Pirate Water Taxi Haunted River Tours

INSIDE LOOK: Pirate Water Taxi’s Haunted Tours are a Must-Boo with Teens!

By https://muckrack.com/laura-byrne-6 Last Updated
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Ahoy brave souls! Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted Tours are about to set sail once again in downtown Tampa with ghostly characters and eerie tales of the city's past.

It's a fun Halloween event for families with older kids and a great way to experience our beautiful downtown from the water.

We stepped aboard the ghostly cruise on opening night to see what it's like so we can help you map out your family's epically ghoulish adventure. So, let's dive in!

Are the Haunted Tours family-friendly?

Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted River Tours are PG-13, so it's probably best for families with teenagers. Little ones can enjoy a cruise on A Pirate's Halloween Cruise on The Lost Pearl.

When are the sailings?

The Haunted River Tour sailings are on select nights in October.

There are four sailings each of the nights at 7:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 9:15 p.m., and 10:15 p.m. Each tour is about 45 minutes long.

How much are tickets for Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted River Tours?

Tickets start at $35. Annual members save 15%.

Where do you board the Haunted Tours?

The Haunted Tours board at Pirate Water Taxi's Stop #7 at the Sail Pavilion/Tampa Convention Center. If you arrive early, you can grab a bite to eat at the Sail Pavilion.

The Sail Pavilion area is all decked out for Halloween too, so get the camera ready since there are plenty of fun photo opportunities.

Sail Pavilion Halloween Decorations in Tampa Giant Skeletons
There are larger-than-life skeletons and more spooky Halloween decorations around the Sail Pavilion! Photo by Laura Byrne.

Where to park for Pirate Water Taxi's Haunted Tours.

The best place to park is in the Tampa Convention Center's parking garage, but you can also park at the Pam Iorio Garage or Fort Brooke Garage. Another option is to find a metered spot near the Convention Center. Keep in mind that if there is an event at Amalie, there may be an event parking rate, so give yourself some extra time if something is on schedule.

  • Fort Brooke Garage – 107 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
  • Tampa Convention Center Garage – 141 E Brorein St, Tampa, FL 33602
  • Pam Lorio Parking Garage – 640 S Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33602
  • Sail Pavilion Circle (worth a shot trying, but this area is typically full) – 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602

What happens on the Haunted Tour?

You'll step aboard the decorated Pirate Water Taxi at Stop #7 where you are greeted by your ghostly captain and crew. Find a seat at one of the tables, and if you're parched, walk up to the onboard bar and order drinks like water, sodas, beer, and wine.

Once everyone is on board, you'll get the safety briefing and then set sail along Tampa's beautiful riverfront. Snuggle up with your best ghoul or goblin as your guide regales you with eerie tales of some of Tampa's most famous landmarks… and the supernatural beings that may still linger.  We won't share the stories simply because we don't want to spoil it for you. It's all part of the experience!

Related: INSIDE LOOK: Tampa Theatre's Ghost Tours are a spooky Must-Boo!

Once the Haunted Tour is over, you'll disembark at Stop 7, and from there, enjoy a great night in downtown Tampa and Water Street. But before you leave, be sure to snap a few photos at their photo op at the dock. It's super cute!

Overall, this is a Halloween event we can absolutely recommend to families with teenagers.

What else is there to do in downtown Tampa?

There are so many other fun things happening this Halloween season in downtown Tampa. You can hop on the TECO Streetcar from Stop 10 at Dick Greco Plaza near the Convention Center and go to Sparkman Wharf (Stop 8). There are some fun places to eat here and fun things to do too:

Trick-or-Treat on the Riverwalk in Tampa

  • October 24, 2026, from 4 pm-9 pm
  • Downtown Tampa Riverwalk
  • Cost: FREE

Trick-or-treating on the Riverwalk is back, where kids and their families can visit more than 50 different treat stations while enjoying other fun activities.

Haunted Wharf at Sparkman Wharf in Tampa

  • Dates: October 
  • 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa
  • Cost: FREE

A haunted pirate shipwreck is heading to Sparkman Wharf with an evening of plenty of photos, live music, silly spooks for the kids, festive food and drinks, and MORE! This is a free community event. Some of the cool photo opportunities include a pirate jail, a siren’s sea swing, and the TAMPA sign will be decked out for the holidays too!

Guppyween at the Florida Aquarium

  • Date: October 
  • Sensory-Friendly Guppyween
  • Cost: Museum admission

Guppyween returns to the Florida Aquarium for a weekend filled with Halloween-themed activities, trick-or-treating, animal encounters, costumed divers, and even underwater pumpkin carving!

UNDead in the Water- American Victory Ship in Tampa

  • Dates: September 26-October 31, 2026 on  select nights
  • 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL
  • Cost: $31.81 (plus tax) General admission; military discounts available

UNDead in the Water is back at Sparkman Wharf! Traverse multiple decks of this historic WWII cargo ship armed only with nerves of steel and a will to survive. This is best for kids older than 11 years old due to the fright factor.