New York City - A city of islands, harbors and boats
One of New York City's main geographic attractions since ancient times is its natural protected harbor. What is now called New York Harbor was recognized as a haven for water travel by earliest Native Americans, 16th and 17th Century Norse and Dutch explorers, 18th and 19th Century whailing and shipping magnates as well as today's 21st Century commuters.
GUIDE TO FERRIES
The Staten Island Ferry
There is a FREE commuter ferry called the STATEN ISLAND FERRY that travels between Manhattan Island and Staten Island. You need to disembark and re-embark to go back and forth. It does NOT go to the Statue of Liberty , but you get a nice view of Lady LIberty to the west. The Staten Island Ferry has its own terminal, east of the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferries.
Subways:
- #4, 5 trains to Bowling Green
- R, W train to Whitehall Street
- #1 train to South Ferry (The South Ferry subway station is old and small, so you must be in the FRONT of the train (the first 5 cars/carriages) to exit. The #1 train may have service changes on the weekends. Please check www.mta.info)
See their webpage for more infomation:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/mass...
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry
The SOL/Ellis Island ferries are operated by CIRCLE LINE TOURS. You get the ferries near CASTLE CLINTON at BATTERY PARK, a 2 minute walk west of the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
If you decide to take the SOL/Ellis Island ferry, you are not required to take the tours. You may explore on your own. Also, you may choose to skip the SOL completely and simply continue on to Ellis Island and the immigration museum there.
Please see their webpage for all the information:
http://www.circlelinedowntown.com/
NOTE: Circle Line will not offer transportation to the Statue of Liberty National Monument or Ellis Island as of December 31, 2007. Statue Cruises is the new transportation provider. For information or to book tickets, please go to www.statuecruises.com or call 877-LADY TIX.
Departure locations at Battery Park, NY and Liberty State Park, NJ will remain the same.
Governor's Island Ferry
This ferry travels between Manhattan Island and Governor's Island. It operates only during the summer months. The island is currently closed to the public and will re-open on May 30, 2009. The Governors Island Ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building located adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan.
As of 2007, you can now bicycle on Governor's Island. You can also take a guided tour of all the historic buildings.
Please check their webpage for updates and tour information.
NY Waterway
NY Waterway operates tours and commuter ferries. You can take tours of NYC's harbor or use it to commute to work!
The commuter routes travel between docks in New Jersey and three docks in Manhattan: the World Financial Center, Pier 11 at the South Street Seaport, and West 39th Street.
See their webpage for fares, schedules, tours and routes:
New York Water Taxi
This is a different company than NY Waterway. They also operate both commuter ferries and harbor tours and cruises.
The commuter routes travel between various piers in Manhattan and four piers in Brooklyn (Wiliamsburg, Fulton Ferry Landing, Red Hook and Brooklyn Army Terminal), one dock in Queens (Hunter's Point) and one dock in Yonkers.
OTHER HARBOR TOURS AND DINNER CRUISES
Circle Line Tours around Manhattan Island
Classic Harbor Line's Sail-NYC yacht tours
Shearwater Sailing aboard a restored 1929 schooner
http://www.shearwatersailing.com/inde...
Bateaux Dinner Cruises
http://www.spiritcitycruises.com/ba/i...
