Cruisin Tikis Tampa — Local services in Lutz

We were so excited to take our first tiki cruise on New Year’s Eve. We followed the instructions and parked at armature works. Walked over to the boarding area at Waterworks Park dock and we waited. And waited. At four minutes before the departure time we finally called Tiki cruises and spoke with a very nice woman who said the dock was full and we should wait.

This woman on the phone was very nice and professional that is the reason for two stars.

We waited a bit longer than 15 minutes and we got a call from the boat captain that he would be unable to pick us up there and to walk to the dock at Armature Works behind the stage.

We loaded up everything and navigated the crowds and barriers to get to the dock behind armature works. We saw the tiki boat fairly far in the distance and called the captain ourselves saying we were where we had been instructed us to be.

He then informed us that the dock there would not work either and that we needed to load up again and move to yet another dock much further down Armature Works. He also told us that unless we booked the entire boat we should not bring our 8 year old. This was the first we heard of this.

We were carrying food and beverages for our trip and our 8 year old was quite annoyed at this point. And, honestly, we felt very fairly unwelcome. It was almost an hour later than our scheduled departure time and we had lugged gear around like Sherpas on Everest. We felt like we were not welcome and decided we’d had all the tiki fun we could stand.

TLDR: the boat was not where it was supposed to be, and then not at the second place it was supposed to be. It was like where’s Waldo but where is my damn tiki boat and they were kinda rude.

I know others have had a great experience. As with all reviews your mileage may vary, but our experience was awful. I would recommend this perhaps as a scavenger hunt, the winner finds the boat and...

This was my very first time on a tiki boat — and not just any tiki, but one floating on the water — and I can honestly say it was one of the most fun and unique experiences I’ve ever had in Tampa! From the moment we stepped onto the boat, the vibe was perfect: relaxed, tropical, and a true escape right in the middle of the city. The tiki itself is such a cool setup — you’re under the thatched roof with the bar all around, cruising smoothly along the water while taking in the incredible views. It’s like having your own private island bar that just happens to float down the river. You get the mix of downtown skyline, bridges lit up, and the peaceful water all around you — it’s the best of both worlds, relaxing and lively at the same time. What really made the night though was our captain, Anthony Sogluizzo. He was respectful, professional, and at the same time just flat-out fun to be around. He made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, but also kept the energy high with great conversation, local knowledge, and the perfect balance of hosting and letting us enjoy ourselves. It felt less like a “tour” and more like hanging out with a good friend who just happened to be a fantastic captain. If you’ve never been on a tiki boat, this is something you HAVE to try. It’s not just about the ride — it’s the whole experience: drinks in hand, music playing, the breeze on the water, and that unforgettable tiki vibe. Cruisin’ Tikis Tampa turned what could’ve been just another night out into something I’ll be telling people about for a long time.I’ll definitely be booking again, and next time bringing more friends along to share the fun. This is hands down a must-do in Tampa! Even at the end someone left their purse but he made sure we got...

Worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. I called the office 45 minutes prior to my reservation that I will be 10 minutes late and she “Donna” said we only allow 5 minutes. She then said, “ok we will make an exception and I will inform the captain you will be 10 mins late”

The captain then calls us 10 mins before the reservation time and says they are heading out and can not wait, Donna lie and didn’t do her job.

We call back, and Donna says “oh well, this is the travel industry, we can’t commit to 10 mins delay”.

After all that and spending $50 to get here, we asked for a refund, she says no, no, no. Then I tell her are you serious? We are customers and you’re supposed to provide customer service, but nope, she was an a*hol. So here we are, no boat, money down the drain. Worst service ever, don’t use them, don’t think about calling them. It’s a trap, if you’re a minute late you’re toast and they don’t...