This was a great museum with a breadth of history that we are grateful to share. It felt like a once in a lifetime experience. It’s $10 to visit but $5 if you have proof of tickets that day to the aquarium. They also have tours for $25.We also got to meet Gary and he made our trip even more wonderful. We learned so so much and would highly recommend anyone who is interested in seafaring, military activity, or even history in general.

Great place to go. Its well worth the $10 fee to get in. Itll take about an hour and a half to go through everything and see it all. Everyone there is really friendly and helpful.

What a hidden gem!!! We left the Tampa Bay aquarium and happened to see a sign for this... couldnt even see it from the parking lot. We were allowed to tour pretty much the entire ship at our own pace! Other than a few areas off limits, 80% of the ship was free to roam. We had a blast!!!

Fun tour of the ship after visiting the aquarium. I only had to pay 5 bucks since I visited the aquarium. The history of this ship was very intriguing.

Def a place if you have time to kill. I dont know if Id go out of my way but it definitely needs TLC as its apparently a sea worthy ship. Ive been to the USS Missouri and Iowa and its not even close in terms of up keep. Definitely donated to help out but definitely needs help in up keeping exhibits and signage.

Not crowded at all and its alot of fun to wander through the ship, checking out all the gear. Theres several cool photo opportunities in different areas but do be prepared to go up and down several narrow staircases to see everything.

Awesome ship and to see the history come to life in a self tour of the ship was fun.

This is such an interesting museum. The ship has served our nation for a very long time. It tells the story of America in WW2, Korea, and Vietnam through lense of the merchant marine. I had a great time learning and exploring the ship. The staff are great and if youre looking for something different to do, this is it.

Went here for a haunted attraction called undead in the water. Absolutely one of the most unique story driven haunted attractions I have ever been in!The way the attraction winds you through the actual military ship was mind-blowing! Going up and down stairs and ladders this gave me a feeling of live action role play!Great use of special effects that was not over done, great scares that are unique from any other haunted house i have ever been through.Alot of the atmosphere and story reminded me of how Howl-O-Scream at Busch gardens used to be.Loved the story aspect of this attraction.Will be back to visit the actual museum in the future. Great experience!

Cant believe you can just run around this place with no supervision but Im 25 so COOL BEANS! wow so much stuff to look at and absorb, dont forget the info signs! and watch your step. Awesome crew, great museum.

Great was still scared even though I watched the video before going lol

Nice history lesson for the family. The volunteer was very knowledgeable and friendly.

What a great way to spend Memorial day! Veterans are free today as well. It was great seeing the history and what those brave men endured while fighting for our freedoms.

It was great for my first time being on a ship as a museum. It was the perfect date area, especially for people who love going to museums. I learned many facts I did not know of before.

Very cool Merchant Marine ship. We did not have a tour guide which might have made the experience a little more fun and informative but it was also cool just to wander around. Free parking is nice since everything around there is $25 aquarium parking. I would not advise parking there and going to the aquarium. I think someone did that and they announced a few times they were looking for the owner of the car. I would assume they tow if its there too long. Fun to show my 10 year old such a cool piece of history. Hope to hear it sails again.

Great museum. It does get extremely hot if you go on a hot day. But they have random AC rooms all over the ship to cool you off. Great views of the Bay from here. Id recommend visiting..

We love being on the ship its like going back in time a little. This is our 2nd year and we brought mom and dad along. It was a great time and we have more memories. The staff did great with implementation of social distancing. And even the other customers were patient with mom..it took a minute on those stairs. Lol. I said last year this would be a tradition for my family, Thanks for the scare and laughs!!

Its a very good place to experience the history.

Friendly staff, excellent exhibits, cool piece of history.Almost wish I could have seen it busier! It’s an enormous ship to be walking about, it is easy to forget how bustling it must have been when operating.Time has begun to take its toll on parts of the ship. They do what they can.

It’s great to see a part of history that is living on and still set sail!! Go early in the summer as it gets extremely hot onboard.....their are a few areas that are air conditioned so you can cool off but most is not. Their are gorgeous views of the area from up top side of the ship. The movies are worth watching and have many facts that you may not have known!! Price is $10 but veterans and military get half price, definitely worth a look!! Would love to sail on this ship when it takes a trip out to sea!!

This merchant Marine ship served from world war 2 to Vietnam. The self guided tour can easily take half a day if you allow yourself the time to explore every nook and cranny youre allowed to enter. However Im sure you can see the majority of the ship in about 2 hours if you wanted.

Very nice museum! All staff are always so kind and willing to answer any questions you may have. Definitely a one of a kind experience!

Awesome ship and museum! You can walk all over it on your own and see everything inside and out!

I will not recommend at all. It was short and boring they let people in front of me we were too close so it was boring when they came to scare me I wasnt because of the people in front of me. Save your money Go somewhere else dont Go here.

Beautifully restored ship that gives a lovely self guided tour of a fully restored WWII merchant ship. It’s a great place to visit any day of the week. I was beyond impressed by the details of the rooms and memorabilia I urge anyone to stop and visit.

The self guided tour was an amazing experience. Wander at your own pace and take a step back in time to see what it would be like to live on the ship. Great experience for young and old if you are able to handle walking for the whole time. At a moderate pace we saw the whole ship in about an hour and 15 minutes.

Fantastic ship. Great museum. My daughter loved going and seeing a bit of history.

Amazing place, great for learning about WW2 history. Customer service was great at the counter and throughout the ship there were crew members that helped us around the ship and showed us more history than we expected.

Amazing ship and just a breathtaking piece of history! Suitable for all ages and it is like going back in time. It may be a little hot on the ship. So, make sure you wear something light! There are a few AC rooms and fans scattered about all over.

Wonderful piece of history, highly recommend checking this out.

Excellent information from veterans that were in the Navy. Great access to see parts of the ship that most people never get to see. Informational videos playing in different areas. Bring water as it can be warm on a sunny day.

Great history and things to learn. They have many displays and the ship looks like its in use ( beds made up, uniforms hanging in the rooms) very fun to walk through. You can do a self guided tour and explore for yourself. Very fun and not expensive. They do have military discounts.

Interesting place to check out and visit

Awesome place to learn and see what life on those ships was!

This victory ship class ship participated in W.W.II & Korean war, now made a museum. they could have shown more things about American naval power during W.W.II and their achievements. somewhat disappointed to know that museum is only about one particular class ship. A small notice about this museum, if displayed in nearby Florida Aquarium would help visitors. route Directions should be displayed .

Lots of history on this boat. It was amazing to see it and be able to touch and look and just be apart of it. Love that its still a fully functional ship. Prices werent to bad actually. Its really hot on the ship in some parts. Would definitely recommend if you like history.

Great chance to see a vital part of U.S. history. Best access to the ship from any ship museu Ive been to.

Such a cool ship and it was neat to that they used it as a Halloween attraction too

Love this place. So much history and a great place to spend an afternoon. Awesome place to see the Xmas lighted boat parade.

Pretty cool thing to do on a nice cool day. You really step into history here but it can get really hot if you go during the summer. Still worth it!

Great visit but its not air conditioned so be ready.

Full of history. Working ship to this day. Note: its very hot in the ship. You can bring water or buy drinks there. Will go back again.

It was awesome. Well worth the money

Great experience! Seeing a ship that went to war and how well maintained is until today. The staff is very pleasant and friendly. Just one thing... Be ready to sweat if you go during times of heat.

Interesting, great benevolent people always ready to give you information

Took my brother here and he loves it. He loves the ship and exploring it. The cost is a deal for only 10 bucks a person but if u went to the tampa aquarium, it is half off. Be warn, no AC.

My wife, my in-laws and I purchased this tour from Groupon. I learned allot about Liberty and Victory Ships from the displays on board the SS American Victory. What struck me as awesome was that during WWII they could construct one of these vessels in 55 days. Those were truly the good old days when we could move mountains under a common cause. What do we need now WWIII for Americans to work together?

Had such a great time. Everything was so cool. Me and my family had an absolute blast. Employees were very nice as well.

Absolutely wonderful experience that everybody should check out!! Can you imagine being on a ship during World War II.... Add to that the way this ship is built! Can you say claustrophobia! The staff were wonderful and extremely knowledgeable!!Thank you for all your hard work and keeping history alive.

Had a blast looking around this floating piece of history. Its awesome that you can rent it out as a venue for events. After our self guided tour we hung around and watched the cruise ships leave port which was pretty cool. Lots of fun exploring and super inexpensive.

Excellent experience. Great history. 1 of 4 active ships from WWII. Great history and exhibits.

Great little adventure. If you can get a guide, do it. Then go to the one air conditioned room, and let them tell you stories.

A great addition to your day at the Florida Aquarium. Its not too expensive. It is hot inside the ship as their is no running A.C. Outside in the open air its better. We got to see a cruise ship leave port, you are so close that the people on the cruise are happy and waving at you.There was a volunteer on the ship, I dont remember his name, but he was very knowledgeable of the history of the ship having been one of its crew members. He told us many stories and walked us around which I thought was neat.

A neat and large exhibit that showcases a supply/cargo ship used within World War II. The ship has been restored somewhat recently and it features a wealth of reading material within the various corridors of the ship. I do wish that the engine compartment was visibile on the self guided tour, but you do get to see the top of the ship, some sleeping quarters, a chart room, restrooms and showers, a kitchen, and more. At the time, admission was $10 for adults, and veterans get in for $5!

We went for the Undead in the Water Halloween show. It was worth the modest fee and the kids had fun.

So proud to have this incredible piece of American history right here in downtown Tampa! Amazing experience. Learned A LOT in just a few hours. The volunteers on staff are very helpful and even passionate about the history; they make it fun and relatable. Love how you can tour on your own and pretty much go wherever whenever, at your own pace. I hope we keep more history like this alive.

You take a great experience of history, and you can learn alot too. Be prepare tho cause is hot but its an awesome experience

Very informative. Learned quite a bit. By far the cheapest thing we did our whole vacation

One of the best naval exhibitions Ive ever been to, in the sense that there isnt a vast gift shop, there is a reasonable charge for entry, the exhibits themselves are well presented and the ship actually still operates on cruises! DO NOT miss this when visiting Tampa.

So much history... great people

Whatan awesome experience getting So close to history. Thank you to all our veterans! This ship also offers celebration amenities. That would be so cool. It was really eye opening to walk on the decks and touch something that played a part in our freedom today.

Loved taking children to explore history in this great ship of heart and steal.Our tour guide was fantastic.

Worth adding to your list of things to do. So cool to be able to see all of the history on the ship

I went there with my 15 year old son and we both liked it. It was really nice. It doesn’t take all that long but was enjoyable. They had vets there that my son enjoyed talking with.

This is not a fancy place with air conditioning, it is 74 years Marin ship with deep history, I really enjoyed it even if it was really hot inside, you will experience at least how those people fought for our country.

Great history on this ship that is only 1 of 4 fully functional WW2 ships.

Wonderful learning experience. The guide was great and full of information.

I had a great experience with my daughter support the American Victory Ship. Share, Share

There is alot of history on this ship. Was very cool to tour it, especially since they also take it out of the bay every now and then. The only thing that I wished I could see more is the engine room. But for safety reasons I understand why we werent allowed down there.

An amazing educational experience! Got our tickets off Groupon but gate prices are not bad. $10 for adults, children under 3 are free. Active duty and veterans are $5. Sorry I do not remember prices for children. They do have different memberships that include free guest tickets and discounts to other museums. I suggest taking your time as there are many things you may miss if youre rushing through an area. They have many REAL artifacts from the wars the ship has served in. If youre not afraid of heights I suggest climbing all the way to the top deck and observe the views! The engine room is another site to see! Only problem we had was not locating many staff members along the routes but we eventually got our questions answered. Would definitely visit again.

An amazing floating piece of history! We loved walking around and imagining what it would have been like to serve in the Navy. The guide in the communications room was very knowledgeable about morse code and it was fun to try it out. I would definitely recommend going and seeing a piece of history.

Great history in this old ship. If you get a chance go and visit. It actually still sets sail.

Me and my kids liked this place. entrance ticket is not expensive. It is a good experience to see the whole ship from the inside with your own eyes!

This last weekend was my 2 time going and it wont be my last.I love coming here as a navy vet, you get to see how far along the navy has come. It is so much history on this ship. Even though i was on CVN 77 a much bigger ship it just amazes me how powerful the USN ships are and all the sacrifices that have to be made to protect our country and loved ones. I also love showing my daughters that mommy also lived on a ship while deployed and the different things i had to do while stationed on a ship.

My 6 year old son had blast. Very interesting facts with wide open tour to see almost everything!!!

It was so cool to be able to wander around this piece of history. We went here before heading to the Florida Aquarium. Amazing to imagine this vessel sailing the seas in times of war.It was clean and hot. Really hot...but they did have cooling rooms scattered throughout the ship. It is so worth making a stop here.

Great ship, great staff. Lots of history. Amateur radio friendly.

Really enjoyable experience, as much of the ship is open to tour; Id normally expect more areas to be roped off. This is a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the role and scale of the merchant marine, which I think is somewhat under appreciated in the US. Unfortunately it was not very busy when we went. Also note that you need to call ahead for tours.

Amazing a lot history

A basic ship to walk around on. Not a whole lot on the ship itself to see, but a nice stop in Tampa for history buffs. Check for parking near the ship itself before paying in the aquarium lot.

Absolutely amazing! Thanks to Michael, a volunteer? and retired Navy veteran, for a personalized tour! He was a plethora of information and made the ship come to life for us! I highly recommend seeing this beautiful piece of history.

The S.S. American Victory ship was so interesting. Its a cargo ship that was used during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. It is huge! For a small admission price ($10), you can tour the ship and support the museum. The day we visited there were some nice breezes, but I can imagine it is unbearably hot in the middle of summer. It was eye-opening to see the inside of the ship and the cargo holding areas. Its a decent workout to walk the decks, and climb up and down all the ladders. Its fascinating to see what life on the ship was like for the brave people who served on it. There are some beautiful views of Tampas harbor. There is plenty of nearby parking. The ship a nice addition to a trip to the Columbia Cafe and History Museum or Aquarium.

Cant beat it for $10. Lots of fun for the family.

Loved this self walk threw tour

Wonderful history lesson. Had never considered the challenges and risks merchant marines faced during WWII. We went with our teenage kids during a weekday. The weather was comfortable and crowds light. I can see the experience being a little less ideal on a hot crowded day so plan accordingly. Totally worthwhile.

Its not one of the WW2 sexy ships, but it played an important role in helping to secure victory. The best part of visiting is the whole ship is open for exploration. It is definitely worth your time and admission.

Good experience learning about the merchant marine. Ship is mostly open to explore

This was a lot of fun. Its a self-guided tour and you can climb around on most of the decks and up the stair cases and even the guns. One of them even still rotates around on the turret. You get to see most of the interior cabins and cargo holds. Apparently, they still sail the ship around once a year to celebrate something or the other. Really, really interesting.Word of caution: It can be a bit tricky for elderly visitors and small children to traverse the staircases, as they can be narrow and/or steep, so be prepared to hold some elbows.

This ship, if I remember correctly served in 3 wars: WWII, Korean, & Vietnam. This ship shows what life wouldve been like during that time! It has artifacts, medals, equipment, documents, etc that they actually used. Plus, its a fully functional ship which is pretty cool. There is an entrance fee but very reasonable - I believe $10 or less per person. Im from PA and it was awe-inspiring to see this. It makes one proud to be an American! To those of you who might possibly read this who are veterans - Im sincerely grateful for your service and sacrifice for our country! Thank you!

This is a true piece of Americana, when you step across the threshold its like going back in time, you have to have alot of respect for the sailors who served aboard her, you had to be tough & smart to work on her, cramped quarters, lots of different machinery, all sorts of different rigging, one misstep and it could be over for you not to mention mother nature, we are very fortunate to have such a ship here in Tampa Bay, its a true testament to American people and independent beliefs, I hope shes here for many years to come.

Small but great museum ship! Very worth the 10usd admissions fee.

Super friendly and helpful staff, living history, great time learning and exploring

This was a pretty cool place to visitWe was courus about it, we would always see people on there while sitting at port waiting to leave for our cruise, so when covid kicked in and eased off we decided to go check it out .A lot of cool facts .it really a big gem tucked away at port, Go check it out

Very interesting. A lot of history

Amazing, amazing experience! Great information posted on the ship. Parking was easy. Cheap entrance fee.

Very cool ship. Cheap fun. You get free reign of the ship. But there is also great tour guides to tell you all about the history of this ship.

Really cool and educational. Took my nephew for a school report.

Great little hidden gem. Stumbled across this by accident. Enjoyed the self guided tour and being able to see parts of the ship that is usually not available to the general public. Definitely will be back.

Only $10. Place is definitely worth it. Make sure you get a tour guide though. The guy that I had was absolutely amazing

Nice ship but without any excitement. Ship is cargo type so you will not find many guns or warfare technologies. Listen to real veterans stories who are frequent guests on ship