When I was planning a trip from Boston to Long Island, I saw on Google Maps there was a ferry…read moreoption that would cut my driving time almost exactly in half. Having lived in NYC for almost a decade, I had no idea the Cross Sound Ferry existed; I thought I'd just put up with the atrocious weekend traffic in and out of Long Island. Pros: (+) The car loading process was very organized. The workers were friendly and efficient. Both my outbound and return trips left very nearly on time, which I appreciated. (+) I lucked out with beautiful weather and calm waters both times. Sitting on the top deck, basking in the sunlight, watching the coastline come into view definitely beat sitting in a bad traffic jam. If I ever go to Long Island, this is the way to travel. (I also get pretty bad seasickness and worried for days over the forecast for nothing; the ships were so smooth, I didn't feel a thing.) (+) Depending on the vessel, you can also get a history lesson. I took the MV Cape Henlopen back, which participated in D-Day. There's a commemorative plaque and everything. (+) Dog friendly! (+) Lots of seats, both indoor and outdoor. Pro tip: bring a beach towel with you so you don't burn your booty. Cons: (-) Not really a con exactly but a warning that they pack the cars in like sardines. I felt bad for the one car that had to park on a steep incline. (-) My round-trip ferry cost about $160, which is ... not exactly cheap. To me, it was worth the time saved and maybe the tolls of coming through the city and LI (though I didn't do the math) but yeah, I can see why the cost might put people off. Tips: 1. Book in advance on the website early. 2. Get to the ferry terminal early. They have a 30-minute rule for larger cars and a 15-minute rule for all other cars, otherwise you're bumped to standby and there might not be a spot. 3. From a navigation perspective, I found getting to/from New London, CT and Orient Point, NY a breeze. There are some very cute farm stands along the road to Orient Point, where you can stop and get fresh strawberries, eggs, lavender, and honey.

March 2026 John H boat, the largest ship in the fleet!…read more 100 vehicles and 1000 passengers. The vessel features a dual-level auto deck, lounge, food service, and satellite televisions. For those passengers requiring assistance, there is an elevator between the vehicle deck and main passenger cabin (note: cannot do priority boarding if using elevator access due to the location). - lots of booths, all with electrical outlets - outside bench seating - special dog friendly area - 2 upper seating decks - fryers didn't come on until 11 Get the fries! They're fresh, hot, and crispy!

Cash only! Easy and Fast service! Beautiful views of the bay. Easy trip to and from. Lines firm…read moreearly! Plan ahead!

Efficient and easy. Located right next to Greenport LIRR station so an easy way to get to Shelter…read moreIsland without a car. Ride is about 10 minutes, gorgeous views.

The North ferry attendant named Rachel (blonde and heavy set) was extremely rude to my family while…read morewe were leaving our amazing vacation on Shelter Island. She screamed at my family multiple times when we were entering the boat, then her male coworker loudly encouraged her in front of us. We were very nice while pulling up and did not provoke her in any way. It was extremely disheartening and upsetting. Fire her.

Very professional staff makes getting on and off this boat a snap. With rides every 15 minutes or…read moreso, you wont have to wait too long. I'm sure that during the summer season this may change but the turn around times for loading and off loading are very quick and efficient. And the price isn't too overwhelming considering that swimming through the water with luggage would be much more difficult. Consider very strongly on getting a round-trip ticket if you're returning to the south fork after visiting Shelter Island.

Always on time and friendly! The cocktails are fun and love a ferry drink!…read more I also love the yearly BI Ferry cup! Cheers!

Great experience, walk on passengers out to Block Island for the weekend. The boats themselves are…read moreolder but well looked after, it's only an hour crossing but the staff made it comfortable and provided great service.

My friend and I went on two half day trips this week and we had a great time! Captain worked hard…read moreto get us onto the fish despite a challenging season with the very cold winter. We still came home with plenty of fillets. Mates Joe, Paul, and Harlow were all gentlemen- funny, helpful, and knowledgeable. If you're looking for a great time with friends or family on a party boat, the Viking fleet is a long trusted source in Montauk for many decades.

Very friendly staff. Let me leave my tools on the ferry so i could go into town (block island)…read more Quick boarding/ departing and very accurate timing.

Its a once a year thing that we like to do. A day trip to Port Jefferson…read moreThe trip its very relaxing and I can say the CT side port is cleaner more up to date and taken care of than the Port Jefferson side. There is plenty of room for a lot of people and the lower deck fits a lot of cars. The prices however are not that great, they used to charge the vehicles only but now each passengers have to pay additional. There was only one incident that took place, when arriving back at Bridgeport, KEN P was shouting at people to move/leave from the upper deck when the boat wasn't even open for passengers to leave. Very rude

Booked a 10:30 departure from Bridgeport on 8/13/26.The departure was delayed by 45 unexplained…read moreminutes.I had a 3:30 return trip from Port Jefferson and 2 business appointments in Hampton Bays with little room for error.I had no alternative but to cancel the second appointment.I called the ferry service to seek a refund for the late boat.I was told to email customer service and deal with them.There is no valid email for customer service,the one I was given over the phone was incorrect.Am I asking too much for a one way refund??

What a great day great ride and beautiful weather. A bit expensive but it beat sitting in traffic…read more Nice little bar and the crew were attentive and friendly

We have a home in VT & take this ferry CONSISTENTLY...most time without complaints. HOWEVER, today…read moreis probably the 5th time this season that I did NOT get on my pre-booked ferry because of the agents not checking down the line in street!! I arrived at 12:32pm for the 12:45 due to traffic (yes, I know I shldv been there by 12:30!). There was a food truck in the street unloading, the girl was measuring another truck etc I was there WELL before standby was permitted on & yet there I sat waiting for someone to check!! Ridiculous & it's happened quite a few times!! They KNOW it backs up into the street it's such a busy entrance due to visitor traffic!! How do they not realize this is something that should be addressed. I hear the same complaints from SO many!!

We took this Chester-Hadlyme Ferry this summer, as it's a direct shortcut to Gillette Castle in…read moreChester, Connecticut. This ferry is a "cash only" and the ferry operates seasonal from April through November. The staff was very friendly and professional. The ferry crosses the Connecticut River, and gives you excellent views of the castle.

We decided to use the ferry on our way home after visiting nearby Gillette Castle State Park. The…read moreshort ride across the Connecticut River to Chester was enjoyable and a relative bargain at $6 per vehicle including all passengers. For a better view that includes the castle, I suggest taking the ferry in the opposite direction (e.g. Chester to Hadlyme).

I really wish there were other reasonable options for travel…read more Cherry grove staff are always so rude. This is my third time using the service here and they are super rude, rolling eyes YELLING at us. We were waiting on our friend who has mobility issues but in site. It was exactly 6:30 so they saw our friend. As I turn to walk onto the ferry, they shut the door in my face. Rolled their eyes to our friends in the other side and ignored us. Normally I'd read these comments and think maybe people were rude or didn't understand that time is time but this was a complete lack of empathy and understanding over 20 seconds. They split our party and then ignored us after and push past us. Is crazzzy! We dont mind the wait but refused to let our friend off or anything. (It's their first time)

The quickest way to go to Fire Island is via ferry service. There are three service destinations…read morebeing offered by this company... To Sailors Haven, Cherry Grove and Pine Islands. You could either get a two way ticket ride from the specific destination booth or one way ticket ride if you can't decide from which part you'll be coming back from. We had the most accommodating ticket booth associate. She answered all my inquiries to my easy understanding. She provided me with brochures with map and information about the island and the ferry schedule. It was a short 20 minutes ride trip . It was a fun experience enjoying Long Island sound especially that we picked to sit on the top deck. Each end destination is about a mile apart . Hopping from one site to other is either walking along the ocean path or via water taxi. We went to Sailors Haven and enjoyed the vicinity and it's famous Sunken Forest . We walked along the ocean path to Cherry Grove and came from there going back. There is no ticket booth at Cherry Grove but don't be alarm, you just have to pay the fare at the exit booth. Definitely using again same service if decided to come back.

It was Rush Hour. I was in South Glastonbury retrieving our CSA box from a local farm market. I…read moreneeded to pick up my dog in Rocky Hill. Is there a better time to use the Rocky Hill - Glastonbury Ferry? What's that you say? Medical emergency? Yeah, I guess that would be a better time. You're in South Glastonbury and you realize you forgot your purse at a picnic table at the Ferry Park Grill? Hmm. That's better too. Can we just agree that the CSA/Dog thing is in the top quartile of best times? Thanks. It was a lovely $5 trip that probably saved me a good 20 minutes. Service was historical, prompt, friendly and nautical. Five Stars

9/19/21 Being the oldest continuously operating ferry in the country makes me wonder how I've never…read moreused this historic treasure before now. It's actually a barge, guided by a very small tug boat, making it a quaint and interesting mode of crossing the Connecticut River. It holds a mere 3 cars (and in my case, 3 cars plus my motorcycle). Crossing takes about 5 minutes, and affords a scenic view of the river and environs. Six bucks for passage on a weekend is a bargain in my book, considering how enjoyable riding a piece of floating history it is. It also is invaluable to some commuters and bicyclists that have no real other way to get across the river, without going eleven miles to the next closest bridge crossing. It's great as no more than a tourist attraction in my case! Loved the ride. You will too! From "the Rocky Hill Ferry CT.gov" website. ***** History***** "The nation's oldest continuously operating ferry service crosses the Connecticut River between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury. The original ferry, which dates back to 1655, was a small raft pushed across the river using long poles. Under State charter, the ferry service was operated by local families throughout most of its existence. The ferry service was such a vital transportation link within the region that crossing would cease only during the most adverse conditions."