New York ferry

There are many ways to get to know New York: flying over its skies in a helicopter, walking among its imposing skyscrapers or spotting its skyline aboard a ferry. On this occasion, so that you can move like a fish in water around the city (never better said!) I'll tell you how to use the NYC Ferry. Are you in?

The NYC Ferry was created to improve the connection between the boroughs of New York and to decongest the often crowded subway. You will recognize them because they are blue and white boats that act as water buses to transport the city's inhabitants.

However, it is also a fun adventure for tourists. After all, it is a cheaper alternative to the tourist cruises and allows you to see the wonderful Manhattan skyline as well.

What does the NYC Ferry look like inside?

The NYC Ferry is smaller than the Staten Island Ferry but the truth is that they are quite comfortable and have a first floor plus a deck where, weather permitting, you can enjoy the scenery from the water. In addition, the NYC Ferry has a cafeteria where you can buy some snacks and services.

Although the ride is not free, a ride on the NYC Ferry is only $2.75, the same as the subway. This ticket is valid for 90 minutes, during which time you can transfer between different ferry lines at no extra cost.

If you are staying in New York for a longer period of time, you may want to purchase a 30-day pass which allows unlimited travel on all ferry lines. The price is $121. At the moment there are no unlimited daily or weekly passes. I recommend that you visit the official NYC Ferry website for specific prices and schedules.

Do children pay?

Children under 1.10 meters can travel for free on the NYC Ferry when accompanied by an adult. If you are traveling with infants there is space on the ferry to store strollers.

Can I travel with my bicycle?

Yes, if you're taking a bike tour of New York, you'll be interested to know that for a $1 surcharge you can take your bike on the ferry and ride around the city with complete freedom. A single adult ticket with this surcharge costs a total of $3.75.

Can I use the same ticket for the round trip?

No, it is not possible. If you want to get off at a stop and then get on the ferry again or take the same line back you will have to buy another ticket. Also, when the ferry arrives at the last stop, all passengers must get off and get on again.

You have several options to purchase tickets for the NYC Ferry:

Can I use my Metrocard to pay for the NYC Ferry?

Although the tickets have a similar cost and it may be tempting to try, the truth is that the NYC Ferry has nothing to do with the New York subway or its payment system, so you cannot use the Metrocard to pay for the ferry ride.

The boarding process on the New York ferry is very simple. Since the routes are not circular, I advise you to take a look at the NYC Ferry map to see the name of the last stop on your line as there are boats in both directions of the line and you will have to wait for the appropriate ferry to arrive.

That is why it is usual that at the same dock there are two lines at the same time, one in each direction of the ferry. To know which queue to stand in, you will have to take into account the name of the last stop of your line, just like in the subway. Don't worry if you are not sure because the employees at the pier will be able to solve your doubts.

Once the ferry arrives at the pier the boarding process is fast and efficient: show your ticket to the conductor, enter and in a few minutes you are sailing the waters of New York.

What is the ferry ride like?

It is a highly recommended experience to enjoy in New York. The ride is very pleasant and there are usually plenty of places available to sit and enjoy the beautiful Manhattan skyline.

Since the wind can be quite strong, sitting on the top deck of the ferry is more appropriate in good weather, during the spring and summer. In seasons such as fall or winter you will probably want to ride in the lower area under cover.

In addition, inside the ferry there is a small cafeteria where you can buy snacks and drinks to make the trip even more entertaining. On the same floor are also the toilets.

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Throughout the year, the New York ferry operates six different routes: East River, Astoria, South Brooklyn, Rockaway, Governor's Island and Soundview that make it possible for us to cross, for example, from Wall Street to DUMBO or from Williamsburg to Midtown in a few minutes.

Below you will see the routes of each route and the most important attractions that can be reached at each stop:

East River (44 minutes)

The East River route connects Brooklyn neighborhoods like DUMBO, Greenpoint and Williamsburg with Midtown and Manhattan's Financial District. Along the way you will cruise under the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges.

It's a great route to see Manhattan's eastern skyline. On board the ferry you will see the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. You'll even catch a glimpse of the Hudson Yards skyscraper where The Edge observatory is located. Stop at:

Rockaway (57 min)

This route runs between Wall Street (Pier 11) and Rockaway Beach. In summer this route is very busy as it is one of the fastest ways for New Yorkers to get to the urban beaches of Queens. If you are passionate about photography during this route you can take some of the most stunning images of the Manhattan sunset.

The Rockaway route has a stop in Sunset Park, a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn characterized as one of the most diverse in the city, which has a beautiful park little frequented by tourists and some of the best restaurants serving Mexican, Central American, South American and Asian cuisine. Stop in:

South Brooklyn (54 min)

This ferry connects Manhattan's Financial District with the residential neighborhoods of southern Brooklyn and in the summer with Governors Island.

DUMBO, just off the Brooklyn Bridge, is the best known stop on this route. If you get off at Atlantic Avenue, the next stop, you'll enjoy a nice walk along the banks of the East River. Stop at:

Astoria (49 min)

This NYC Ferry route connects Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street with the Astoria neighborhood and Long Island City in Queens. It has a perfect route to see the east side of Manhattan and although it follows the same route as the East River route it does not stop in Brooklyn.

If you take the Astoria ferry, I recommend getting off in Long Island City to visit Gantry Plaza State Park, a park that has spectacular views of Manhattan. On the other hand, this ferry also stops at Roosevelt Island, where you can not miss Four Freedoms Park a place created in honor of President Roosevelt that has amazing views of all Downtown and Midwtown Manhattan.

When you're done we just have to turn around and take either the subway or the Roosevelt Island cable car back to Manhattan. Stop in:

Soundview (50 min)

The NYC Ferry's Soundview Line is one of the most recently created routes. It connects the Upper East Side and the Bronx with Lower Manhattan. It is a good alternative to the subway to visit the Guggenheim Museum (as one of the stops on this route is on 90th Street) or the New York Botanical Garden and Yankee Stadium (the other stop is in the Bronx). Stop at:

Governors Island (8 minutes)

It is a line that covers the route from Wall Street to Governor's Island on summer weekends, when the island is open to the public.

It is worth taking this ferry as the whole island is a great viewpoint of Manhattan. In addition, there is a park with historic fortifications such as Castle Williams and Fort Jay areas set up for a picnic at lunchtime.

During the summer season, Governor's Island hosts outdoor events and concerts such as the Jazz Age Lawn Party held in August. At this party, jazz plays throughout the island and attendees dress up in 1920s-style costumes:

Coney Island and St. George

The free Staten Island Ferry is not to be confused with the NYC Ferry as it is another ferry that links Staten Island with southern Manhattan (passing in front of the Statue of Liberty).

It is advisable to plan well the day's excursion to arrive on time as the ferry frequency is less than the subway. Depending on the route and the day of the week there is a frequency or another so it is important to organize well to take it on time and not have to wait too long at the pier to arrive.

You can check the schedules on the official website, although you also have the schedule of each of the routes in the different docks.

Of course you can! Taking the New York ferry is a great option if you're taking a low-cost trip around the city, as it allows you to enjoy beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline for little money while also providing transportation to other New York boroughs to take a trip to DUMBO or Governor's Island, for example.

The difference with sightseeing cruises

However, I don't think the NYC Ferry is a substitute for one of the cruises available to do in New York because they don't have a professional guide along the way to tell you interesting facts about the city, nor do you have the option to have a complimentary drink during the cruise while watching the sunset, or to board vintage sailboats to enjoy the scenery, or to see some of the emblems of the Big Apple more closely... all these are small details that elevate this experience on the water to another level.

If you want to know more about cruises in New York, I advise you to take a look at the guide on the best cruises in the city, you will be surprised with all the possibilities!