybe try a late afternoon beach trip instead of this tour - you might find yourself getting a lot closer to the wildlife, and without the decaying industrial backdrop of Tampa’s old wharves and tacky billionaire mansions fouling the whole thing!
It was something different to do
Yolanda H,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00It was a beautiful day and it was a nice outing but we didn't see any dolphins. Just a few glimpses off in the distance.
Dolphin Cruise
Jennifer R,Jun 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Mark was great and we learned a lot too! We even saw baby dolphins!! Thanks for a fun day out on the boat!
It was an unforgettable...
Rahaf O,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It was an unforgettable experience. We saw a handful of dolphins and our guide was thorough and great.
Superb
Duncan C,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A great time with a knowledgeable and friendly guide and captain. The whole family had fun out on the bay.
Dolphins Sight Seeing
Brian W,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Enjoyed the atmosphere, however, wasn't able to see many dolphins. Not the fault of the tour, just the nature of the situation.
Great Guide! Great Leisure Cruise! Best Laid Plans Can Be Unpredictable!
Cindee L,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00We had a very nice guide, named Mark. He tried his very best for us to find dolphins. Yet, the dolphins were not cooperating and I think they out-smarted our driver! Yet, our guide was informative and we were able to learn more about the history of Tampa Bay, the habits and physiology of dolphins, the shipping container yards, and we saw the mansions on shorelines. It was unfortunate for the children on board. They were disappointed and a lityle bored. I think if this were to happen again, especially for the young sailors on board, maybe make some games....such as how many green/blue/red shipping containers can you count, or every time you see birds skimming above the bay's waters - point and shout, "Flap, flap"! That might keep the kids interested in the tour. It was nice that the guide offered us a free ride the next time we booked with the company.
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Operated by Tampa water taxi