Tampa Tiki Boat Bar Hop Cruise: A Detailed Review

Alright, so you’re thinking about doing a tiki boat bar hop in Tampa? I get it. It sounds pretty epic, right? I mean, floating down the river, stopping at places for a drink, all on a floating tiki bar. So I decided to try it and let you know how it went.

What to Expect on Your Tiki Adventure

First thing’s first, a private tiki boat bar hop in Tampa is really quite an experience. You’re not just getting a boat ride; I think you’re getting a mini-party on the water. The boats are usually equipped with everything that you might need like comfy seating, a sound system, and, yeah, tiki decorations! So the overall vibe is just straight-up fun. Then the cruises will typically take you down the Hillsborough River or along the bay, stopping at some popular spots along the way.

The boat that I used could hold up to 6 passengers, that’s perfect for a birthday or get together. So, depending on who you pick as your provider, the bar hopping usually includes 2-3 stops at bars. Each bar typically will have it’s own vibe from very laid back to loud with DJs. I definitely thought there would have to be one or two bad spots but everyone that we saw was pretty on point!

Planning Your Cruise

Before you jump right into booking, there are a couple of things that you may want to think about. The weather in Tampa can be quite unpredictable, that could be said about any location that is bordering the gulf of Mexico. Also, you should probably look into when is a good time for the cruise. Weekend cruises tend to be a bit more crowded but sometimes have more of a lively atmosphere. Also weekday trips will most likely be cheaper and provide more a calm scene if that’s the kind of thing that you’re looking for.

Choosing the right provider is really important. There are a few companies that offer tiki boat tours in Tampa, yet all of them will vary when it comes to pricing, what’s included, and the general feel of the tour. Look at online reviews and ratings from other people, that’s just the way to make sure that you’re picking a decent boat. Some will let you bring your own stuff, others will include things like coolers, ice, and drinks.

Another important thing is that most of these cruises are around 2-4 hours. So, make sure to plan out those bathroom breaks, especially if you intend to enjoy every drink that the places that you bar hop at offer. Or you can be cool like me and not have to pee a whole lot…that just makes things easier to be fair.

The Bar Hop Experience: What to Expect at Each Stop

Alright, let’s talk about those stops, the things that could happen at them. Each place that you will visit along the way will be different, yet there are some things that stay consistent. Almost all places have an outside seating place where you could relax. Or some people can venture in to the insides if that’s your kind of thing. The cruises last only for a certain time, that tends to be from 20 minutes to 40 minutes, or when people want to go back.

In my experience, most places offered really special drink choices, as well as a bit of food items too it’s almost as if they knew that you were coming ahead of time! Remember to taste responsibly as too much drinking would cause chaos amongst the members of the ship!

What to Bring On Board

So, what exactly should you bring to make sure you have a pretty sweet time? Sunscreen is at the very top of this thing, in order to block out that damaging UV ray from tanning or even burning your skin. Sunglasses is another requirement too, as the sun will affect you when it is bouncing from the water and into your face. Obviously, it gets rather wet too, bring that towel along with you to get dried off!

Don’t just bring drinks without keeping your belly filled, bring a couple of food items that would keep you going. Little things like chips and nuts or small things that could fit into your backpack. Bring a good speaker to just pump music throughout the cruise as there might be a limited music library, usually, these cruises won’t have satellite internet. The weather is almost very un-predictable too, bringing an extra change of clothes or sweaters when it drops by quite a margin.

Is a Tiki Boat Cruise Right for You?

Who is this cruise good for? That, my friend, is a really good thing that you should ponder on too. So, tiki boat cruises could be just right for your group, maybe you love something laid back. Yet it’s even more right if you are someone looking to just have something unique for the day or even just to host a get-together.

For a simple family trip, it could get a bit complicated. Not to say you shouldn’t go, I think you might want to think if you are OK being around a lot of people drinking as some members of the cruise will get out of hand as things progresses.

Tiki Boat Cruise Checklist: Top 5 Tips for an Awesome Time!

1. Book Ahead of Time: You gotta ensure you grab a boat! So booking would allow you and others that would ride the boat alongside you get there without problems.
2. Check The Weather: Seriously, there’s no use in hopping into a cruise when the day will rain. Do be cautious and be mindful. Also most cruises will allow cancelations based on weather conditions so that’s nice to keep in mind!
3. Know What’s Included: There are cases where providers might be quite lackluster with their services. It is a better play to just double-check what they are including for the total cost, if it just ain’t your type just back off.
4. Have a Payment Plan: The worst case of having fun can get shot straight if there is no planning, make sure you account everyone for a cut of the overall bill. Some people tend to back out as the event closes in which would be terrible. So do ask ahead.
5. Review It: To help others out, after you ride the tiki, consider to share your perspective!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)



How Much Will This Usually Cost?

Prices can change, it mostly goes by how long you ride, so, short answer ranges will be around $400 to $800 for private tiki boats.

What Is The Number of People That Can Ride At Once?

Most private tiki boat charters in Tampa typically will accommodate around six to twelve people at the same period. But still, I’d confirm to avoid conflict.

Can I Set Up Everything For The Boat Tour For Events?

Quite a selection will do just that! Be sure to talk with them ahead of time, like flowers, foods, banners!

I hope this sheds a bit of light to you if you want to ride on the cruise! Do keep in mind the above so you won’t have any struggles. It’s really something else and very fun for the crew involved! #TampaTikiBoat #TikiBarHop #TampaBayCruises #FloridaAdventures #BoatLife