FAQ

The Ferry Discount Program was created to provide opportunities for seniors, people with disabilities, and people who participate in the Fair Fares NYC program to access NYC Ferry with a reduced fare ticket price of $1.35.

Eligible users must apply to the program. Once approved, participants will be able to access the $1.35 ticket in the NYC Ferry app or be able to purchase the ticket in-person at Pier 11/Wall Street between the hours of 8 AM – 7 PM. Applications may take up to 30 days to process.

You are eligible for the Ferry Discount Program if you meet at least one of the categories below:

• You are age 65 or older
• You are a person with a disability
• You are a participant in the Fair Fares NYC program and have a valid Fair Fares MetroCard. Fair Fares NYC participants who receive their discount on Access-A-Ride should apply for the Ferry Discount Program for persons with a disability.

NYC Ferry will not ask about your status or record any information regarding immigration status.

Please visit our website at https://www.ferry.nyc/ticketing-info/, fill out the form, and submit all required documents for review. You can also print the above-mentioned form and mail it to the address listed on the form. Validation/processing time may take up to 30 days. 

The documentation required to apply is dependent on the eligible category for the Ferry Discount Program. Those ages 65 and over are required to submit documentation that validates identity and age. Fair Fares participants need to submit documentation that validates participation in Fair Fares (by submitting a photo of a valid Fair Fares MetroCard and entering the Fair Fares MetroCard serial number in the application or, if the Fair Fares MetroCard serial number is illegible, by submitting a screenshot of your Access HRA account showing current enrollment, serial number, and enrollment/expiration dates). People with disabilities are required to submit documentation that confirms their disability status. All passengers are required to submit clear photographs or scans of all required documentation with their application. For a full list of approved documents, please go to the application form and select the application type under which you are eligible for the Ferry Discount Program.

Holders of any of the documents listed in the Terms and Conditions for Persons with Disabilities qualify as disabled for purposes of the Ferry Discount Program.

Once you submit your application and upload all required documents, allow 30 days for your application to be reviewed and processed. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be notified of your enrollment. 

Once approved, you can immediately begin purchasing tickets in the NYC Ferry app or by visiting the ticket booth at the Wall St./Pier 11 Monday-Friday from 8 AM – 7 PM.

Your application may be denied if your application does not meet program eligibility requirements. For more information on your denial, you may call 844-469-3377 or email [email protected] for more information.

If you think that your application was denied in error, you can request a review of your application or renewal application. You must make this request within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of the notice of denial letter. You may request a review by calling 844-469-3377 or sending an email to [email protected]. If a request for review is not received in this time frame, the denial will become final.  

If you qualify for the Ferry Discount Program because you participate in Fair Fares NYC, you will need to reapply when your Fair Fares MetroCard expires. To confirm eligibility, you must reapply using the new Fair Fares MetroCard you received. Enrollment in the Ferry Discount Program will expire 60 days after your Fair Fares MetroCard expires, to allow time for your renewal to be processed without a lapse in enrollment. Information on how to renew your enrollment in Fair Fares NYC can be found here. If you would like more information on the Fair Fares NYC program, please visit the program website or call 311. 

Enrollment in the Ferry Discount Program does not expire for those eligible for the program as a senior citizen. If you applied for the Ferry Discount Program as a disabled person but no longer possess the documentation used to verify eligibility as disabled, you will be considered ineligible for the Ferry Discount Program and must notify NYC Ferry. If you have another accepted form of documentation, you may re-apply using that document for verification.

No. Ferry Discount Program tickets are for personal use only and cannot be used by family or friends. You cannot sell tickets to anyone. Violation of this policy is subject to suspension and/or disqualification from the Ferry Discount Program. If any of your family or friends are eligible for the Ferry Discount Program, they must submit their own application for approval. All sales are final, and tickets purchased through the Ferry Discount Program are non-refundable.

No. Ferry Discount Program tickets can only be used on NYC Ferry routes. Reduced fare tickets will not be accepted on any other public transportation operator in the region.

No. Starting on September 12, 2022, NYC Ferry will no longer offer Monthly Passes. 

No, reduced fare tickets are only available on the NYC Ferry Mobile App for approved accounts and in person at the Pier 11/Wall Street ticket booth office between the hours of 8 AM – 7 PM.

Please visit our blog for guides and information on the NYC Ferry blog.

No.

No.

Parking is very limited near most of the NYC Ferry landings (Only the Rockaway and the Brooklyn Army Terminal/Sunset Park stops have municipal lots nearby). Over 70% of our riders walk or bike to landings and we do not encourage passengers to park near the landing. The City and NYC Ferry work closely with other agencies to provide bike racks.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted off the vessel. We ask that you finish your beverage prior to leaving. We also do not allow opened alcohol containers onto the vessel.

NYC Ferry policy is that we serve one alcoholic beverage per ID at a time.

We request that you please drink responsibly and continue your journey safely. Please do not drink & drive.

NYC Ferry does not assume responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged belongings.

Concessions are available for purchase onboard.

NYC Ferry policy is that we serve one alcoholic beverage per ID at a time.

Please see the information displays on board the ferry!

No.

Not unless they are accepted by NYC Ferry management.

Only for non-commercial use. If you are looking to photograph or record video for commercial use, please fill out a form at www.ferry.nyc

There is no fee for bringing strollers onboard. All NYC Ferry boats have designated spaces for strollers onboard. However, there is no priority boarding.  Ferry access is a first come first serve basis. Strollers are not allowed to be on the outside decks or the second decks.

Dogs, with the exception of trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are not permitted on NYC Ferry vessels unless they are in a pet carrier and/or muzzled.

No.

Yes, however, be mindful of your fellow riders and carry the equipment.

Bicycles, including electric bicycles with pedals and electric stand up scooters, are allowed on NYC Ferry boats. All NYC Ferries have bicycle racks for your convenience.

Bike Capacity:  NYC Ferries can accommodate approximately 8-10 bicycles. Please note that there is a limit to how many bicycles each ferry can safely carry and if we reach bicycle capacity you may not be permitted to board with your bicycle.

Motorized sit down scooters and gas-powered bikes are not permitted onboard.  Only ADA Compliant motor vehicles (scooter or wheelchair).

All bicycles and scooters are required to remain outdoors on the bow of the vessel unless the bicycle/scooter is a folding unit, in which case it may be brought into the cabin portion of the boat. The crew may request that foldable units be kept outdoors on the bow of the vessel if they pose a safety issue due to the vessel being at capacity, the item is blocking an aisle/seating area or exit. Please keep in mind walkways/staircases must be clear at all times for safety purposes.

NYC Ferry is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.

No.

NYC Ferry does not assume responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged belongings.

For complete video tutorials on NYC Ferry App functionality, please visit (https://www.ferry.nyc/appguide/)

The app is currently not available on Blackberry and Windows Smartphones

Contact [email protected] and someone will assist you.

Yes, The date and time of expiration of an activated ticket are labeled at the bottom of the activation screen. Please keep in mind, there is no priority boarding.  Ferry access is a first come first serve basis.

Android, iPhone

Contact [email protected] and someone will assist you.

Hornblower and NYC Ferry, in conjunction with Incat Crowther has developed a vessel construction plan that reduces horn noise to the greatest extent possible, while still meeting the United States Coast Guard Federal Requirements for proper COLREGS.

Hornblower and NYC Ferry are committed to preserving the historical and geological land in New York by creating a cleaner and healthier environment for the Region. Our ‘All Hands On Deck’ Volunteer Program was designed to educate crew on the eco-friendly practices and upkeep methods that are part of our environmental standards. The volunteer program provides environmental practices on board, but also within the community by committing time to properly show crew how to recycle and reduce waste and contribute to environmental concerns in the five boroughs of New York.

‘All Hands On Deck’ provided crew the opportunity to engage in the community in which they work, live and play in.

The company’s New York division has been working in the Harbor of New York for nearly a decade, operating ferries, tour boats, charters and high-end luxury yachts. With more than 450 employees, the company carries 13 million passengers annually and is the largest private operator in the city.

With the expansion of NYC Ferry will add another 150+ jobs, bringing their total New York City employment to over 600 crew. Additionally, approximately 75% of the workforce live in the New York.

Mayor De Blasio believes in one New York, working for our neighborhoods. In order to accomplish this, NYC Ferry by Hornblower was introduced to relieve the impact on the existing public transit and provide new options for neighborhoods, which have found themselves in transit deserts. To solve this, NYCEDC and the Mayor have matched MTA pricing at $2.75 per ride to create equity for all riders.

NYCEDC is the city organization, which has been tapped by the city to establish the NYC Ferry. The NYCEDC ran the East River Ferry pilot, and established the 2013 ferry study, from their perspective the optimal routes and landing sites, which lead to this phase of rapid ferry expansion.

Rockaway to Wall Street (1 stop): Approximately 1 hour
Astoria to E 34th Street(2 stops): Approximately 22 minutes
Astoria to Wall Street (3 stops): Approximately 38 minutes
Soundview to Wall Street (2 stops): Approximately 43 minutes
Bay Ridge to Wall Street (4 stops): Approximately 48 minutes

To explore travel routes and times further, please see our website at http://www.ferry.nyc/routes-schedules-pricing/

You can find the most up to date information at our routes and landing page of the website.

The following routes are now fully operational:

Rockaway, South Brooklyn, East River, Astoria, Soundview, Lower East Side, St. George and Governors Island Shuttle (Seasonal and Weekends Only)

NYC Ferry will only have seasonal schedules, depending on whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter.

You can find timetables for the ferries on our website (ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/) and at the NYC Ferry landings.

The time between each ferry depends on your route. Please visit our route explorer and timetables for more information.

The ferries will operate between 6:30am-10pm, 365 days per year.

There are 23 landings, which will serve New Yorkers in neighborhoods that have previously been transit deserts.

In 2022, NYC Ferry will launch the Coney Island Route. Additionally, modifications to the South Brooklyn route will go into effect with the launch of the Coney Island route.

NYC Ferry provides a new, affordable way to travel between waterfront communities throughout New York City. NYC Ferry currently connects Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Bronx via its six operational routes: East River, Rockaway, South Brooklyn, Soundview, Astoria, and the St.George route. NYC Ferry service currently consists of 6 operational ferry routes and 23 landings with future expansion scheduled with 1 new route, Coney Island (2022).

All sales are final. Not for exchange, resale or transfer. Not intended for specific departure time, and can be used from any NYC Ferry location. Lost tickets will not be replaced.

Not at this time. The MTA is a state agency, while NYC Ferry is an NYCEDC project. To date, there is not a fare payment system that integrates between the MTA and other entities, however, NYC Ferry is working with the NYCEDC and the MTA to ensure travel-planning applications will provide New Yorkers with the most optimal transit routes.

NYC Ferry has offers for senior citizens , persons with disabilities, and current participants in the Fair Fares NYC program. For additional information please visit the Reduced Fares section on our Ticketing Info page

Yes, please make sure that you have the appropriate funds in your account. If the card is denied, it will take three to five business days before the funding will appear back on your card.

We accept cash and all major credit cards.

Yes, just select the amount of tickets you would like to use all at the same time and activate them at once. The total number of tickets you activated will then be visible on the screen. You must keep your mobile app out and activated to show the deckhand at the gate when boarding. Please keep in mind, there is no priority boarding.  Ferry access is a first come first serve basis.

You should only activate your ticket once you are at the slip and ready to board the ferry. If the ferry is crowded, you should make sure that you can get on before activating. There is no priority boarding. The ferry is boarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please note, one-way tickets are valid for one way only and cannot be used for a round trip. Tickets are valid for 120 minutes to allow for transfers to a different route but cannot be used on the same route it was already scanned on.

We do not offer weekly or monthly passes. The 10-Trip Pass is only available for purchase on the mobile app.

An Adult One-Way Pass is $4.00, and a 10-Trip-Pass is $27.50.

Every NYC Ferry landing has a ticket vending machines where you can purchase tickets.

No, you cannot currently purchase tickets onboard. All tickets must be purchased in advance to boarding for your trip via the NYC Ferry App, website, or at a ticket kiosk machine located on all NYC Ferry landings.

No. All transfers are free. However, there is no priority boarding.  The ferry boards on a first-come, first-serve basis when transferring.

If you activated a ticket on your mobile app, you can use that same ticket as a transfer to a different route within 120 minutes. Keep your paper tickets as those will act as your transfer to a different route if needed also within 120 minutes. You cannot use a one-way ticket for a round trip on the same route. All transfers must be to a different route than that ticket was previously scanned on.

By downloading our app you will enjoy benefits such track your ferry in real time, purchase and redeem tickets, receive service alerts, and view live schedules.

You may purchase your ferry ticket on our NYC Ferry app, our website www.ferry.nyc or at our NYC Ferry ticket vending machines at the ferry landings

For more information about our Title VI and ADA policies, please visit https://www.ferry.nyc/accessibility/. 

Yes. Only service animals are allowed on board. Dogs, with the exception of trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are not permitted on NYC Ferry vessels unless they are in a pet carrier and/or muzzled.

Our ferries are fully accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities, and comply with the requirements of both the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York City Local Law 68 of 2005.

All NYC Ferry boats and landings ADA compliant.  Please keep in mind that ferry access is a first come first serve basis.