Which NYC Ferry to Ride? (7 New York Ferries Explained)

OVERVIEW

There are respective ferry services in New York City which will take you to some of the most popular sites in the city.

While some ferries are free to take, the price of tickets for others ranges from $ 2.75 – $ 20 or more .
Taking one of the ferry services to a specific finish ( quite than a taxi or driving yourself ) can save you quite a bite of money .
But if your goal is to see the sights rather than using an cheap means of transportation system, you may want to consider a sightsee cruise .
We cover these cruise options in our boat tours and cruises department below .

Can You Use a MetroCard on NYC Ferries ?

No. however, some of the ferries listed in this post are free to take ! See our post on which MetroCard to buy to find out what forms of department of transportation do accept MetroCards .

Join our free FTBF Travel Community! As a thank you, you’ll receive our City Guide!

Leave this field empty if you ‘re human :

COMMUTER FERRIES

NYC Ferry 

This commuter ferry ( previously called the East River Ferry ) travels along the East River between Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx .
This is an particularly popular option for workers in NYC, as it ’ s a promptly and efficient way to get to and from work .

Ferries can be packed with commuters during race hours, so it may not be the most comfortable depend on for tourists. But there are some discrete benefits to traveling by the NYC Ferry .
away from avoiding traffic in the city, the ferry is identical low-cost. Tickets are the lapp prices as the underpass and the ferries offer a prettier horizon .
besides, there are some courteous amenities — you can purchase snacks onboard, recharge your smartphone and use the rid wi-fi .
Ticket Prices

• $ 2.75/One-way ticket
• $ 3.75/One-way slate w/ Bike
• $ 121/30-Day Pass
• $ 141/30-Day Pass w/ bicycle
• Kids under 44 inches ride free

How to Purchase Tickets
Tickets are available through a few different methods, making it very commodious to purchase them .
The easiest choice is simply to download the NYC Ferry app and purchase a ticket on your smartphone. You then show your earphone to the deckhand when boarding the ferry .
alternatively, you can buy your tag on their web site, but you will calm need to download the NYC Ferry app and show your smartphone when board .
If you do not have a smartphone or prefer unvoiced tickets, you can purchase tickets from the vending machines located at every NYC Ferry end .
last, if you want to avoid using a smartphone or machine wholly, you can purchase tickets from a ticket agent on board each ferry or at the ticket booth at the Pier 11/Wall St. dock .
Routes and Maps
There are presently 6 year-round NYC Ferry routes and there are more routes in the works. In the summer, an extra route is added that goes to Governor ’ s Island .

These are the routes, with all their stops listed beneath their names. Click on the map above for route schedules .

• East River Route
  • Midtown East
  • Brooklyn Navy Yard
  • DUMBO
  • Wall Street
• Lower East Side Route
  • long Island City
  • Midtown East
  • stuyvesant Cove
  • Wall Street
• Astoria ( Queens ) path
  • Roosevelt Island
  • long Island City
  • Midtown East
  • Brooklyn Navy Yard
  • Wall Street
• South Brooklyn Route
  • Wall Street
  • DUMBO
  • Atlantic Avenue
  • Sunset Park
  • Bay Ridge
• Rockaway ( Brooklyn ) road
  • Wall Street
  • Sunset Park
  • Rockaway
• Soundview ( the Bronx ) route
  • Wall Street
  • uptown Manhattan
  • Soundview

NY Waterway 

besides known as the Hudson River Ferry, this commuter ferry travels between Manhattan and New Jersey .
not entirely is this an excellent serve for commuters, but it is besides utilitarian to those staying in hotels in New Jersey good across the river from NYC .
This is a far more dependable serve than the NJ Transit Bus, so if you ’ re planning to travel between New Jersey and Manhattan, you may want to consider the NY Waterway ferry .
however, the cost of this service is more expensive than other ferries in the area .
Ticket Prices

• One way : $ 9/Adults | $ 6/Kids ( 6-11 ) | $ 8.25/Seniors, Disabled
• One Way tickets are dislodge for kids 5 and under .
• Bike Surcharge : $ 1.25
• 7-Day base on balls : $ 76
• 10-Trip pass : $ 83
• 30-Day pass : $ 279.50
• monthly authorize : $ 272
• student pass : $ 226

How to Purchase Tickets
There are three ways to buy NY Waterway tickets. There are ticket kiosks at each dock where you can purchase tickets in person .
besides, you can buy tickets online from their web site or their app. In both these cases, you must use your smartphone as your ticket .
Routes and Maps 
There are five NY Waterway routes. Beneath the map, we list each route and its stops. Click on the map for route schedules .

• Midtown/West 39th Street
  • Edgewater Landing
  • Port Imperial
  • Lincoln Harbor
  • Hoboken
  • Harborside
  • Paulus Hook
  • Belford
• Brookfield Place/Battery Park
  • Port Imperial
  • Hoboken
  • Harborside
  • Paulus Hook
  • Belford
• Pier 11/Wall Street
  • Port Imperial
  • Hoboken
  • Paulus Hook
  • Liberty Harbor
  • Belford
• Battery Maritime Building
  • Port Liberté
• Paulus Hook
  • Belford

Staten Island Ferry

This barren commuter ferry offers one of the best views of the New York skyline. You ride correct by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island besides .
The ferry departs from Whitehall Terminal located south of Battery Park and the ride to Staten Island is approximately 25 minutes .
Podcast Episode: Listen to tour guides Lori and Katherine discourse taking the Staten Island Ferry on an episode of our NYC Travel Tips podcast .

This podcast offers bite-sized audio clips with tips on how to plan your trip to NYC. You can get our podcasts on Apple, Google, or wherever you get your podcasts .
once at Staten Island, you can get off the ferry and explore the island, or get back on the ferry and head spinal column to Manhattan .
Be certain to download our free Staten Island Ferry audio tour to accompany you on your cruise .
Since the Staten Island Ferry operates 24 hours a day, riding the ferry is a fantastic thing to do at night as the city sparkles after dark and the views are extra especial .
Riding the ferry before or after our Lower Manhattan Tour is a bang-up room to spend half a day without spending half your budget !
We besides have a GPS-enabled audio tour of Lower Manhattan which can be used sidereal day or night .
Read our mail on how to take the Staten Island Ferry for details .

New York Water Taxi

The New York Water Taxi has four blockage in NYC : Midtown Manhattan, Battery Park ( in Lower Manhattan ), South Street Seaport ( near Wall Street ) and DUMBO ( in Brooklyn ) .

While the Water Taxi is a quick direction to travel between the above locations, it is quite expensive, surely in relative to the NYC Ferry described above .
however, you are paying for a one-day fall for unlimited Water cab rides between 10 am and 5 phase modulation, as opposed to just a one-way ticket on the NYC Ferry .
This means that you can use the Water Taxi as a “ hop-on-hop-off ” service, making it reasonably more worth the price. If you are only taking one ride, this is not the best choice .
Water Taxi one-day passes are valid from 10 am – 5 promethium. The passes cost $ 37 for adults and $ 31 for children .
Purchase tickets or learn more .
TIP: Before purchasing a New York Water Taxi legislate, note that a pass is included in several NYC tourist discount rate pass. If you ’ re plan to buy a tourist excrete, no necessitate to buy a pas !
Read our post on New York City tourist passes for more details .

The IKEA Ferry

This ferry, as you may have guessed, travels to New York City ’ s only IKEA shop, located in Brooklyn in the vicinity of Red Hook. It departs from Wall Street several times a day .
You don ’ t need to shop at Ikea to enjoy this ferry and its bang-up views. It is free on weekends so why not hop on and take a 20-minute depend on from Manhattan and back ?
During the workweek, tickets are $ 5 each way for adults. But if you spend at least $ 10 at IKEA ( not including food ), you get a $ 5 citation at check-out .
note that if you are just seeking weekday department of transportation to Brooklyn, you ’ ll be better off with the NYC Ferry detailed above. It is $ 2.75 per ride and has many more destinations .
TIP: The IKEA cafeteria has awesome views of the Statue of Liberty, dislodge wi-fi and cheap food ! Red Hook is a pretty cool vicinity along Brooklyn ’ sulfur waterfront, therefore why not explore the area deoxyadenosine monophosphate well ?

The Seastreak Ferry

This ferry ship’s company provides service from New York City and New Jersey to popular beach destinations, like Nantucket in Massachusettes .
Since they provide service to places such as Martha ’ s Vineyard in Massachusetts and Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey, ticket prices are more expensive than the other ferries listed above .
But Seastreak besides has an low-cost New Jersey-New York service, providing an alternate to NY Waterways .

New York-New Jersey Service

• Highlands, NJ
• Atlantic Highlands, NJ
• Wall St., NY
• East 35th St., NY

Ticket Prices

• One way : $ 28/Adults | $ 11/Children ( Sat & Sun only )
• rung Trip : $ 47/Adults | $ 19/Children ( Sat & Sun merely )
• ride from East thirty-fifth St. to Wall St. for merely $ 5
• 10 Trip Book : $ 217
• 40 Trip Book : $ 695
• Kids ( 5-12 ) ride unblock Mon – friday .
• Kids under 5 are constantly free .

Beach Routes and Prices

• NYC to Sandy Hook Beach
  • One way : $ 28/Adults | $ 11/Children ( Sat & Sun entirely )
  • cycle Trip : $ 47/Adults | $ 19/Children ( Sat & Sun entirely )
  • inaugural Departure Round Trip : $ 31
  • Kids ( 5-12 ) ride free Mon – friday .
  • Kids under 5 are always loose .

• New York/New Jersey to Martha ’ s Vineyard
  • One way : $ 165/Adults | $ 75/Children
  • One Way Holiday : $ 200 per person
  • round off Trip : $ 240/Adults | $ 135/Children
  • Round Trip Holiday : $ 310 per person

• New York/New Jersey to Nantucket
  • One way : $ 175/Adults | $ 85/Children
  • One Way Holiday : $ 210 per person
  • round of golf Trip : $ 260/Adults | $ 155/Children
  • Round Trip Holiday : $ 330 per person

These aren ’ t the only services provided by this company. See the Seastreak web site to find out what other ferries they run .

second to top

STATUE OF LIBERTY FERRY

This ferry ’ south lone purpose is to transport people to and from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island .
In fact, this is the only way to get to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island .
This means that tickets cost more than other ferries discussed in this mail .
hush, the ferry is reasonably priced considering that it takes you to one of the most celebrated sights in the universe .

You can save on tickets by purchasing a jazz band box that includes a visit to the Statue of Liberty .
besides, this ferry slate is included in several NY tourist dismiss passes, which save you money on multiple attractions .
All tickets include a round-trip ride to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. But you will have to purchase particular tickets if you want more than just a tripper to the island .
The ticket options are :
ferry

• No access to enter the Statue of Liberty .

Ferry with Pedestal Access

• Enter the pedestal of the statue .
• Gain admission to the Statue of Liberty museum .
• See the views from the pedestal level .

Ferry with Crown Access

• Enjoy all the benefits of a pedestal ticket .
• See the views from the crown of Lady Liberty .

For more information about ticket prices, handiness, and how to save money on this ferry, read our full post on Statue of Liberty tickets .

back to top

HOP-ON-HOP-OFF TOURIST FERRIES

If you are in NYC as a tourist, you may want to consider a sightseeing cruise rather of a traditional ferry .
There are respective ferries and cruises that focus more on sightseeing rather than mere tape drive. Most offer some form of comment on the sights you will see as you pass them .

Some of these ferries have few, if any, stops. Others allow you to hop off and hop back on as you like, so you can explore unlike parts of the city .
Tickets for these cruises range from $ 30- $ 40 per person, and if you choose a hop-on-hop-off cruise your ticket will be valid for at least an integral day, making it comparable to the New York Water Taxi .
Both hop-on, hop-off ferries and sightseeing cruises are included with diverse tourist passes, then even if you find the prices a sting higher than you would like, you can save up to 50 % off prices if you have a dismiss tourist guide .
See the section below on deals and discounts .
Read our post about NYC gravy boat tours and cruises to learn about the many options you have to see the city from the water .

back to top

DEALS AND DISCOUNTS

This section lists the best discounts on ferries and cruises in New York City, including details about tourist passes, jazz band packages and more .

Tourist Passes

respective of the ferry and cruise services listed in this post are included with at least one NYC tourist pas .
If you ’ re planning to visit a few or more popular attractions, this could be a great way to save money on tickets .

The be options are available via tourist passes :

• Statue of Liberty Ferry
• New York Water Taxi
• City Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise
• Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
• Hornblower Cruises
• Manhattan by Sail

There are several tourist passes to choose from, and depending on which one you choose, you can save between 20 % – 50 % off general admission prices .
A bare money-saving option is to build your own pass (BYOP) because you only need to purchase tickets to four different attractions to save 20 % on each attraction .
If you were planning on seeing barely a few of NYC ’ s most popular sights, including taking a sightseeing cruise, the BYOP option is a good option .
On the other hand, if you intend to see multiple attractions, an all-inclusive pass may be the better choice for you. These passes provide access to dozens of democratic attractions for a specific count of days .
You choose the number of days, generally from 1 day up to 10 days. These passes are best for visitors who want to see a much as potential and have the time and department of energy to do therefore ! The more attractions you visit the more you save .
Another type of tourist pass allows you to pay a discount price for a set number of attractions ( normally between 2 and 12 attractions ) .
This kind of happen makes sense if you want to see the pricier attractions, and since many cruises and ferries are cheap, you won ’ t save much on your boat ride. placid, these passes are worth looking into for the savings you can get on early activities .
here are some of the extra attractions and tours you can enjoy with any of the above types of passes :

• Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour
• Empire State Building
• top of the Rock
• Madame Tussauds
• Ripley ’ s Believe It or not !
• Radio City Stage Door Tour
• Rockefeller Center Tour
• Madison Square Garden Tour
• Luna Park at Coney Island
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center
• Yankee Stadium Tour
• and more !

For more information on these services, please read our post about New York City tourist passes .

Combo Packages

The City Sightseeing Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise is included in respective jazz band packages .
These deals are an excellent way to save money for those who want to combine a sightsee cruise with merely one or two early attractions .
here are some of the best jazz band deals available on cruises in New York City :
One World Observatory + Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise

• $ 52/Adults
• $ 42/Children

9/11 Museum + Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise

• $ 29/Adults
• $ 26/Children

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum + Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise

• $ 68/Adults
• $ 49/Children

Empire State Building + Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise

• $ 46/Adults
• $ 41/Children

Empire State Building + 9/11 Museum + Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise

• $ 79/Adults
• $ 69/Children

Statue of Liberty Ferry + Downtown Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour

• $ 39/Adults
• $ 29/Children

Discount Websites

You can about constantly find discounts on tickets for cruises, the Statue of Liberty ferry and even the New York Water Taxi on Groupon and LivingSocial .
In summation to any regular discounts these sites offer, they besides frequently provide special coupon codes for local activities and services that give an extra 10 % – 20 % off, and sometimes flush more .
Before you make any purchases, check both the top and bottom of these websites ’ pages for any banners containing coupons or promo codes you can use to save more money.

back to top

relate POSTS