BRADENTON, FL – April 13, 2026 – Now in its third year of operation, the Gulf Islands Ferry has added a third vessel, the Manatee Belle, to meet the growing demand for multi-modal transportation between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.
The new vessel adds 91 seats to the existing fleet and its increased size and enclosed, climate-controlled cabin design will improve dependability, delivering a comfortable and safe passenger experience. This debut further affirms Manatee County’s commitment to its residents and visitors with reliable, scenic and convenient alternate travel options.
The addition of the Manatee Belle will help maintain consistent scheduling, enhance service reliability due to weather concerns and reduce the need for personal vehicles while travelling between the mainland and the seven miles of coastline on Anna Maria Island.
“The Manatee Belle is the logical next step for the Gulf Islands Ferry, a larger vessel with indoor seating able to handle more adverse weather conditions,” said Tal Siddique, chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners. “The addition of this boat provides ease to both our residents and visitors that continues to enhance multi-modal transportation in our community.”
Funded by the tourist development tax, the Gulf Islands Ferry now features three vessels, connecting downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island via the Manatee River and intercoastal waterways.
More than 55,000 passengers utilized the Ferry service in 2025, helping decrease vehicle traffic by nearly 23,000 cars, furthering the Bradenton Area’s commitment to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the destination for future generations. Featuring energy-efficient design elements, the vessels further support the Bradenton Area’s Love It Like a Local initiative.
Weather permitting, the Gulf Islands Ferry service has boats departing from the Riverwalk Pier, beginning at 7:30 a.m. through 7:30 p.m., to the Historic Bridge Street Pier; Anna Maria Island service starts at 9 a.m. and runs through 9 p.m. For more information and the full schedule, visit gulfislandsferry.com or the Bradenton Area Tourism Bureau website.
Access the full media kit for the Manatee Belle here.
Media Contact:
Keenan Singleton, Communications Manager
Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
(941) 773-6000
[email protected]