What a great trip we had. Capt. Robin and her mate Braelyn were just the best. Informative and super nice. Will definitely be back

Excellent shuttle and service. They take you to and from the island at various times. It was $25 for adults for the shuttle. The provide an umbrella and a mask and snorkel if needed. They also provided shelling bags! Type in Merry Pier in the navigation system. Park on the street. There is meter parking or you can buy a parking pass for $10 for all day at the Shell Key Shuttle booth. Great option to get to the island! It was also very quick and the staff and captains were so nice and helpful! read more

First time vacationing in Tampa, Florida & decided to beat the crowds and take a ferry ride to Shell Island! Best decision we ever made this Easter weekend! All 15 of us had a wonderful day enjoying the beautiful ocean views and dolphins!! Captain Todd & his Mate Todd were welcoming & their knowledge for the area was much appreciated! We will back again! read more

Great crewon Shuttle, Todd & Noah were very helpful, courteous, kind and very informative on the local area. read more

Shell Key Shuttle - My gal and her grandsons on Shell key. - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Went on my second trip through shell key shuttle this year and it was amazing!! Such a great run boat by the well trained and friendly staff. Need to take a day here during your trip if you're coming to St. Pete's area. We also got to borrow an umbrella for our island day! Will be back again next year! read more

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Had a fantastic day enjoying Shell Key. Looked at various options to get to Shell Key for the day and snorkel but most wanted $50 for a few hours only. Found the Shell Key Shuttle ar Merry Pier in the Pass a Grille area of St. Petersburg and it's was a good deal at $25 per adult and $12 for kids under 10. They included all snorkel gear and beach umbrellas for that price, which we thought was a great deal. They had booked a lot on the boats, so we had to wait for the boat to come back and get us at 10:30. Th Shuttle was once a ten minute ride to Shell Key. It was easy to unload and they gave us instructions about how to enjoy the island. We had the place to ourselves, along with the boat guests. We spread out and felt like we had it to ourselves. We brought our own beach chairs and cooler. There are no bathrooms on the island, so bring what you need and take it with you when you go. It is a natural preserve. We snorkeled the green waters and found a ton of sand dollars. A huge manatee sailed by us while we were snorkeling. We saw large stingrays and numerous shells. It was a gorgeous was to enjoy St. Pete. It felt like we were worlds away from the busier gulf beaches. The shuttle picks up at 12:00 and 2:00 from the island. It was busy and a wait for the 2:00 shuttle, but they came right back for us and we got a little extra time to enjoy the island. We will be back! read more

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We had such a great time. We have never in our lives seen so many shells. We went on a partly cloudy day but still needed lots of sunblock. Shell Key Shuttle dropped us right on the beach with a map that explained the go/no-go areas; note you can only walk the beach not inland because it's a preserve. And one section still has damage from Hurricane Irma. But we still filled our bags with a dozen different types of shells, some almost as big as our hands, and walked almost 4 miles. I did drop one star due to cost. Personally I think $25 + tax is a little too high. ( I think they only take cash. Three people plus an all-day parking pass for $3 totaled $83.) Pontoon boat holds maybe 30 people and they take three runs a day, and the boat ride is only 10 minutes. That's my only gripe. But the staff did give us free snorkels and beach umbrellas, which we loved using. Note - owner responded to a post I wrote on another site saying training boat drivers, drug testing employees, and certifying boat with USCG contributes to high cost. It's a great way to spend a day. It's quiet, beautiful, and lots and lots of shells. Or just lay on a towel and read a book. Or come with your friends and bring snacks and drinks and stay the day on an uncrowdedbeach. read more

Incredible value for your tour dollar. The dealio is kinda not clearly explained, let me give it a go. Cruises leave at 10, 12 and 2. Cruises return at 12:15, 2:15 & 4:15. You can take any return trip. You are meant to call ahead if the weather is sketchy, they are not likely to haul you out there in a lightening storm. If it looks like weather may come up while you are out there, you will be warned that urgent and imminent return might happen. You should show up at the kiosk at Merry pier 30 minutes before departure. She takes cash and credit. You may park your vehicle on the street ,but you'll need a pass that you'll purchase when you buy the ticket. There is a little bait shop there on the pier for sun supplies and snacks and they don't seem very anxious to get rich off tourists. There were families day-trippin on the key with coolers, food, pro shelling implements and all the fall der ahl that goes with a family day at the beach. There are no facilities out there, so .... pack at least water and an apple. The shuttle is happy to lend you snorkel gear or beach umbrellas if you need. It's is a special park, so mind all the posted limits, don't harass or abscond with the wildlife and take all you trash when you leave. I particularly enjoyed shallow water snorkeling for shells. No exotic fish, of course. Later in the afternoon, the current got pretty strong so I was allowing it to drive me down the beach in about 3 feet of water. Fun Times. While I was drifting along backwards, folks on the beach stared making big fuss and pointing at me. I look to my right to find two enormous manatees gliding right by me. If I'd have reached out my hand.... exhilarating, to be sure. Especially for a lady from Missouri. read more

Spent a day on Shell Island. I would definitely recommend for all ages. The family had lots of fun snorkeling and shelling. The water was clear! They provide umbrellas and snorkeling equipment. We only found one sand dollar but lots of shells. Thank you so much Shell Key Shuttle! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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It was sweet. The captain says his same dad jokes everytime. Love them. The ferry is nice, people are nice, can't wait to go again. read more

This was a ton of fun! There's shells everywhere- to the point where every step you take pretty much crushes some small shell or other. It literally felt like walking on shell gravel. If you get there early enough you can find some huge shells and avoid the late-day weather that gets the trip cancelled or makes it difficult to find shells. Unfortunately it was a stormy day when we went so we didn't find anything monstrous and we weren't able to use snorkels to look for big shells in the water, either. But hey, we brought home a good haul of larger-than-you-can-find-on-the-regular-beach-shells and had a good few hours collecting them. I would go back, but I would check the weather first. I've heard it's an amazing trip when you can use the snorkels. Please be warned, they may think it's a good day for snorkeling early on and then the weather changes or they get out there and it's cloudy, so I'd call closer to the 10am leave time to get a better idea of what it looks like. read more

What a great way to spend the day. Beautiful island, shuttle boat was pleasent, the employees very helpful. A definate must for locals and visitors. Just do it! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Among all the tours/charters that take paying customers to Shell Key, Shell Key Shuttle was the most affordable based on my internet search. As of July 2017, the cost was $25 a person (half price for children) - this includes transportation, beach umbrella upon request, face mask or face mask with snorkel upon request, and a large bag for shells. Make sure to purchase the $3 parking pass as there is only metered parking available at the marina - the parking pass will cover you at your meter for the entire day. The trip from the marina to Shell key took less than 10 minutes and the boat will take guests back to the marina after the next group of customers is dropped off, approximately every 2 hours. The captain was quiet but friendly, and he stopped the boat as needed for dolphin sightings. Passengers asked questions about sea life, boating, Shell Key, or the area in general which he or his female assistant would answer. The female assistant was less friendly in my opinion but she wasn't outright rude either so customer service was fair. We intended to go to Shell Key on the first boat 10am which ended up being full, but due to having enough overflow of customers, the business did two trips back-to-back so we didn't have to wait until the noon departure. Tips: Based on my personal experience, the beach umbrella is a must since there is no shade on the island. The snorkel gear is up to you but I found the water around Shell Key to be surprisingly murky compared to St. Pete Beach's clear ocean water so I wouldn't wait in line for it. The face mask will keep saltwater out of your eyes so there is some benefit in requesting a mask. There are child sizes available. And the shells...freakin' everywhere! You'll want to hold on to that shell bag! Overall, I enjoyed Shell Key and am thankful for the Shell Key Shuttle for transporting me there and providing options to make the most of my time. Good experience for the price. read more

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We went on the shuttle to Shell island and had a beautiful day at the beach. The water was so clear. It was great for hunting sand dollars and shells. We even saw some dolphins swim by! We loved it so much we booked the sunset cruise the next day. Captain Kiven was a great tour guide. He was so knowledgeable about the local wildlife. We saw quite a few dolphins on that trip too! We will definitely be going back next time we're in the area. read more

I would recommend this place if you want to gather some shells. Nice staff, they give you a parking pass for the entry which is great. I'm a scuba diver and have dived in many oceans of the world, I thought I'd have an advantage with my snorkeling gear... WRONG! The water in February had about 3-5' vis, my fins and wet suit served no advantage. Lots of sand dollars to be had, I got a large lightning welk and some other cool shells. The wife got lots of small shells for making jewelry. Plan to spend 4 hours for maximum enjoyment. Bring food and water. Take the first cruise at 10am for maximum shell gathering. Very few sandwich snatchers but they will find unattended snacks. Saw a Black Sea skimmer which was a real treat! The highlight of our trip to St. Pete Beach. read more

Shell key shuttle is by far the BEST shelling excursion in st pete beach! We've been on tours from competitors and the price/ quality of the shell key shuttle can't be beat! VERY friendly staff. Fun smooth ride for kids who are a little nervous of boating. TONS of shells on the island. We found many sand dollars and intact shells. Be sure to be the first boat out to prime pick of shells. Shell bags, umbrellas and shelling bags are included in the price. We will for sure be back!!! read more

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I went on this with My husband and two dogs. I found out about this sunset cruise online and it was so worth it! The staff was great and VERY knowledgeable about the area. Our two girls (two mini aussies) loved it! We were the only two with dogs and our girls got all the attention. Everyone loved them and had a good time drinking. BYOB. The breeze was so great. There was a big storm on the way towards the end and the captain was very professional and quickly got us back to shore. There were so many great sights to see. It was worth every penny. Will definitely do it again! read more

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Played tourist while on staycation and used their service a couple times since the boat decided to break down . It was ok, friendly people, cheap prices and they came back pretty quickly once the storms moved in. read more

This is a great time. We did the shuttle to Shell Key and had such a good time that we came back for the sunset cruise. Both trips were well worth it. Shell Key is a nature preserve that is covered in seashells. If you want to go shell hunting, then just bring a bag, a bottle of water, and start looking. The beach goes on forever but you do not have to go far to find some very nice shells. If you want to just relax, then bring a cooler, a beach chair, and a book (Shell Key Shuttle provides a beach umbrella if you want it). The sunset cruise is a nice mixture of looking at wildlife and seeing some of the beautiful houses along the shore. We saw an island covered in all sorts of birds as well as two dolphins. At one point, we had dolphins playing by the boat as the sun went down in front of us; it doesn't get any better than that. For the sunset cruise bring a cooler so you can have a little shipboard picnic. read more

My friends and I decided to do the shuttle to shell island last minute and it turned out to be an awesome decision. We thought we were going on a larger ferry with a lot of people. Turned out we had the pontoon to ourselves with our captain Sebastian. It was private and personal! He took us on a cruise to see dolphins and let us snorkel at the island. Sebastian was awesome and the day turned out great. Will recommend to everyone I know coming to town! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Just some of the shells we found while on the island! - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

We had a great time here. This is my second time on shell key shuttle and I loved it both times. Wonderful people and a great place to get beautiful shells !! read more

AMAZING island to travel to specifically for shelling. While providing snorkeling masks to go snorkeling with, the island's beach was too concentrated with hard waves to see anything with them. This island has a lot of great shells, of all different shapes and sizes, however, the $25 price tag just for the boat to take you out to the island is a little pricey, but if you enjoy shelling, this cruise is a must! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - All the shells we collected! - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

This is a must-do! Plan to take the early boat out, bring a picnic and some beach towels and enjoy this remarkable and beautiful island. There is lots of shoreline to walk for shells and great bird watching too!! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - The selection of shells is impressive! - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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My family had a great experience with Shell Key Shuttle. I can't say enough how friendly and kind Nancy was to us! They were extremely accommodating in that the first boat filled up so they came back 20 minutes later to take us to Shell Key. The island Had an incredible amount of shells and had a nice private feel. This shuttle service gave us a nice beach umbrella to use, mesh bags that we were able to keep and snorkeling gear to use on the island. On the way back they stopped the boat several times so that we were able to see dolphins in various places so that was definitely an extra treat! Thanks to Nancy for a fabulous experience!! read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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This is a must for any traveler to St. Pete's Beach. Might be the best $25 ever spent on a vacation. The staff is very friendly, the day we went a front was coming in so they were just taking the morning trip out. During the 15 minute trip from the slip to the island the crew was very informative about the island as well as the dolphins that we saw frolicking in the bay. While we were only able to spend two hours on the island due to the incoming weather it was easy for us to see how one could spend an entire afternoon on the island. With all the St. Pete's has to offer and all that we enjoyed this was at the top of the list.. Grab a sack lunch and plan on spending several hours on the island relaxing, shelling and birding... read more

We had a wonderful time at Shell Island! Shuttle ride was so nice & crew was great. Relaxing, beautiful beach & lot's of shells. Highly recommend & look forward to going again soon. read more

My boyfriend and i wanted to explore the beach without the crowds- this was perfect! We went in the morning, there were maybe six other people with us. The island is large so we barely noticed the others. The shells are amazing. We found a couple dozen sand dollars and a variety of other shells. Also, we got to see dolphins on the way back! We would definitely go again. read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

Nice, secluded island filled with shells.. and a a great captain that takes you there. Visited in early March- - and would return if in the area again next spring. read more

This is an absolute must do if you're ever in the St. Petersburg area! They offer 3 different shuttles out (10am, noon, and 2pm) and you can come back at 12:15pm, 2:15pm or 4:15pm, whichever you want. My husband and I chose to go out on the first ferry to hopefully get the best shells since there was a storm the night before. For 3 bucks you get an all day parking pass on Pass-A-Grille Way so you can go explore the shops and restaurants when you come back in. It takes just a few minutes to get out to Shell Key, and the staff is super nice. There's absolutely nothing on the island so make sure to take water, towels and sunscreen! Some of the people on our shuttle even packed lunch because they planned to stay longer. The shuttle provides snorkels and goggles and beach umbrellas if you want them. We found a TON of shells and while we were standing in the gulf we had a manatee come up about 8 feet from us! Once you get back on the ferry they give you a shell diagram so you can see what you found. It was amazing and we will definitely do it again the next time we're back in St. Pete. read more

Shell Key Shuttle - Adorable little sand dollar - Boat Charters Near Me - St. Pete Beach, Florida

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This is really as good as it gets if you're looking for a short getaway from the busy-ness of everything. We found a small beach just to ourselves, snorkeled for 3 hours without being bothered too much, discovered shells galore, and all thanks to the shuttle service and wonderful operators who made sure to keep everyone in line for safety and providing the umbrella and snorkeling gear for us. It was a smooth and simple pleasure to be a part of. read more

This is my second time visiting shell key and it was just as great as the first time!! The boat ride over to the island is a quick 10-15 minute ride on a big pontoon boat. Owners are so nice and friendly! They provide complimentary umbrellas or snorkel sets to use if you'd like to and then you return them on the way back to the mainland. There are so many shells and sand dollars on the island. From lettered olives, to conchs, to welcks, and everything in between. If you look close enough, you can leave with a bag of 15-20 sand dollars! Highly recommend! Worth the price! read more

Absolutely wonderful experience, from beginning to end. Captain and First Mate are extremely well versed, not only in safe navigation and tour management; but, also in local marine life, responsible dolphin viewing, shell and bird identification. Ticket price includes free umbrella, mask and snorkel use during your stay on Shell Key. The island is beautiful, quiet; and, the waters are clear as crystal. We traveled on the first tour out (10:00am) and returned on the 2:15 shuttle. We could have left as early as 12:15, or as late as 4:15pm. Snorkelers showed us very large sand dollars they retrieved and there are plenty of shells on the beach for collectors. Along with a $3 parking pass which is much less expensive than the normal parking meter rates, this is a TRUE VALUE and a PRICELESS experience! We WILL be back! Thanks to the crew for a very memorable day trip! read more

This needs to be on everyone's to do list! This was my second time and it was just as amazing as the first! Last Nov when I went we were lucky enough to see plenty of beautiful dolphin while hunting for shells. And this time we saw some really cool manta rays! read more

Go early in the morning to secure parking on pass a grill and for the best shell hunting. This is a must do!

We had so much fun on the shell cruise! Early morning is the best time to go! We found numerous sand dollars and some really great shells. Some of the shells were quite big. The staff was very friendly and gave us lots of tips on our ride over! This is a must do for your vacation! Money well spent! read more

We took the Shell Key Shuttle yesterday. The people running it are very nice, efficient and safety- conscious. On the return trip we were impressed that they took a few minutes to grab a large piece of debris floating in the water. Then they took a roundabout way back to the dock to give the passengers an impromptu dolphin watch. read more

Great activity for a great price! My daughters (ages 8 and 10) loved this. The boat over was nice and the owners were great! On our way back, they slowed down the boat (actually stopped at one point) so we could all watch some dolphins that were close by!! We really appreciated that. Also loved that our kids were 1/2 price. That really made for an affordable family activity! Thank you guys!! read more

Went to this place over spring break. We got there a bit later in the day, with only two hours left to shell we decided to do it anyway. It was still the same price whether you got on the first or last (ours) shuttle. Would have been nice to see a bit of a deal for such a short time or getting the last one out (still $25 regardless). The reason I dropped this place stars really boils down to customer service, or really, lack thereof. The lady who took our money was grumpy from the start, ordering us around as if we were animals and used a tone that you would swear most angry parents in shopping malls wouldn't dare use. They did however, give out free shell bags and let you use snorkels and goggles (disinfected for 30 seconds in bleach water from a person who got off the island before you). For me, the service of the ride was fine. But what throws me the most with places like these is the lack of customer service, it's basically dead. read more

Something different to do at Pass A Grille. Nice boat, nice owners. Shell Key is pretty much a strip of sand beach overlooking all of St Pete development. I would argue the shelling is just as good, perhaps better, on Pass A Grille, but all that depends on tides, weather etc. read more

Wonderful service and great island. We found many sand dollars and shells and saw dolphins on our ride back. The employees were very caring and were very knowledgeable abou the area. read more