Cleveland Water Taxi Launches Service on Cuyahoga Next Week

The Cleveland Water Taxi Harbor Hopper Credit: Cleveland Water Taxi

Downtown Cleveland is ready for its newest ride share service.

The Cleveland Water Taxi Harbor Hopper will soon be cruising the Cuyahoga, ferrying passengers to assorted destinations around the Flats come launch on July 21.

Brittany Orlando, the owner and operator of the CLE Tiki Barge, announced this week that her latest charter on the river is meant to cater to Flats regulars and out-of-towners looking to get around from parks and bars and restaurants in a little more scenic fashion. And without worrying about constantly finding parking.

“Not only will we be going from the West Bank to the East Bank, but we have partnerships with bars and restaurants all along the river and as well as the harbor,” Orlando said, in a video posted to Instagram.

“So this is a bigger option to kind of spread yourself around Cleveland,” she said.

Well, at least to four nearby points along the river.

The boat can haul up to 50 people at a time, on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit: Cleveland Water Taxi

For its debut next week, the Harbor Hopper will be picking up and dropping off riders at four spots: the Flats West Bank dock at 1180 Main Ave., near Christie’s Cabaret; the dock near Lindey’s Lake House; at Collision Bend Brewing; and in front of the outdoor patio at Brewdog.

Unlike the Metroparks’ eLCee2 Water Taxi, the Harbor Hopper isn’t free. A one-way ride is $10. A Hop On, Hop Off day pass runs you $25, $15 if its after 5 p.m. And a season pass, good from July to December, will cost you $199.

No alcohol will be allowed on board, its site reads. Also, unlike the eLCee2, riders can’t bring their bikes or pets on board, save for registered service animals. Nor can they pay with cash.

According to the Hopper’s website, the boat can seat up to 50 people on a first-come, first-served basis. It’ll be riding up and down the Cuyahoga from 10:30 a.m. to midnight on most days, with an 11 p.m. last-call-for-riders on Fridays and Saturdays.

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