NYC Ferry is a public commuter and scenic ferry network operated by Hornblower Cruises on behalf of the NYC Economic Development Corporation. It runs six year-round ferry routes plus a summer-only Rockaway Rocket, connecting 25+ ferry landings across all five boroughs. The base fare in 2026 is $4.50 per one-way ride, with a 10-Trip Pass available and reduced $1.45 fares for seniors, persons with disabilities, Fair Fares NYC participants, and verified NYC high school students. Transfers within the NYC Ferry system are free for 120 minutes. All routes launched in 2017 (with additions through 2018), and the network went through a significant restructure in December 2025.

I’ve ridden NYC Ferry hundreds of times — my Sunday summer routine has been the Rockaway route to Jacob Riis Park for years, I take the East River route between Brooklyn and Wall Street when the weather cooperates, and I’ve done the scenic ride to Governors Island every warm-weather weekend since it started. NYC Ferry is one of the most underrated ways to move through this city.

Most guides read like they were written in 2018 before the recent route changes. This one is updated for 2026 — including the December 2025 restructure that merged Rockaway-Soundview, split the East River into skip-stop A/B service, and extended the South Brooklyn and St. George routes.

You’ll find every angle on NYC Ferry: the current 2026 fare structure (with the 10-Trip Pass and discount programs), a full breakdown of every route including the December 2025 changes, the best scenic rides on the network, beach ferry service (Rockaway, Jacob Riis), how NYC Ferry compares to the subway for specific trips, the best apps, a Whisper Corners section on the local moves, and a long FAQ covering every question people search — from “does NYC Ferry run year-round” to “is NYC Ferry $4 or $5” to “how does the 10-trip pass work.”

What NYC Ferry Actually Is

NYC Ferry launched May 1, 2017, as the modern successor to the old NY Waterway East River service. It’s operated by Hornblower Cruises under contract from the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the same city agency that oversees waterfront development and other public transit-adjacent projects. The system has grown into the largest passenger ferry fleet in the United States, with 38 vessels across the network.

Key facts to know:

6 year-round ferry routes as of 2026: East River, Astoria, Rockaway-Soundview (merged in Dec 2025), South Brooklyn, St. George, and the Governors Island Shuttle (seasonal weekends only).
1 seasonal summer route: the Rockaway Rocket (peak beach weekends only, from Long Island City and Greenpoint).
25+ ferry landings across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
38-vessel fleet — largest in the U.S.
Base fare: $4.50 per one-way trip.
Discount fares: $1.45 for eligible riders (seniors 65+, persons with disabilities, Fair Fares NYC, NYC high school students).
Free rides: kids under 44 inches with a paying adult.
Transfers: free within the NYC Ferry system for 120 minutes (one-way trips only).
Hours: most routes run 5am–10pm; extended hours in summer.
Fleet operator: Hornblower Cruises (as of 2026 contract).

Is NYC Ferry the same as the Staten Island Ferry? No. The Staten Island Ferry is operated by the NYC Department of Transportation, runs only between Whitehall Terminal (Manhattan) and St. George (Staten Island), and is free. NYC Ferry is operated by Hornblower, serves 25+ locations across all five boroughs, and costs $4.50 per ride. They’re separate systems.

NYC Ferry Fares and Tickets in 2026

The NYC Ferry fare structure is straightforward.

NYC Ferry Ticket Prices in 2026

Ticket Type	Price
One-Way Ticket	$4.50
10-Trip Pass	$27.50 (a savings of $17.50 versus 10 individual rides)
Discount One-Way (seniors, disabilities, Fair Fares NYC)	$1.45
Discount for NYC high school students (weekdays during school year)	$1.45
Kids under 44 inches with paying adult	Free

Buying Tickets

Three ways to buy NYC Ferry tickets:

NYC Ferry app — the primary and easiest way. Download for iOS or Android, purchase tickets in seconds, present QR code to the deckhand at boarding.
Ticket vending machines at every NYC Ferry landing.
In-person at Wall Street / Pier 11 — the only ferry terminal with staffed ticket sales, Monday–Sunday 8am–7pm. Required for verifying reduced fare eligibility.

Ticket expiration: All one-way tickets expire 90 days after purchase.

The 10-Trip Pass

The NYC Ferry 10-trip pass costs $27.50 — that’s $2.75 per ride, a 39% discount versus paying $4.50 for 10 individual tickets. This is genuinely the answer to the many “NYC Ferry 10-trip” or “NYC Ferry 10-pack” search queries.

Important 10-trip pass details:

Expiration: All tickets in the pass expire 90 days after purchase.
Multiple people: The NYC Ferry 10-trip pass can be used for multiple people — you can activate multiple tickets from a single pass at one boarding, for example if you’re bringing family or friends.
No refunds on partially-used passes.

The Fair Fares Connection

If you’re enrolled in Fair Fares NYC (the city’s income-eligible discount program), you qualify for the $1.45 discounted NYC Ferry fare. Apply through Access HRA and use the OMNY-linked confirmation.

Ferry Discount Program

Beyond Fair Fares, seniors 65+, persons with disabilities (Social Security disability, Veterans Affairs disability, etc.), and Fair Fares participants can all apply for the discount program through NYC Ferry. Applications may take up to 30 days to process. Once approved, discounted tickets are purchased via the app.

NYC Ferry Routes: The 2026 Network

As of December 2025, NYC Ferry restructured its ferry routes significantly. Here’s what the 6 year-round ferry routes look like in 2026, plus the seasonal routes.

1. East River Route (A / B / Local)

Landings: Wall Street/Pier 11 (Manhattan), Brooklyn Bridge Park – DUMBO, South Williamsburg, North Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Long Island City / Hunter’s Point South, East 34th Street

The East River route is the flagship — the original NYC Ferry route since 2017. In December 2025, the East River service was restructured:

East River A (weekday peak only, morning and afternoon commute times) — skip-stop service.
East River B (weekday peak only) — skip-stop service, alternating stops with East River A.
East River Local (off-peak weekdays and all-day weekends) — makes all stops.

The East River route is heavy commuter and tourist use. Wall Street/Pier 11 to DUMBO takes about 8 minutes with the best skyline views in NYC. Wall Street to North Williamsburg is about 15 minutes.

2. Astoria Route

Landings: Wall Street/Pier 11, Brooklyn Bridge Park – DUMBO, Long Island City / Hunter’s Point South, Roosevelt Island, East 90th Street, Astoria

The Astoria route runs up the East River past Roosevelt Island (with the Queensboro Bridge overhead), providing waterfront access to Astoria in Queens. Runs about every 30–45 minutes off-peak. Total run from Wall Street to Astoria is about 60 minutes.

Notable: this is the only water route stopping at Roosevelt Island — if you want to see Roosevelt Island from the water rather than the Roosevelt Island Tramway, this ferry is how.

3. Rockaway-Soundview Route (Merged Dec 2025)

Landings: Wall Street/Pier 11, Sunset Park (occasional), Rockaway, and Soundview (Bronx) via connecting service

In December 2025, the Rockaway and Soundview routes were merged into a single Rockaway-Soundview route to improve service efficiency. The route provides direct ferry service from Manhattan to Rockaway Beach (roughly 60 minutes) and separately to Soundview in the Bronx (with connections).

Rockaway service specifically: The Rockaway ferry from Wall Street to Rockaway is one of the great scenic rides in NYC, especially between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Weekend beach traffic can be heavy — arrive 20+ minutes early on summer Saturdays.

4. South Brooklyn Route (Extended Dec 2025)

Landings: Wall Street/Pier 11, Red Hook / Atlantic Basin, Brooklyn Army Terminal (Sunset Park area), and — new as of December 2025 — extended north to East 34th Street

The South Brooklyn route serves the industrial-artistic Brooklyn waterfront (Red Hook, Brooklyn Army Terminal) and, since the December 2025 restructure, no longer serves Sunset Park or Bay Ridge but now runs up to East 34th Street in Manhattan.

Notable: this is the only NYC Ferry route serving Red Hook, which has no subway access. Red Hook’s IKEA, cafés, and waterfront (including Louis Valentino Jr. Park with Statue of Liberty views) are best reached via ferry.

5. St. George Route (Extended Dec 2025)

Landings: St. George (Staten Island), Bay Ridge (Brooklyn — new stop Dec 2025), Atlantic Avenue (Brooklyn — new stop Dec 2025), Wall Street/Pier 11 (Manhattan — new endpoint Dec 2025)

The St. George route was extended south in December 2025 to include Bay Ridge and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, and extended north to reach Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan. This gives Staten Island residents a new water route to Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan without going through the free Staten Island Ferry + subway transfer.

Note: this is separate from the free Staten Island Ferry (which is DOT-run and only Whitehall to St. George).

6. Governors Island Shuttle (Seasonal Weekends)

Landings: Wall Street/Pier 11, Governors Island

Weekend seasonal service from May through October. Provides direct ferry service to Governors Island (Castle Williams, Governors Island national monument grounds, summer arts and food events) — a much shorter trip than the standard Governors Island Ferry from Battery Maritime Building.

7. Rockaway Rocket (Summer Only, Peak Weekends)

Landings: Long Island City, Greenpoint, Rockaway

Peak beach weekends only, Memorial Day through Labor Day. This is a direct Queens-to-Rockaway summer service that skips Manhattan entirely. Roughly 45 minutes from LIC or Greenpoint to Rockaway.

Key NYC Ferry Terminals and Landings

Wall Street / Pier 11 (Lower Manhattan)

📍 Location: Pier 11, Wall Street, Manhattan Served by: East River, Astoria, Rockaway-Soundview, South Brooklyn, St. George, Governors Island Shuttle — nearly all routes

Wall Street / Pier 11 is the flagship NYC Ferry terminal, serving as the primary hub for most routes. It’s a short walk from the 2/3 Wall Street subway station, the J/Z Broad Street station, or the A/C Fulton Street station. The Wall Street pier is also adjacent to the Fulton Ferry Landing (historic), Peck Slip, and the South Street Seaport.

The staffed ticket office at Wall Street is the only in-person ticket sales location for the NYC Ferry system, open Monday–Sunday 8am–7pm. Required for verifying reduced fare eligibility. Historical trivia: Cornelius Dircksen ran one of the first ferry services in New Amsterdam from a nearby location in the 1640s — Wall Street has been a New York ferry hub for nearly 400 years.

East 34th Street (Manhattan)

📍 Location: East 34th Street and FDR Drive, Manhattan Served by: East River, Astoria, South Brooklyn (as of Dec 2025)

East 34th Street is the Midtown Manhattan NYC Ferry landing. Best for Midtown East destinations and connections to the Grand Central area (10-minute walk).

East 90th Street (Manhattan)

📍 Location: East 90th Street and FDR Drive, Manhattan Served by: Astoria

Serves the Upper East Side and Yorkville area. Underrated for reaching Museum Mile (Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim) via ferry rather than subway.

Brooklyn Bridge Park – DUMBO

📍 Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn Served by: East River, Astoria

The DUMBO landing puts you steps from Jane’s Carousel, the Brooklyn Bridge Park waterfront, and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade above. One of the most photographed NYC Ferry stops.

Long Island City / Hunter’s Point South

📍 Location: Long Island City, Queens Served by: East River, Astoria, Rockaway Rocket (seasonal)

The Long Island City NYC Ferry landing is at Hunter’s Point South Park, with excellent skyline views. Serves the LIC waterfront neighborhoods including the Gantry Plaza State Park area.

Rockaway (Queens)

📍 Location: Beach 108th Street, Rockaway, Queens Served by: Rockaway-Soundview, Rockaway Rocket (seasonal)

The Rockaway NYC Ferry landing puts you within walking distance of Rockaway Beach boardwalks, Jacob Riis Park, and the People’s Beach. Summer weekend service is heavy.

Red Hook / Atlantic Basin (Brooklyn)

📍 Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn Served by: South Brooklyn

The only ferry landing serving Red Hook, which has no subway access. Red Hook’s cafés, IKEA, and waterfront (including Louis Valentino Jr. Park with Statue of Liberty views) are best reached this way.

The Best Scenic NYC Ferry Rides

Beyond commuting, NYC Ferry offers some of the best water-based views of Manhattan and the surrounding waterways.

Wall Street to DUMBO (East River Route)

8-minute trip that puts the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Williamsburg Bridge in your field of view sequentially, with One World Trade Center and the Financial District skyline behind you. The best introductory NYC Ferry ride for visitors.

Wall Street to Astoria (Astoria Route)

60-minute journey up the East River past the United Nations Secretariat Building, under the Queensboro Bridge, past Roosevelt Island (with the famous Pepsi-Cola sign visible from LIC), and into Queens. Full waterfront panorama.

Wall Street to Rockaway (Rockaway-Soundview Route)

60-minute ride from Lower Manhattan across New York Harbor and along Jamaica Bay to Rockaway Beach. Passes through the harbor with Statue of Liberty views. Weekend beach traffic makes this the most-used scenic ferry service in summer.

Wall Street to Governors Island (Shuttle)

10-minute trip to Governors Island past the Statue of Liberty. Best done as a weekend day trip — Castle Williams, the harbor views, and the summer arts programming at Governors Island make it worth the round-trip.

Astoria to DUMBO Return (Astoria Route Reverse)

Best “loop” if you’re interested in the whole route. Take the Astoria route north, spend time at Astoria Park, then ride back down. About 90 minutes each way including sightseeing.

NYC Ferry vs Subway: When Ferry Wins

Answering the common question of NYC Ferry vs subway for waterfront trips:

NYC Ferry wins when:

You’re going to Red Hook, Roosevelt Island, or Rockaway (limited or no subway alternatives)
You want scenic views (subway is underground; ferry is on water)
You’re traveling in nice weather with no time pressure
You’re going between two waterfront neighborhoods (Williamsburg to DUMBO on the East River route is faster than the L or A/C detour)
You’re going to Governors Island

Subway wins when:

Cost matters most ($3.00 subway vs $4.50 NYC Ferry)
Bad weather is expected (ferry rides get affected by storms and fog; subway doesn’t)
You need reliability (NYC Ferry has suffered occasional shutdowns; the January 23–27, 2026 winter storm caused its first multi-week shutdown in system history)
Off-peak service frequency matters (some ferry routes run every 30–45 minutes off-peak vs subways every 6–10)

For commuters, monthly subway (via OMNY weekly cap at $35) is $140/month for unlimited; a NYC Ferry monthly commute at 40 rides would cost $110 with the 10-trip pass ($4 average per trip). Ferry can be cheaper for heavy waterfront commuters.

Beach Ferry Service: Rockaway and Jacob Riis

The Rockaway ferry service is one of the great NYC summer traditions. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, NYC Ferry runs increased Rockaway-Soundview service, plus the Rockaway Rocket seasonal weekend service from Long Island City and Greenpoint.

Rockaway Ferry vs Subway: The A train to Rockaway takes 90+ minutes from Manhattan. The Rockaway ferry from Wall Street is 60 minutes. On summer weekends, the ferry is faster.

Ticket strategy: Buy tickets in advance via the NYC Ferry app on summer weekends. Beach traffic causes waits at ferry landings.

What’s near Rockaway ferry landing:

Rockaway Beach boardwalks
Jacob Riis Park and People’s Beach (bus ride from the ferry stop)
Restaurants and bars along Beach 96th–108th Streets
Rockaway Reserve (nature preserve area)

Beach return timing: Last summer ferries from Rockaway typically leave around 9pm. Ride the earlier ferries back if you’re not planning to stay in the neighborhood — the last boats fill up fast. On St. George route rides to Staten Island, you can pair the ferry with a visit to Empire Outlets and see the Intrepid Museum from the harbor on the way.

Best NYC Ferry Apps

NYC Ferry App

The official app is the primary tool for NYC Ferry riders in 2026. Available for iOS and Android. Features:

Ticket purchases and QR code display
Real-time route schedules
Service alerts and shutdowns
Route maps
Fare account management

Genuinely required if you want to use the 10-trip pass or discount programs.

NYC Ferry Website

ferry.nyc has full route maps, NYC Ferry schedules, and service alerts. Bookmark for planning.

Third-Party Apps

Citymapper and Transit both include NYC Ferry in their multimodal routing. Useful for planning ferry-plus-subway trips.

Accessibility, Bikes, Pets, Luggage

Accessibility: All NYC Ferry vessels and landings are ADA accessible. Elevators, ramps, and accessible seating are standard.

Bikes: Welcome on NYC Ferry. Full-size bikes are transported free but subject to space availability. Suitcase-sized folding bikes that can be kept with the rider don’t count against space limits.

Pets: Small pets in carriers are allowed. Service animals always welcome. Larger pets — check with the deckhand at boarding.

Luggage: Suitcases and standard bags are allowed with no fees. Space limitations may apply on crowded summer boats.

The Whisper Corners: Local Moves for NYC Ferry

Real strategies for NYC Ferry — the local moves that make the system work better.

The 10-Trip Pass Group Play

The NYC Ferry 10-trip pass can be used for multiple people from a single account. If you’re bringing a group of 4 to Rockaway on a Sunday, one 10-trip pass covers all four one-way tickets from your app. This is the biggest hidden discount in the NYC Ferry system.

Sit on the Upper Deck for the Best Views

Most NYC Ferry boats have an upper open-air deck. Sit up there for scenic rides. In summer, arrive early to claim a spot.

East River Route in the Morning

The morning eastbound East River commute from Manhattan to Brooklyn puts you facing the sunrise over the East River. The best boat is around 8am on a clear day.

Free Transfers Within 120 Minutes

If you’re taking a multi-leg NYC Ferry trip (e.g., Wall Street to Astoria then transfer to another route), transfers are free within 120 minutes as long as you’re going in the same direction. Round-trip journeys don’t qualify.

Book Rockaway Ferries Early on Summer Weekends

Sunday Rockaway service in summer can hit capacity. Book on the app the night before. Last boats back to Manhattan on Sunday summer evenings fill up fast — take an earlier one.

Governors Island Ferry Alternative

The main Governors Island Ferry runs from Battery Maritime Building (Whitehall Terminal area) and is more crowded than the NYC Ferry Governors Island Shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11. The Wall Street/Pier 11 option is shorter and less crowded on summer weekends.

The Astoria Route as Scenic Tour

For $4.50 you can ride the entire Astoria route from Wall Street to Astoria and back — that’s a 2-hour Manhattan skyline tour for the cost of two ferry rides. Beats any $30 tourist cruise.

Post-Winter Storm Reliability Check

After major winter storms, always check the NYC Ferry service alerts before heading to a landing. The January 23–27, 2026 winter storm caused the first multi-week system-wide shutdown in NYC Ferry history. Storms can cancel service with short notice.

Wall Street Terminal Bike Storage

Wall Street/Pier 11 has bike racks and Citi Bike stations adjacent. Combine Citi Bike + NYC Ferry for efficient waterfront routing.

A Final Word From Someone Who Rides the Water

NYC Ferry is one of the most underrated public transportation options in this city. For $4.50 you can cross the East River in 8 minutes with skyline views most tourists pay $50 for. You can reach Red Hook or Rockaway with no subway alternatives. You can turn a routine commute into a scenic ride.

My honest picks after riding NYC Ferry hundreds of times:

Regular commute across the East River: Buy the 10-trip pass. $2.75 per ride effective is competitive with the subway, plus you get a view.
Summer weekend to Rockaway: Book Sunday ferries in advance. Return before 6pm to avoid the packed last-boat rush.
First-time visitor: Ride the East River route from Wall Street to DUMBO. 8 minutes, best skyline in NYC.
Scenic day trip: Wall Street to Astoria and back on the Astoria route. 2-hour tour of Manhattan waterfront for the price of 2 rides.
Governors Island day: The NYC Ferry Governors Island Shuttle from Wall Street beats the more crowded Battery-based Governors Island Ferry.
Red Hook trip: South Brooklyn route is the only real way to get to Red Hook without a long bus. Use it.
Meeting downtown: East 34th Street ferry to Wall Street beats the 4/5/6 subway during rush hour with better views.

The biggest lesson: NYC Ferry works best when you plan around it, not against it. The 10-trip pass saves real money, the schedule is more predictable than people assume, and the routes cover neighborhoods no other transit reaches. Check the app before you head to a landing, buy tickets before you arrive, and give yourself buffer time in summer.

One last thing on ferry routes: the December 2025 restructure is genuinely an improvement. The East River A/B skip-stop service during peak commute times is faster than the old East River route. Rockaway-Soundview merging simplifies service. St. George’s extension to Bay Ridge and Atlantic Avenue gives Staten Island a real Brooklyn connection for the first time. The NYC Ferry system is better in 2026 than it was in 2022.