Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup as Victor Hedman raises the 2 fingers during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
We didn't get a Stanley Cup victory boat parade along the Hillsborough River this year, but here's the next best thing.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Sixthman have teamed up to host “Bolts On Board.” Setting sail from the Port of Tampa on Friday, January 12, 2024, the four-night, all-inclusive trip will feature appearances from Lightning Alumni, including Phil Esposito, Dave Andreychuk, Brian Bradley, Brad Lukowich, Andre Roy, and ThunderBug.
The inaugural Bolts On Board voyage will set sail on the Norwegian Jade. It will depart from the Port of Tampa before making two stops beginning in Key West on Saturday, January 13. The ship will then travel to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas on Sunday, January 14 before returning to the Port of Tampa on Tuesday, January 16.
What to expect on the Lightning cruise:
Bolts On Board will allow passengers to get a moment with the Stanley Cup. A secret location in Key West will serve as the backdrop for an exclusive Stanley Cup photoshoot. Passengers can also be a part of a “Live with Legends” panel. There will also be casino tournaments with Lightning Alumni. Rub shoulders with Tampa Bay's top talent and put your poker face to the test. There will be Ball Hockey with ThunderBug, games of bingo, trivia challenges and karaoke sessions.
Will current players be on board?
Given that the cruise is in January, you probably know the answer to this one. Active Tampa Bay Lightning players will be busy that week making another run for the Stanley Cup. I wouldn't be surprised though if a few players are there at departure to waive goodbye since the cruise terminal isn't far away from Amalie Arena. But that's just my speculation.
How do you get on board?
Pre-sale registration begins TODAY, Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Fans are encouraged to visit boltsonboard.com to register. The first 100 cabins booked will receive an autographed puck from a Lightning legend.
How much is it?
Specialty cruises like this one aren't cheap. Room rates for the Lightning Cruise range from $999 per person for interior rooms to ocean view cabins starting around $1300. If you want a balcony, those start in the $1700 range. All of these rates are per person prices based on double occupancy. If you're cruising solo, add about 80% to the rate. A full list of room rates can be found at BoltsOnBoard.com/prices. Note also that those rates I mentioned do not include taxes and port fees ($275 per person). Nor are service charges included (about $20-25 per person per day).
We're kind of missing boat parades around here. We got so used to that Champa Bay lifestyle. Gatherings along the Hillsborough River, we loved celebrating with the Bucs and Bolts. We watched the trophy toss. We loved Kuch's "#1 Bull****" t-shirt.
It's been a minute. Will the Rays end the Champa Bay boat parade drought? They're the hottest team in baseball this season. And we're ready to head back to the water for another celebration.
Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning waves to the crowd from his jetski during during the Tampa Bay Lightning Victory Rally & Boat Parade on the Hillsborough river on September 30, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning, left, and Erik Cernak spray champagne during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with his daughter Vivian during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
A fan looks on during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Rob Gronkowski #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Scott Miller #10 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates their Super Bowl LV victory during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Yanni Gourde of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
In an aerial view, the Stanley cup is seen on the stern of Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik's boat (bottom right) during the 2021 Stanley Cup Victory boat parade on the Hillsborough River on July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Mike Evans #13 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Ondrej Palat of the Tampa Bay Lightning is sprayed with champagne during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Mathieu Joseph of the Tampa Bay Lightning, left, and Anthony Cirelli pose during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hugs his daughter Vivian celebrating their Super Bowl LV victory during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Mikhail Sergachev of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup ad Andrei Vasilevskiy raises the Conn Smythe trophy during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Rob Gronkowski #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and girlfriend Camille Kostek celebrates their Super Bowl LV victory during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning shows off the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning, center, during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates their Super Bowl LV victory during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
A boat containing Ross Colton, Cal Foote and Christopher Gibson of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates their Super Bowl LV victory with the Vince Lombardi trophy during a boat parade through the city on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Luke Schenn of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Luke Schenn of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Blake Coleman of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Yanni Gourde of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with fans during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, center, celebrates during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup while driving Nikita Kucherov #86 during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup while driving Nikita Kucherov #86 during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Fans celebrate during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the Stanley Cup as Victor Hedman raises the 2 fingers during the boat parade to celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup July 12, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
