The Rockaway Ferry: An Inexpensive Way to Tour New York Bay

The new, New York City ferry system is wonderful, and the best deal you can get in New York City. These new, sleek, and efficient ferries transport passengers up and down the East River, to view shoreline sights in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.

It is similar to taking the circle line, but for short trips and at an amazing cost of $2.75 per trip.  If you wanted to compare this type of transportation internationally, the mass transit system in Venice is commuter boat oriented, well organized, fun and never to be missed.

One ferry segment, from Wall Street’s Pier 11, very close to the South Street area – to the far rockaway pier, takes 57 minutes. This leg of the trip amazes passengers with the sights of lower Manhattan, a view up the east river, a trip past the Statue of Liberty, and then under the Verrazano Narrows bridge, and around the coast of Brooklyn, featuring an excellent view of Coney Island.  All of this, for a cost of just $2.75. 

There is even talk of this ferry being extended to include JFK Airport, which is similar to the ferry service from years ago that existed from Manhattan to the Marine Air Terminal.

There are 5 ferry routes currently operating with 3 more coming in 2021:

• East River – Long Island City, 34th St., North Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Pier 11)
• Far Rockaway – Rockaway and Brooklyn Army Terminal (Pier 11)
• South Brooklyn – Bay Ridge, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge (Pier 11)
• Astoria – 90th St., Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, 34th St. (Pier 11)
• Soundview – Clason Point, 90th and 34th St., Stuyvesant Cove (Pier 11)
• St. George – (2021) Staten Island to the West Side of Manhattan, Battery Park City
• Coney Island – (2021) Coney Island, Bay Ridge (Pier 11)
• Governors Island – (2021) from Wall Street Pier 11 to Governors Island

Just to add to the excitement of the New York City ferry service, there are many additional ferry routes from both East Side and West Side ferry piers, that have routes to New Jersey.  

These include routes to and from Wall Street Pier 11, Battery Park City, the World Financial Center, and the 35th & 39th Street Piers to Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Atlantic Highlands and other ferry ports.

All in all this is an excellent extension of mass transportation in New York City, that should be taken advantage by visitors and residents of New York.

Visit www.ferry.nyc for additional information on the New York City ferry routes and schedules.