Visited 12/26/21 You have to go around the north of the Tampa Aquarium to find the ship. Not well labeled and very few signs until you get close to it. That said, once you find it the experience is amazing. The ship is huge and the main room upon entering is set up like a museum, while the rest of the ship is staged as it would have looked in WWII with an additional Christmas display set up for the holidays. Some rooms of the ship were blocked off as they were being restored, as well as a couple of areas that were for employees only. Otherwise, the majority of the ship and all decks were accessible to visitors. Many of the rooms had TVs playing documentary-like reels that further explained the purpose or usage of specific rooms, or provided other in-depth information. Despite having several designated 'cool down rooms' that were supposed to be air conditioned, none of them were running so it did get quite hot in the ~80 degree weather. Bring water, fans, and hats!

The ship is located behind the aquarium, signage and walkways could be better. Once we asked directions it was easy to find. You will have to pay for parking and the lot was full on a weekday. Plan to go up and down steep stairs on the ship so wear comfortable shoes. Of course it gets warm inside and out so I'd recommend a hat,sunscreen and some water bottles. The exhibits themselves are very cool to look at and learn from. This ship has sailed around the world and to see how people lived for long periods of time definitely gives you an appreciation for it's history.

Very enjoyable museum! Reasonably priced, they have a nice more normal museum display in the beginning before transitioning to more of a direct display of how the ship was used. I met one of the volunteers and he shared many stories and valuable information of the ship. He showed the most interesting room in my opinion with a map of everywhere the ship has been. He was able to relate to my previous knowledge of the era, while providing solid additions of facts! I really enjoyed just being able to wander and think of all the places this ship has been. The various missions she served during her life. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but worth dealing with for this fantastic museum!

We had a good time exploring and learning about the history of this ship. The price wasn't bad and having free roam of the ship was a lot of fun. This place is very family friendly.

If you have toured other old historical ships you know what to expect. But I was really impressed with the liberty you have to wander almost everywhere on this old beauty! You could take a quick trip in less than 2 hours, but for real detailed exploration I'd suggest 4 or more... yah, it's that good!

Wonderful way to spend a day exploring this historical site! Husband is a Navy veteran. We spent 2 hours just perusing around the ship. Great experience with the staff and a good way to spend the day when beach weather is not good.

A low-cost family attraction, the ship transports visitors back to its era giving a first-person perspective of what sailors experienced. Multiple levels of the ship are available to your, walk through, and look into, including quarters, mess kitchen, pantry, decks and compartments. While summers visitors will experience the heat and humidity without A/C on board, the curators have taken the opportunity to provide “cool-down” rooms with seating where the crew would’ve sat to eat—a great, family-friendly touch. Unless we missed it, access to concessions or vending is not available but would be a great addition. Lastly, only restrooms observed were toilet rooms in the ships quarters which was confusing as to if they were available to the public.

My sister came over from the orient on one of the Victory ships (as a child) just after the war. She actually gave us a more in-depth tour. She showed us where she bunked and played. I especially enjoyed the kitchen!

I always wanted to see this and since we just finished at the aquarium we did. I got two tickets on Groupon for only $16.00. I really enjoyed the self tour. It was hot but they had cool spots along the way. Part of me was sad just thinking about the sailors that were on this ship but enjoyed it all. What a nice gem in Tampa behind the Florida Aquarium. A must see and do!

This is one of the most incredible exhibits I have ever seen. They provide an extensive history but you are able to walk the different levels of the ship to actually feel what it was like to live on this ship. Admission for adults is $12. They have special pricing for children and senior citizens. It is worth every penny and you can take the free trolley here.

I visited the ship with a couple friends recently. We enjoyed our day exploring this historic ship. I have been on several old military ships, but this was the first Cargo Ship that I’ve toured. We had a beautiful February day so it was very pleasant to tour. I recommend seeing her.

Fantastic, what a great time we had ..never been on a ship. Amazing how big it is and all the history that was there. There men and women really fought for our country in those old ships . Thank you for allowing us to be a part of it. . Thank you all that fought and still fighting for our peace and freedom..May God bless you all.

Very nice piece of the history, good to spend a couple of hours. Great for any age since kids to grandparents, then go to the wharf and take dinner. Unfortunately can't reach the engine room.

Lovely vessel. Old and rustic. Wish more effort was put into restoring it, rather than just painting over everything. Note to anyone afraid of steep stairs/steps: they're easier to go down backwards. Figured that out due to habit, but when I did, it felt much faster and safer. Haha! I loved looking at the private quarters of different stations on the ship. The bunks, the showers, the muster station, etc. Can't say I've peed on a piece of history until now, but I am grateful the toilets on there still work!

Very nice museum! Be careful if you have impaired or ppl w/ issues walking up stairs. Staff and other visitors were wonderful. Looking forward to a go back visit. :)

This is a very interesting and well preserved piece of our history. The volunteer crew on this ship really made a big difference in our tour. They were friendly informative and helpful. It's an absolutely incredible experience to learn about and actually be aboard a military ship of this size. Some of our favorite parts were the Captain's Quarters, Engine room, Kitchen and as a special treat if you stay until about 4:00'pm you will get an up close and personal experience of the cruise ships departing for their journeys. I highly recommend.

It was interesting. This ship was built in 1945 near the end of World War 2. The ship was a supply ship hauling cargo to support the war effort in Europe and the Pacific. It even served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. I saw 3 fixed guns mounted at the bow, stern, and starboard side. I had never been to the Port of Tampa but had always passed it by on the Selmon Expressway. It is worth taking a look at for a reasonable cost. The Ship is apparently is run by a not for profit organization. It seems like a worthwhile enterprise to keep our history.

A very cool working WWII ship! Very well kept for its age. Apparently one of the four working WWII ships in the US. Had a blast touring the ship. The ship even have certain cabins with modern day AC as "cool down rooms" due to how hot Tampa gets so the young and elderly can take a moment to rest in between exploring the ship. Tickets are very affordable and this is a good way to visit a historic icon and understand the role Tampa and these Victory ships had during the Second World War

If you have watched Top Gun more than three times, Battleship or Under Siege another smattering of times and any other Navy-related movies you definitely have to check out the American Victory Ship museum when in the Tampa area! Docked in the Sparkman's Wharf area, this was an actual military cargo ship that delivered supplies to our troops between World War II and Vietnam. Per the informational signs they posted, this 455' x 62' ship was built in 55 days, and could steam at 17 knots. Besides carrying 500,000 cubic feet of cargo it carried about 3 different "pew pew sticks" for self defense. I was even able to sit in one of the mounts and pretend I was "Maverick" if he were a Surface Warfare Officer. Besides its current purpose as a museum, and as a haunted house during evenings in October she also hosts a history cruise around Tampa Bay one or two times a year. The ship also serves to train first responders, I was told. When I went, I was fortunate to talk to one of the real radiomen tour guides who narrated that part of the ship and some of the cold war espionage things they did. As someone into electronics & computers, this was my favorite! Otherwise since I took only a self guided tour, I have to hold off a fifth star. I wanted to see the engine room also, but was told I couldn't do this solo. Therefore, if you can finetune your plans and pick a specific time block I'd definitely recommend going on a full guided tour. I plan to do that next time I'm in the area.

If your a veteran sailor, a visit to the American Victory will have you feeling nostalgic. Though she was out of service a few decades before, she brought back many fond memories of my sea service. Children can learn a lot from a trip to this "Living Museum". Enjoy roaming the ship while on a self-guided tour. If you're visiting the Tampa Bay area and have never toured a US naval ship, I recommend visiting her at least once.

They preserved the ship in good condition, and provide great educational information in the museum. Hope they can receive more funding or donation to make this ship in better shape. Make this ship great again.

Have not been in years but everything was open since visiting years ago and it was AWESOME. It’s a snapshot in time back and a must for any enthusiast. WARNING - It can be miserably hot on a day with no breeze in the Florida summer…but so worth it. Worth every penny to keep this piece of history together!

So much history... great people. Incredible ship

Great way to experience history! Well maintained, clean,and just plain cool ship you can explore. If you bring a receipt from the aquarium next door they take 1/2 off your admission.

Very cool. Even without the guided tour there are veterans there through out the ship that tell you about different parts. One showed my kids how to do morse code which they loved. Another showed them the engine It was pretty inexpensive as well. We had a lot of fun

Really awesome ship. It's in very good condition, and they let you freely explore aside from restricted areas and such obviously. Had a great time. They also sell cold water and popsicles for a cheap price which helps a lot with the hot temps outside. There are also some air conditioned rooms in the ship as well where you can take a break.

The American Victory Ship and Museum Is Awesome! It was great to go there to learn all the history and explore the ship. Without doubt going to The American Victory is an awesome opportunity to take advantage of! Have a great day!

Our docent was great. He was extremely knowledgeable and made us feel like we were back in the time when soldiers and merchants lived and worked on this ship. Our Veteran's Group thoroughly enjoyed our tour! Sorry I don't recall the Docents name, but he drove there from San Antonio, FL. to give us a tour.

It's one of the few Victory ships still left. Unlike most museums, they want you to have your hands on everything. They have done a marvelous job of preserving the history while making use of the ship. They have a New Year's Eve party, schools can rent it for their prom or wedding receptions. It's the best place in town to watch the Christmas boat parade. One unusual thing though. Don't be surprised to see federally deputized officers during events because it is it a federally protected port.

Helpful staff easy access from aquarium and dolphin boat.

Interesting place, I wasn't expecting to find this museum on my trip and I learned something, I really can't ask for more. I'm sure you will enjoy it a lot more than I did if you have interest in ships and/war/history. I think it would be a perfect stop for kids.

This is a very interesting piece of our American history. I highly recommend visiting. It also gives you new appreciation for men and women who served our country during wartime.

It is nice to experience what life was like on naval vessels and learn about historical times of war. Cargo ships, such as the SS American Victory, were necessary to provide much needed support for troops and at times of war placed them in hazardous conditions from sea mines to submarine torpedoes. It must have been so scary to think that just one blast could cause a catastrophic breach of the ship’s hull sending it and the crews to the watery depths below. Much respect and appreciation should be paid to the brave men and women in our armed forces. If you like my reviews, photos or videos then hoist your main sail with a like banner

My wife and I both attended the Halloween event and toured the SS American Victory during the day. They have done a great job rehabbing the ship to its former glory. You have the option of a guided tour, or a self-paced tour. You'll be able to explore multiple levels of the ship and interact with it. Definitely worth the price of admission!

Right next to the aquarium, have been meaning to check it out for a few years and finally made the time and glad we did. A great place and was fun for us and the kiddo to walk around exploring and seeing real history hands on. You have free range of most of the ship and can take your time seeing as little or much as you want, this really is a must see. Do yourself the favor and make time for it.

A really cool experience for all ages. The ship is massive. I enjoyed the history and my kids enjoyed seeing the old weapons on the ship. To get there, go to the back of the aquarium. We purchased our tickets on Groupon to get a little discount.

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!!

Awesome ship. We knew there were other people there, but it is so large you felt like you had the place to yourself. Being able to just wander the ship from stem to stern and from the cargo holds to the bridge was really fun.

If you like war history this is a really cool spot to visit. There’s all sorts of things I learnt about how life was on a ship during that area. Defiantly take your time walking through the ship before heading to the upper deck for, mostly, a nice sight. It’s bordering Tampa ship yard so there’s often some noice and often some large dirty ships not too far away. But that doesn’t usually ruin the moment!

Excelente lugar para conocer sobre la historia de la segunda guerra mundial. Dentro del barco hay mucho calor, pero existen pequeños espacios con aire acondicionado para pasar el sofocón.

The museum is at first hard to find. You need to go through the Floroda Aquarium parking lot and keep heading towards the signs for the ship. They do have a few spots for parking out front but you feel like you are in the wrong area. You can pay for your tickets once you board the ship and do a self guided tour. Prepare when you go on a really hot day because, well... its hot. They do have a few stops along the ship rooms that are cooling spots which is nice so you can spend some extra time in there. The shop is worth the look to see if you want to take home a souvenir. You can spend a good 3 hours on the boat just looking around, probably more time if you decide to go through the videos and qr codes for all the different spots. Super cool ship and would highly recommend the stop!

A unique experience aboard a piece of history. The museum provides a lot of great information, and there's a lot to explore. The docents are very knowledgeable. A great adventure for those who love history.

Took my son here for his birthday. He loves everything about military vehicles. It was amazing to be able to go onboard an actual military boat explore and experience what the military personnel experienced

Big ship

I liked seeing this ship, altho i did not give 5 stars due to the fact that the majority of the rooms we viewed were covered in very visible Mold!! The smell was god awful! If this is gona be a tourist attraction clean the mold from the walls so people arent breathing that in.

Cool place.

(Translated by Google) Excellent (Original) Excelente

This is an amazing muesum, it's now my favorite! Amazing views from the ship and if your lucky you might be able to see cruise ships leave port. Definitely worth the price! Make sure to google the parking because we thought we were going the wrong way (we weren't) and ended accidentally paying for parking at the aquarium.

They didn't have aguided tour available which was fine. We walked at our own pace all through the ship, read articles and Google the kids questions about the war and time . We had a great time. It was inexpensive to boot !

Interesting place to visit nice view of downtown Tampa from the ship

Awesome place seems haunted to me

I think it was amazing to be inside this ship and know the history. I just wish they took better care of it. I didn't like that many areas looked more like storage of not needed things.

My father just passed away five months ago, and visiting the ship made me reminiscent of my youth when he, a Marine, would take my brothers and I to your military vessels of various sorts. The staff is very friendly! Highly recommend!

This is the 3rd time I come here .. one of my favorite museums in Tampa.. come on your on ship jaja

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

Nice place to visit, but is hard to find. No enough signs. Is behind the aquarium. If you like ships and history you'll enjoy it.

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 you're looking for something different to do, this is it.

Went on a date night here. Was amazing to walk through such a piece of history. Want to take my child next time. The volunteers shared such great and educational stories.

Def a place if you have time to kill. I don't know if I'd go out of my way but it definitely needs TLC as its apparently a sea worthy ship. I've 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. There's several cool photo opportunities in different areas but do be prepared to go up and down several narrow staircases to see everything.

A must see for visitors and locals alike! Wonderful tour guide with lots of first hand knowledge. Great for lovers of living history and militaria.

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.

Fun day with husband, spontaneously exploring and learning about the history of the American Victory Ship. Very cool!!

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.

Very important historically, and a must see for Maratime and naval history buffs, but many of the ships sections need repair, rust prevention, and paint. I gave a little extra to the ship to help what small way I could. I felt compared to other historical ships I have toured additional signage, and a improved gift shop would be a win.. The gift shop seems rather spartan to put it nicely.

(Translated by Google) Superb Halloween night of good thrills (Original) Superbe soirée Halloween de bon frissons

Great Halloween venue

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

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

Everyone should go if you get a chance

Hot like the Don

Very nice and fabulous

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

Fun!

Nice tour

A work of love for the country, service, service members and the ship itself.

Very cool

We had fun very interesting the kids loved it

Great museum. So much to see.

beautiful attraction

Nice way to spend a morning or afternoon. 455 feet of interest. I took the guided tour no extra cost it took about 2.5 hours or you can just walk around on your own. Nice view of downtown and Tampa Port where ships are in dry dock being worked on.

Great bit of history to see

Interesting stop but we wish it had some more information the history of the ship.