Cross-Bay Ferry launches with record ridership
November 6, 2019 - The Cross-Bay Ferry carried a record 2,119 passengers in the first three days of its third season of operation, Nov. 1 – Nov. 3. Tickets sales were 52 percent higher than 2018’s first weekend, a news release said. The ferry sold 73.4 percent and 86 percent of available seats on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, compared to 58 percent of seats sold over the same days last year. Additionally, five of the six trips on Sunday’s schedule sold 92 percent of seats. Increased awareness and a dock at the Tampa Convention Center contributed to ticket sales, said Matt Miller, president of HMS Ferries. The ferry travels between downtown St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa Wednesdays through Sundays as well as days when the Tampa Bay Lightning have home games.