Toilets on board cruise ships are connected to vacuum suction lines that direct the waste to marine sanitation farms onboard the ship. This siphons out the water from the waste, treats it until it's drinkable, then pumps it into the ocean.
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.
Cabins are available in two-bed (side by side) and four-bed (upper and lower) layouts. Features include: Linens, duvet, and pillow. Private washroom with shower, sink, and toilet.
The wastewater passes through a multi-chambered sewage treatment plant where the net end result is water which is even safer than household drinking water! Obviously, cruise operators don't send it for drinking purposes. That would be immensely gross!
Cabins are sold per trip, not per day or per person. Cabins are equipped with single or double bunk bed style berths. Most cabins include private bathroom facilities. For those that do not, public restroom and shower facilities are available.
The Staten Island Ferry provides service every day, year-round. It is free to ride the ferry. Travel time in either direction between St. George and Whitehall is approximately 25 minutes.
The majority of our ships are self-sufficient in fresh water. They are equipped with onboard facilities that produce fresh water from heated and desalinated seawater.
You can't stay in your car for safety reasons. In case of an emergency, like a fire or a collision, you need to be able to evacuate the ship quickly. Most of the time, you need to join rafts located above the car deck.
Boats that are equipped with a head (toilet) are required by law to have a holding tank. This tank is pumped out when in Port into a shore based sewage system. If the boat is not equipped with a head , a deck bucket is used and the waste is dumped overboard.
That's because while your home toilet empties into a 4” wide drain, marine toilets plumbing is only 1½” wide. Given those dimensions, any inorganic material flushed down the drain will quickly create blockages that can seriously damage the pump or even crack the porcelain throne.
Ferry ConcessionsPlease drink responsibly. Outside food and non-alcoholic beverages can be brought and consumed on board the ferry. Due to state law, alcoholic beverages that are not purchased on board the ferry cannot be consumed on the ferry.
There is not much to do there but it's a nice boat trip and you can just join the queue, jump back on board and head straight back to Manhattan. The ferry runs frequently but it's suggested that you avoid rush hour as it does get very congested. Definitely worth a trip especially as it's free!
First off, avoid traveling at or around the commuter rush hours of 7:00 to 8:45 am and 5:00 to 6:45 pm! Even the boats right before and after these times are often very busy. Traveling in the late morning and early afternoon is your best chance to get a boat that isn't overly packed.