Troy Manthey

Title: President and CEO

Organization: Yacht Starship Dining Cruises

Committee Position: Member

Troy Manthey took the helm of the 180-foot, $8-million luxury dining vessel, Yacht Starship, shortly after its construction in 2000 in Biloxi, Mississippi. He first discovered Tampa in January 2001 when Yacht StarShip was chartered for the world-class annual Gasparilla Invasion/Celebration for Superbowl weekend. Shortly afterward, he permanently relocated the Yacht StarShip to Tampa Bay’s vibrant Channelside entertainment district in downtown Tampa.

In May 2007, Yacht Starship expanded with the opening of its second location in Clearwater Beach, adding Yacht Starship II to the fleet. Subsequent additions included Yacht Starship III in 2014 and Yacht Starship IV in 2016. In 2009, Troy Manthey and his wife Jill became the sole owners of Yacht Starship Dining Cruises, LLC, which now employs 220 people.

In February 2016, Yacht Starship launched Pirate Water Taxi LLC, a daily water taxi service with 14 stops and seven vessels in Downtown Tampa. The fleet continued to grow with the addition of the Lost Pearl Pirate Ship in February 2020 and the Bay Rocket jet-powered speedboat thrill ride in November 2022. The most recent addition, Craft, a 150-passenger modern single-deck, low-profile dining river cruiser, joined the fleet in March 2024. Craft offers a unique culinary and cocktail river journey, featuring an open kitchen concept and gas cooking, a first for Florida dining vessels.

Since 2001, Manthey has developed deep roots in Tampa Bay’s civic and business communities. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Visit Tampa Bay, Past Chair of Friends of the Riverwalk (Board), Hillsborough County Hotel Motel Association (Board), Port of Tampa Maritime Industries Association (Board) and S.S. American Victory Ship (Past Chair and Current Board). On a National level, Manthey served as President of Passenger Vessel Association in 2005, a national trade association with 600 members based in Washington, D.C. and currently serves on the Passenger Vessel Foundation Board.

Under Manthey's leadership, Yacht StarShip Dining Cruises received the Tampa Bay Chamber’s 2016 Small Business of the Year award in the 51-250 employee category. In 2017, Manthey was honored as the Ambassador of the Year for tourism in Hillsborough County by Visit Tampa Bay. In 2022, he received the Park Wright Leadership Award from Leadership Tampa Alumni. Most recently, in December 2023, Manthey was awarded the Captain James McKay Port Tampa Bay Achievement Award.

Manthey holds a Captain’s license from the United States Coast Guard as Master (inland) and 1st Class Pilot – Any Gross Ton. Manthey is a strong advocate for Passenger Vessel Safety and received the Meritorious Public Service Commendation from the Commandant of the Coast Guard in 1996 and Public Service Commendation in 1997. Manthey is a 5th generation Passenger Vessel Operator and Captain, whose family started in the Passenger Steamboat business in 1884.

Troy Manthey currently resides in Tampa with his wife Jill and their two sons Jack and Patrick. His adult daughter Lindsey resides in New Orleans.