Is the Staten Island Ferry busy?

The Staten Island Ferry boasts a 24-hour schedule. That's right: it never stops. It takes trips every half hour on the half hour, and every 20 minutes during rush hour. Each ferry has a capacity of around 5,000 people, and daily ridership frequently tops 70,000 passengers a day.



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You 'queue' at the entrance and when the ferry docks it takes about 10 minutes to empty and another 10 to load. The crossing takes 20 minutes. At Staten island, if you can get off quick you may be able to rush round and get straight on the ferry back. We missed it so had about a 30 minute wait for the next one back.

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If you're getting on from the Manhattan side, go to the right (starboard) side of the boat for the best view of the Statue of Liberty. From the Staten Island side, go to the left (port). The ride is 25 minutes each way with boats departing every 30 minutes on either side on weekends.

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The ferry is also popular among tourists and visitors due to the free-of-charge views of the New York Harbor a trip provides.

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On a typical weekday, five boats make 117 trips, carrying approximately 35,000 passengers. During rush hours, the ferry runs on a four-boat schedule, with 15 minutes between departures.

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Just try to avoid the rush hour and, yes, it's generally less crowded on weekends. I have taken it at various times of day -- morning, afternoon, sunset, late at night (when it's very romantic)-- and in various types of weather, and I don't know if I have a favorite time to take it, I always enjoy an excuse to ride it.

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Staten Island Ferry Since the service is completely free, this is a great option for viewing the Statue of Liberty up close. The ferry route brings you directly across New York Harbor and right by the statue and Ellis Island. Pros: Of all the free options, the ferry has the best and closest view of the statue.

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During rush hour, you could be out here for at least an hour, said Elroy Wallace, deckhand. Inland you may get a temperature of 20 degrees, but on the water it could feel like minus 10. Deckhands say they dress in layers, some with as many as three layers of trousers and six layers on their upper bodies.

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Staten Island Ferry The Staten Island Ferry is a free transportation service provided between Manhattan and Staten Island. Each boat is quite large, carrying over 4,000 people. But the route across New York harbor takes you directly in front of the statue.

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It's FREE and you can either get off and spend some time on Staten Island, or simply disembark, walk around and get back on the ferry returning to Manhattan. It is about an hour round-trip.

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Activities, Attractions, & What to Do
  1. Staten Island Ferry. ...
  2. Barrett Park Staten Island Zoo. ...
  3. Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. ...
  4. Garibaldi - Meucci Memorial Museum. ...
  5. Alice Austen House. ...
  6. The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. ...
  7. Oakwood Beach. ...
  8. Historic Richmond Town.


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Alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be carried off the vessel. We ask that you finish your beverage prior to leaving. Alcoholic beverages can only be sold (1) per I.D. at a time with a limit of (2) drinks per passenger. No outside food or beverages shall be consumed on board NYC Ferry vessels at any time.

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Eliminating the ferry fare was seen as an action to standardize Staten Islanders' MetroCard fares with those of commuters in other boroughs. Despite the fact that the ferry fare had netted $6 million in annual revenue for the city, its abolition only cost the city about $1 million.

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Staten Island is most well-known for its green park spaces, museums and historical buildings. It is often considered the “borough of parks” because of its numerous natural spaces. Notable parks include Clove Lakes, High Rock Park, Greenbelt and Lemon Creek Park.

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New York City has had some terrible nautical disasters – including the sinking of the General Slocum steamboat off North Brother Island in 1904 and the capsizing of the Normandie (SS Lafayette) in 1942. But the giant octopus attack that sank the Staten Island Steam Ferry, the Cornelius G.

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Find a seat in the middle of the ferry; the lower you are, the better. So stay low (not the upper deck) and sit in the middle.

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- Staten Island Ferry. When you get on, it's best to go upstairs and out the back, this way you get a great view of the skyline and bridges. We chose to stay here and were able to get great pics of the Statue of Liberty. You can also chose to go out along the right side-but some of the boats don't give you that option.

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Access and Transportation From Times Square, you can take the 1, R, or W subway trains to South Ferry/Whitehall Street Station. Alternatively, you can take the 4 or 5 trains to Bowling Green Station, both located near the Whitehall Terminal.

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We recommend you arrive at least 30 minutes (1 hour during peak travel season) prior to your scheduled tour time to allow ample time to pick up your tickets and go through the security screening process (airport-style security).

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When visiting the Statue of Liberty be prepared for a long day. Queues to the ferry can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. The Statue of Liberty and museum take approximately 90 minutes to see and Ellis Island is another one hour to 90 minutes.

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