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Tours/Crystal River/Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise

Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise

4.8(68)Crystal River1h 30min
VIATOR4.8(46)TRIPADVISOR4.8(22)
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
+5 photos
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise
Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise

At a glance

Duration
1h 30min
Price from
$35 / person
Location
Crystal River, United States
Rating
4.8 / 5 · 68 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 16
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Waterfront Adventures; Swimming with the Manatees
Meeting point
You will find us on the water at Paddletail Waterfront Lodge in a 2 story white building

Description

Explore the heart of manatee country right here in Crystal River—all while staying warm, dry, and comfortable aboard our exceptional tour boat. This covered vessel offers a relaxing way to experience the beauty of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy up-close views of Florida’s diverse wildlife, with the chance to spot our world-famous manatees along with river otters, turtles, osprey, and more—all from the comfort of your seat. Please note: This is a viewing tour only and does not include swimming.

Schedule & prices

Runs
Every day
Start times
3:00 PM
Next available
Sat, Oct 10
Adult
$35

From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 9.

Tour Options

Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise

Itinerary

Crystal River
Pass by

Visit the home of the manatee here in Crystal River, while staying high and dry on our exceptional tour boat. This boat is covered, warm, and comfortable to ensure your comfort while you enjoy the views of the wildlife refuge. There is a chance to see our world-famous manatee and many other species of wildlife such as river otters, turtles, osprey, and so much more. This is not a swim tour.

What's included

Included
Parking Fees

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

4.8
68 reviews
5
60
4
6
3
1
2
1
1
0

How it compares in Crystal River

  • No. 41 by number of reviews among 125 tours in Crystal River
  • Starting price $35 is 53% below the typical $75 for tours of similar length in Crystal River

Excurgo comparison of 125 Viator tours, recalculated daily.

Important Information

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise take?

Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 1 stop.

How much does Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise cost?

Prices start at $35 per person for this Crystal River experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

What days does Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise run?

According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 3:00 PM.

Can I cancel Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise for free?

Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is You will find us on the water at Paddletail Waterfront Lodge in a 2 story white building. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise offered in?

The experience is available in EN.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is Kings Bay Manatee Watching Cruise worth it?

Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 68 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Waterfront Adventures; Swimming with the Manatees.

Reviews(68)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

L
Lori_G
September 15, 2026 · via Viator
Captain Glenn was fun and very knowledgeable! He made the boat trip fun with information about the manatees and wildlife

It was a terrific experience with a very knowledgeable captain, Captain Glenn! It was exciting to see the manatee on our tour!

Y
Y6919MFjonathanw
August 16, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Experience

Fantastic boat tour. Captain Glenn clearly knew the area and where to look for Manatees. We saw several including a mum and baby. Would highly recommend this.

J
Julia_W
August 15, 2026 · via Viator
Just wonderful!

Absolutely brilliant experience with Captain Glenn. We saw several manatees but Glenn's narration was the highlight of the unhurried and relaxing trip.

T
Tim_H
July 15, 2026 · via Viator
Awesome trip!!!!

Captain Phil was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area. The tour was long enough to see the bay and the amazing architecture.

Operator response

Thank you! We’re glad Captain Phil made the tour enjoyable and shared his knowledge of the area with you. Hope to see you back out on the water again soon! — The PaddleTail Team

5
556yvettec
June 5, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Relaxing and Beautiful Scenic Trip

Fantastic, beautiful cruise with tons of stories of the bay and history. It allowed me to see a different part of the bay that you won’t see on the Swimming with the Manatees tour (also highly recommend 🥰). Captain Phil has a great gift for story telling and made the trip fun.

R
Rob_D
May 24, 2026 · via Viator
Captain Mark was very...

Captain Mark was very knowledgeable and informative! He was extremely interactive and was Great with kids!

L
Lori_D
May 14, 2026 · via Viator
Kings Bay Tour

Fun and informative bay tour. Easy boat trip and reasonably priced. Capt. Philip made sure we saw all the wildlife, not just Manatees. Really enjoyed ourselves.

A
Arcadia_C
May 5, 2026 · via Viator
Awesome tour in May!

We had Phil as our tour guide and he told us fun stories throughout the tour. We saw a TON of wildlife. We saw manatees (including a breeding pod) native birds, an alligator, turtles, and a dolphin! It was the perfect amount of time on the boat.

L
Lois_L
April 22, 2026 · via Viator
Know you are part of a...

Know you are part of a group and sit on bench seats…….not very comfortable but good for seeing all the sights

T
Tom P
April 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great Tour!

We had a great afternoon tour of the bay. Captian Glenn put us on several Manatees, Osprey, Cormorants and a large Turtle! He had great stories about the area. I highly recommend booking a tour!

$35/ person
4.8(68)
Duration1h 30min
LanguagesEN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
Excurgo support

Excurgo earns a commission from Viator when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

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from$35
4.8(68) Free cancellation
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