Where Can You Take a Ferry in New York, and How Much Does It Cost?

New York has several very different ferry systems. Some are part of everyday public transit, some are commuter boats from New Jersey or the Hudson Valley, and others are mainly for seasonal trips or sightseeing. If you are asking the practical question—where can I actually board a ferry in or around New York, and what will I pay?—the short answer is that your main official options are NYC Ferry, the Staten Island Ferry, the Governors Island ferry, NY Waterway, and some longer-distance private services such as Seastreak. These vary a lot in price, frequency, and purpose. (static.ferry.nyc)

The main ferry options in New York

1) NYC Ferry: the citywide paid ferry network

NYC Ferry is the closest thing New York has to a waterborne subway or bus network. It serves waterfront neighborhoods across the five boroughs and is usually the best choice if you want to travel within New York City by boat rather than just take a scenic ride. Official route pages and schedules are published on the system’s routes-and-schedules page, and the operator notes that schedules can change seasonally. (static.ferry.nyc)

Current official fares are listed on NYC Ferry’s ticketing page:

One-way: $4.50
10-trip pass: $29.00
Unlimited 2-day pass: $15.00
Discount fare: $1.45 for verified seniors, people with disabilities, and Fair Fares NYC participants
Student discount fare: $1.45 for eligible NYC middle and high school students on weekdays during the school year (ferry.nyc)

NYC Ferry also states that:

transfers within the system are free for 120 minutes after activation,
tickets can be bought in the NYC Ferry app or at ticket vending machines at landings, and
schedules show departure times, so riders should arrive with enough time to board. (ferry.nyc)

Typical destinations depend on the route, but NYC Ferry serves places such as Wall Street/Pier 11, East 34th Street, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Long Island City, Astoria, Soundview, Rockaway, St. George, South Brooklyn waterfront stops, and Governors Island through its own network pages. (static.ferry.nyc)

Best for: getting around the city, waterfront day trips, and relatively affordable skyline views. (static.ferry.nyc)

2) Staten Island Ferry: the free classic harbor crossing

The Staten Island Ferry is the most famous bargain in New York because it is free. NYC DOT says it provides free service between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan every day, year-round. (nyc.gov)

For scheduling, the city’s official Staten Island Ferry information says boats generally depart every 30 minutes, with more frequent weekday rush-hour service. NYC311’s current summary lists weekday rush-hour departures as often as every 15 to 20 minutes, depending on terminal and time of day, and NYC DOT also publishes the official schedule online and as a downloadable PDF. (portal.311.nyc.gov)

Key terminals are:

Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan
St. George Terminal on Staten Island (nyc.gov)

Cost: Free. (nyc.gov)

Best for: a no-cost harbor ride, Statue of Liberty views from the water, and basic transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan.

A practical note: this is a real commuter service, not a narrated cruise. You usually disembark at the other side and board again for the return. That makes it excellent value, but not the same experience as a sightseeing boat. This last point is an inference from how the route operates and from the official terminal-to-terminal service pattern. (nyc.gov)

3) Governors Island ferries: direct service to the island

If your goal is to visit Governors Island itself, use the official Governors Island ferry page. The Trust for Governors Island says ferries run from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan, and seasonal Brooklyn service runs from Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6 and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin on weekends and holidays from May 23 to November 1, 2026. (govisland.com)

Current official fares for the Trust-operated ferry are listed as round-trip:

Adults: $5 round-trip
Older adults 65 and over: Free
Children 12 and under: Free
NYCHA residents: Free
IDNYC holders: Free
Current and former military service members: Free
Governors Island Foundation members: Free (govisland.com)

The Trust also says:

all passengers ride free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11 a.m., though reservations are recommended,
there is no bike surcharge, and
ferries are wheelchair accessible. (govisland.com)

Governors Island is also served by NYC Ferry, but that is a separate system with separate tickets and schedules. The island’s official site explicitly says NYC Ferry tickets cannot be bought through the Governors Island website. (govisland.com)

Best for: parks, biking, seasonal events, and an easy short trip from Lower Manhattan or selected Brooklyn stops.

4) NY Waterway: commuter ferries from New Jersey and the Hudson

NY Waterway is the major private commuter-ferry operator connecting Manhattan with parts of New Jersey and some other Hudson River locations. Its official route index shows service into Manhattan destinations including Midtown/W. 39th Street, Pier 11/Wall Street, Brookfield Place/Battery Park City, and also listings for Haverstraw, Newburgh, and the Battery Maritime Building/Slip 5. (nywaterway.com)

Unlike NYC Ferry, NY Waterway fares are route-specific, so there is no single systemwide flat fare. You need to check the fare page for your exact origin. Official examples currently show:

Port Imperial, Weehawken to Midtown/W. 39th St.
- Adult one-way: $10.25
- Child 6–11: $7.00
- Senior/disabled: $9.50
- Child 5 and under: Free
- 10-trip adult: $95.50
- Monthly pass: $327.00
- The page notes a 4.88% fuel surcharge effective May 11 is not reflected in the prices below. (nywaterway.com)
Liberty Harbor/Marin Blvd. to Pier 11/Wall St.
- Adult one-way: $9.00
- Child 6–11: $5.50
- Senior/disabled: $8.50
- Child 5 and under: Free
- 10-trip adult: $84.50
- Monthly pass: $315.50
- This route page does not show the same surcharge language in the same way, so riders should still confirm the final purchase price before buying. (nywaterway.com)

NY Waterway’s official route directory currently lists origins such as Edgewater, Hoboken, Port Imperial, Paulus Hook, Liberty Harbor, Port Liberté, South Amboy, and Ossining, depending on the destination and route. (nywaterway.com)

Best for: commuting from New Jersey to Manhattan, some Hudson River corridor trips, and direct service to business districts.

Important limitation: because NY Waterway pricing depends on the route and some pages mention fuel surcharges not included in the posted base fare, the safest way to compare cost is to open the specific route page from the official routes and schedules index. (nywaterway.com)

5) Seastreak: longer-distance and premium private ferries

Seastreak is a private operator serving routes from New Jersey and New York City to destinations beyond ordinary city commuting. Its schedules page shows active schedule postings for New Jersey–New York City service and seasonal services including Sandy Hook Beach. (seastreak.com)

For a concrete fare example, Seastreak’s official page for service between New Jersey / New York City and Martha’s Vineyard lists:

One-way adult: $175 regular, $210 holiday
Round-trip adult: $250 regular, $320 holiday
Child (3–12) one-way: $85 regular, $210 holiday
Bike fee: $20 one-way, $30 round-trip
Electric bike fee: $40 one-way, $60 round-trip
3% booking fee added at purchase
temporary fuel surcharge of approximately 5% added at purchase (seastreak.com)

That route page also shows the NYC terminal at East 35th Street and the New Jersey terminal at Highlands, illustrating that Seastreak can be useful for regional travel that starts in New York City but goes well beyond the everyday harbor network. (seastreak.com)

Best for: regional and leisure travel rather than low-cost in-city transportation.

Quick fare comparison

Here is the simplest current comparison from official sources:

Ferry option	Typical use	Current published fare
Staten Island Ferry	Manhattan–Staten Island transit	Free
NYC Ferry	In-city travel across borough waterfronts	$4.50 one-way
Governors Island ferry (Trust-operated)	Direct trip to Governors Island	$5 round-trip adult
NY Waterway	NJ/Hudson commuter routes	Route-specific; examples include $9.00 or $10.25 one-way adult before noted surcharges on some routes
Seastreak	Premium regional/leisure routes	Varies widely; example $175 one-way NYC/NJ–Martha’s Vineyard

These are current published prices from the operators’ official fare pages, but NY Waterway and Seastreak in particular may add booking or fuel-related surcharges depending on route. (nyc.gov)

Which ferry should you take?

Choose NYC Ferry if you want practical city travel

If you are trying to get from one waterfront neighborhood to another inside New York City, NYC Ferry is usually the most straightforward paid option. The flat fare and 120-minute free transfer policy make it simpler than the private commuter systems. (ferry.nyc)

Choose the Staten Island Ferry if you want the cheapest harbor ride

If your main goal is a scenic trip and you do not mind traveling to Staten Island and back, the Staten Island Ferry remains unmatched on price because it is free. (nyc.gov)

Choose the Governors Island ferry if the island is your destination

If you specifically want Governors Island, the Trust-operated ferry is usually the most direct option from Lower Manhattan, and it can be especially inexpensive because many categories ride free and everyone rides free weekend mornings before 11 a.m. (govisland.com)

Choose NY Waterway if you are coming from New Jersey

If you are starting in Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City, Edgewater, or another New Jersey waterfront stop, NY Waterway is built for that trip. Just check the route-specific fare page rather than assuming one price fits all. (nywaterway.com)

Choose Seastreak for special trips, not everyday city transit

Seastreak is more of a premium regional ferry brand than a local transit system. It can be useful for certain leisure destinations, but it is not the budget answer to getting around the city. (seastreak.com)

Important things to check before you go

Before heading to any ferry terminal, verify three things on the operator’s official page:

Today’s schedule, because some routes change by season, weekday/weekend, or holiday. (static.ferry.nyc)
The exact boarding location, especially for systems with multiple Manhattan landings such as Pier 11, East 34th Street, W. 39th Street, Whitehall, and the Battery Maritime Building. (nyc.gov)
Final fare details, including discounts, ticket rules, and any fuel or booking surcharges. (ferry.nyc)

Bottom line

If you want the broadest city ferry network, take NYC Ferry for $4.50 one-way. If you want the iconic budget harbor ride, take the Staten Island Ferry, which is free. If you are going specifically to Governors Island, the Trust-operated ferry is $5 round-trip for adults with several free categories. If you are commuting from New Jersey, compare NY Waterway route-by-route, since fares vary. For longer or leisure trips, Seastreak is available but is typically much more expensive. (ferry.nyc)