You don't know until you know... Getting people to and from MV is no biggie, but getting your car over is quite the production. Last year I spent the last day of my vacation driving around the VH lot and refreshing the change reservation page for hours before I finally got a boat. This year I tried to get our boats in February for August and they were already booked all day on Sunday. I rode the waitlist and inched toward our desired day of departure, and spent our whole vacation knowing when we'd be going home. It's crazy that you have to secure so early in the year, and even then nothing's promised, but once you get the hang of it, it's not so bad. The people are always really lovely and the chowder onboard is arguably better than Larsen's - I said what I said! read more

PROS: very nice boat, clean, holds seventy cars, decent prices, staff in the ship is nice, Gary from customer service was friendly. The ship leaves exactly on time as well CONS: the customer service rep Travis/Trevor (didn't quite hear him) wasn't the nicest. I also couldn't find the address to the ship, only their headquarters in Falmouth OVERALL: look on Google Maps for the terminal and don't call customer service cause you may get Travis/Trevor. They also should expand their customer service hours for those who do choose to call read more

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How do you get to Martha's Vineyard? For us, I booked a 12 hour tour on Viator. They pick you up at your Boston hotel ie 6:15 a.m. if it is one of their designated hotels. They bus you to the ferry at Woods Hole, your ferry ticket round trip is included. Leave at 9:45 a.m. and catch the 3:45 p.m. at Oak Bluffs. It really depends who is collecting the tickets whether you walk up the ramp with a walker or get to use their elevator. If you are driving you can take your car over on the ferry run by Steamship Authority. Depends who is manning the elevator whether they remember to take wheelchair users and/or customers using walkers back down. Going was fine but coming off they probably forgot cuz we were the last ones off the ferry when a worker noticed we and another family were waiting at the elevator. Due to that our bus returning to Boston pretty much waited for us and one man who arrived after us. Not a good spot to be in if the rest of the bus riders were ready for the 3 hour ride back to our hotels in Boston. read more

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The Steamship Authority is the ferry to take when going to Martha's Vineyard. Sure, there are other ferry services, but, the Steamship Authority is the ferry I chose. They are located in Wood's Hole. There is no parking at this terminal unless you are a tour bus. Offsite parking is available in Famouth with a short bus ride to the terminal. At the terminal, you can buy your tickets at the ticket booth where it will cost you $20 round trip. Bringing a car on the ferry is expensive. It is better and cheaper to park in an offsite lot and find other transportation. The ferry we got on was large enough to have plenty of room several tour buses and still have room left over both going to Vineyard Haven and return. The ferry was clean. Seats were in good condition. They had plenty of restrooms. The scenery going to Vineyard Haven was phenomenal. They are a good ferry service. The price for the ferry is very cheap. Only swimming would cost less, but, this area is famous for the movie, Jaws. It is a nice ride. read more

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Excellent Hard-working staff. Most people are going on vacation, the Steamship Authority cannot hire enough captains, more people want to take cars across than space allows, the Island's infrastructure can only handle so many vehicles and the weather and sea obeys only Mother Nature. The ferry service does its job to maximum capacity. read more

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It was a wonderful first time experience on this Ferry and Ferry terminal. There were many construction going on at the time that I was traveling, but it doesn't damper my traveling mood or schedule. Most of the shops were closed. read more

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Attendant didn't give us out return ticket when we were headed back to the cape. Seemed like an easy thing for verify and fix (they had our name and reservation into) since we were in the line with all the other cars. Boat attendant was so rude and accusatory. We bought the replacement tix and he was still terrible to us and acted like we were scamming them. They obviously don't care about customer service, I'd recommend swimming next time, anything to avoid dealing out these amateurs again. read more

Loud horns- I call em the great bullfrogs of the sea. Its nice that they have cafes on board

Ship was clean and had concessions inside with tables. I recommend buying tickets online to skip the lines and check for parking lots before arriving as they got full and we had to go to a overfill location further away. Theres no public parking at the actual ferry location, so be advised. read more

Steamship Authority - Travel Services Near Me - Falmouth, Massachusetts

I just took the slow boat and everyone was very kind. I was #1 on standby && I said what's it looking like they asked my car size I told them && the kind gentlemen said I'll find a way to squeeze me In & he squeezed me on that boat :) read more

Ferry boat to Martha's Vineyard [Woods Hole MA] We purchased tickets at the ferry ticket office. One way passenger ticket rate is $10/ea (adult) and is good for one passage in either direction (roundtrip is $20). We didn't need to make reservations since we were riding the ferry without a vehicle. The service was very efficient and reliable. It carries both passengers and vehicles, including commercial freight trucks (on the way to Martha's Vineyard we had the UPS truck along with us on board). The ferry we rode in going to Martha's Vineyard was smaller than the one we came back from the island with. I wasn't attentive to the length of time it took to arrive at the island but it wasn't very long, I'd say around 45-mins. This particular ferry has one gender-inclusive bathroom and only had a vending machine. The ship has ample seating. You can sit in your vehicle while it crossed the water or sit inside the boat. Remember where you parked. There are multiple sites for parking. Shuttles are available to take visitors/passengers to/from the dock. Review #3023 read more

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Highly reliable service to and from Martha's Vineyard. You'll board the ship with your car along with other cars. After leaving your car, you can remain inside or walk up to the outside upper deck for seating. There's a small beverage and snack bar inside. Small restrooms are available. Inside, you can still view the waters. On the outside deck, there's seating all around. I always enjoy sitting upstairs to view the passing boats and the beautiful waters. No worries when retrieving your car. It's always been in one piece. Check out the website www.steamshipauthority.com for fare and connection information. In addition, there's an outside ticket office for purchasing tickets in person. read more

Steamship Authority - Steamship to Martha's Vineyard. - Travel Services Near Me - Falmouth, Massachusetts

Bottom Line: Its get the job done of getting people and vehicles around the cape and islands safely. My husband and I took the ferry roundtrip between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard in early May in the chilly shoulder season. We booked our tickets about a week or so in advance and the available time slots were very limited. I can see why during the busy season it is advisable to book a month or more in advance. Other than limited time slots, making reservations online was relatively easy. The reservation system requires you to enter the make and model of your car and since we didn't know what our car was going to be we had to call the reservation office for guidance. We actually made a few calls to the reservation office about getting on a wait list, revising our reservation, etc. and they were helpful each time. Overall, I thought the loading and unloading process went smoothly. It seemed like the employees were working hard to get the cars packed as efficiently as possible and to get as many cars loaded as possible including those with reservations and those in the standby line. Once on board, the ferry accommodations themselves are very utilitarian but adequate. There was plenty of seating inside and outside but in early May when it felt like winter nobody braved the elements outdoor. We enjoyed the scenery from inside while sipping on some very overpriced drinks from the cafe. I wouldn't want to spend several hours on this ferry but for the hour long trip it was good enough. We arrived to our destination safely and luck for us both of our trips were on time. read more

This was our first time heading to Martha's Vineyard, and we decided to travel on foot. We checked the cost for bringing a vehicle and found it very expensive compared to Washington State Ferries to the San Juan Islands. We planned to go directly to Woods Hole but learned that we needed to park in Falmouth and take a bus to Woods Hole. The first parking location was fully booked, so we had to drive 15 minutes back to Technology Park at Thomas B. Landers Parking. If it's your first time, here's the address: [22 Technology Park Dr, East Falmouth, MA 02536]. Park there, find your section number based on the poles, and a charter bus will take you to Woods Hole, which is a 17-minute, 9-mile drive. At Woods Hole, you can purchase round-trip tickets for $20 at the ticket office or buy them online and save them to your phone. We boarded the ferry immediately upon arrival. The boat had plenty of space, and we sat on top, which was great given the hot weather. They have a bar on the boat, and I enjoyed a Hazy from a local brewery in Falmouth. My only gripe is needing to know in advance to park and rely on the shuttle bus to the terminal. Other than that, it was a pleasant experience. read more

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Headed over to Martha's Vineyard? This is how to get there. Since we were here in the Winter, we had to leave from Woodhole though in the Summer there are other options. There is no parking at woodpile, so we were instructed to park in Falmouth at the steamship authority parking area. It costs $20 to park but then a shuttle is provided to the ferry. The ticket office and waiting area is a nice place to wait (you can get tickets online as well). This area has an ATM, a place to buy coffee, drinks and snacks, clean restrooms and some visitor information in addition to selling tickets and a few benches. You can take a vehicle on the ship as well but you need to schedule that in advance. The ferry was a pretty large ship with multiple floors to sit on inside and out, a first aid counter, restrooms and a large snack bar. About a 45 minute ride. Beautiful scenery and a smooth ride. Price was $20 a person for the ferry. An experience in itself. read more

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If I could give it zero stars - I WOULD! Absolutely amateur hour, not able to get people on the right ferry. Everyone completely useless.

I have good things to say about this company but to be honest, there aren't many other options are there? I have used this company a few times, both as walk on as well as drive on. For driving towards, the parking lot is about 10 minutes north of the port. They offer plenty of shuttles to the port so no worries there. The cars seem to be pretty safe to leave for a long time. That lot is pretty far away from most things so it isn't like someone is walking by and would bust into your car. Once you get to the port you have to get a ticket at the ticketing office. There is a small coffee and snack shop there but it isn't always open. You can at least use the bathroom which is kept fairly clean. The price of the ferry isn't bad at all, for a walk on that is. The queue at this site can be a bit confusing but there is generally someone guiding people around. For driving on, you will get directed to a line when you arrive and then you can purchase your passengers' ticket. you will have to make a reservation for your car beforehand and that can be expensive depending on the time of year. The loading and unloading is very efficient. They have MULTIPLE people guiding cars on and off as well as directing you to park on the boat so it is very clear. Be sure to arrive 30 minutes prior to boarding as they instruct! As for the boat, it is quite a large ferry with a small cafeteria on board. the prices are steep but you are on a boat. There is a small selection of sandwiches, alcohol, drinks, chips and baked goods. I THINK they do hot food also but they weren't around the times I was there. The bay can be very rocky which was horrible for someone like me who gets motion sickness very easily. I found staying in the car which is on the lowest level was the best . Prices are fair and the boat gets crowded so come early! read more

A very efficient operation run by the Steamship Authority. Vehicle reservations are a must but if you go as a pedestrian, no reservations are required. Watch for parking lot signs as you approach Falmouth because parking is off site and free shuttle buses bring you to the dock. Staff at the ticket counters and those loading the boats are very friendly and helpful. Travel restrictions are in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check the MA gov website before you go as some who travel from select states must fill out travel forms and potentially self quarantine. read more

Steamship Authority - SS Martha's Vineyard - Travel Services Near Me - Falmouth, Massachusetts

Unpleasant Employee. This review is related only to the staff answering the phone at 508-477-8600. Apparently, their goal is to make customers feel like idiots, huffing and sighing, completely unprofessional. I literally laughed at this person, apologized for bothering her and proceeded to hang up. I'm sure they answer the same boring questions all day long (and picking up and putting that phone down is exhausting), but it's their job. If they don't like it, maybe consider looking for other employment. The Steamship Authority should conduct occasional remote observations on these folks. Do better people. read more

NO FEDERALLY MANDATED ADA PICKUP PROTOCOLS ! From the ticket office to where the luggage cart is, is over 250 yards ! When elderly have luggage good luck getting it there as they dont allow ADA drop offs and pick ups anywhere near the vessels. Luggage train carts should be at the ticket office and then driven to the ship. Idiots whom set this system up must have double digit IQ's. Ask a worker in the parking lot a question ? Good luck. They not only ignore you but will use 4 letter words when they do. This place is train wreck. read more

Although I was apprehensive it was a very smooth beautiful ride to the Island going and returning. The workers are skilled and very polite. It gives one a sense of ease. The prices they charge for a car are simply ridiculous...$220 round trip! Plus the passenger charge read more

The directions at the terminal are ATROCIOUS! And the staff has been unwelcoming and not at all helpful for navigating in/out/around the parking lot, which by the way has construction going on. The signage is abysmal. Everything says DO NOT ENTER, well dammit where DO YOU ENTER? Yes, I carefully used the do not enter routes because they were all that I saw. Even a hand written sign with some better information would be helpful! Do better! read more

We booked tickets (with our car to board the ferry) for an 8:35 departure. You are told to arrive 30 minutes before departure time. We arrived at 7:50 and we did not board the ferry with our car until 8:50. Ferry didn't leave on time as scheduled. There was no communication whatsoever about delays. We traveled with our toddler who was very impatient as one might imagine. Once the car was on the ferry, the space we had was so tight. We could barely open the doors to get out. I'm an average sized person and I had to get out on the passenger side (I drove). Barely could get the child out of the car seat side of the car, a four door sedan. We spent about $242 total for our tickets (passenger tix and car storage; child under 5 was free). These are the things to note so you can plan accordingly. read more

To get to Martha's Vineyard you can either fly in or take the MV Ferry, my daughter made all the arrangements online so all I actually had to do was give the personnel at the entrance booth my name and he directed me to line up in lane ( lanes are numbered). My reservation time was 1:15pm )I arrived at 11:05 I was told they would try to get me on at 12:00,we'll it turns out lit wasn't a lot of vehicles so they were able to accommodate me. As you approach you give them a boarding ticket and drive your own vehicle on board. The only drawback was cars are parked so close together on either side you don't or can't open door unless you are very very careful not to hit the car next to you. Also those walking off have to walk by your vehicle if you're in lane 1 or 8 and they have a tendency to walk by swinging backpacks or rolling luggage. It didn't happen to me but I had a few people walking by who I had to give a side eye. Once you're at MV you're directed when you can drive off just be careful when going over ramp it's not exactly leveled to the ground, I came off a little hard but didn't do any damage. Interesting experience. read more

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Taking a ferry is the only way to get to Martha's Vineyard. We browsed through their website to learn about schedule, parking etc. Parking is off-site, $15/day - they do have shuttle taking folks back and forth from parking. Boats were quipped with disinfecting wipes for covid measures. Strict 6-ft was enforced, people were still congregating while boarding and exiting. We took the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. While experience with boat and shuttle was good for MV, shuttle driver on the way back was rude to passenger on Nantucket. Apparently there were several parking lots and driver expected people to know those by number (such as lot#2 or 4) than the street name itself. He got into a ugly verbal spat with a woman who kept referring street name. Not all tourist would know what those lot numbers are unless told in advance - hence taking a star away from this review. read more

The ferry is nice and clean. On a beautiful day it's nice to sit outside and look at the water... But if you are planning a trip to Martha's Vineyard and planning to take your car, be prepared to pay up to $300-$500 round trip during the summer. And you have to purchase your tickets months in advance or you are on standby and a waiting line for the ferry. It may be worth it just to take a shuttle bus from the airport and rent a car on the island instead. If that is the way you are traveling. Just a warning... read more

Our ferry on the way to MV was supposed to be at 2:30, but we didn't get on until closer to 3:45. It was clearly late, but no one was given any explanation. The ferry on the way back was on time. But to pay $240 for a round trip, you would expect better services and some courtesy or maybe even a refund for part of the trip. read more

These people is wildin'! Like, c'mon!? HOW YOU GONNA LEAVE A BOAT UNTIED AND LET THAT SHIP FLOAT AWAY!? And they charging' all kinda extra money now for the boat to even be on the boat when it's boat time like binch please Y'all racist as hell too I ain't even seent one black captain driving the boat. read more

The only way to Matha's Vineyard is by ferry. You can catch the ferry in many places, but this one seemed more convenient. Plus it is the only ferry that you can take your car in. Just remember that if you plan to travel in the summer and need to take your car, you do need reservations way in advanced. We tried making them three weeks before and were out of luck. We parked at one of their designated lots from Thursday- Sunday. Paid $60. A free shuttle drove us 15-20 min to the ferry. Once there, we paid for a round trip $17. We boarded with our luggage and were on our merry way. The ferry we took was not on the official schedule. I was told that in the summer they add a ferry here and there to accommodate the crowds. You get to choose from two ports to arrive to at MV. Either one is ok. They aren't too far from each other. On the way back, we took the fancier looking ferry. They sold food and it had AC. The disembarking process was a mess. I suggest you sit in the floor that has the food. That's were they disembark from. They have elevators, so bags shouldn't be a problem. WiFi was available. The ferry took about 30-45 minutes. read more

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Very expensive, around $90 for three single riders with 3 bikes round trip. Even though the seats inside were taped off with caution tape, it didn't stop the commuters from sitting inside. The concessions stands were closed due to the Covid19 situation, but the restrooms were opened. read more

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For me, it was not an option (cost wise) to bring my rental car aboard for a day trip to MV. The two roundtrip passenger tickets cost $34, taking the car round trip would have cost approximately $170...price varies per vehicle & seasonally. There were only two employees working the ticket counter being friendly & helpful while keeping the line moving. There's a small snack area selling drinks, packaged meals & snacks with reasonable prices for the location. The shuttle driver & ferry crew employees were just as friendly to answer a question & or lend a hand. The announcement gave us time to head towards the ferry's line, once your ticket is scanned, you board & find a seat. This vessel is a ferry, not a yacht so some of the rumblings about accommodations were humorous. Booths, dual & quad seats all provides a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean with exterior seating offering a few rows of chairs at the nose of the ferry. While I was on deck I got through two pictures with a random thought of Kate Winslet/The Titanic & went right back inside. To Note: *Reservations are not required, yet an easy& convenient process online. *It's recommended to arrive 30 minutes prior to sailing time. *Through the Steamship Authority, they offer annually/seasonal parking in multiple lots (we parked in Falmouth) & free shuttle bus service to the Woods Hole Terminal. *Martha's Vineyard ferries depart from Woods Hole & Nantucket ferries depart from Hyannis. *The Steamship Authority is the largest ferry service to the Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket islands from Cape Cod. We departed from Woods Hole Wharf & after 35 minutes of a slow cruise across the waters we arrived at Vineyard's Haven. A simple & cost-efficient way to get to Martha Vineyards. read more

Well, this is how you get to and from Martha's Vineyard so you sort of have to be a fan. In warm weather they leave port often so even if you miss the one you thought you wanted, another boat will be along soon. It's a quick ride there and back again. There is copious parking but finding your car on the way back was a bear. The driver didn't tell us which lot our car was in and we didn't realize we needed to ask. Do ASK! Not only which lot, but which part of that lot as the bus stopped in several places within the one lot. There is lots of parking. The fee to park all day (we arrived early and left late) was only about $15. Based on all the different places we have parked all over the world, I think this is reasonable. On our way over to MV we were on a smaller ship without any services. Just a few spots for vehicles and a small indoor area along the side to sit out of the wind. On our way back we caught a much larger ship with lots of comfy indoor seating, a lounge with TV's and concessions. We arrived in Edgartown and after wandering around and grabbing a meal, we took public transport to Oakbluffs to catch a tour. (Pick up the bus near the ferry terminal and have exact cash for the driver or buy a ticket from the public transport staff wandering around the bus stop.) We figured we'd just catch the ferry from Oakbluffs. Although it was a sunny day, the winds were high, the surf rough and the ships were not stopping in Oakbluffs. So, back on the bus to Edgartown to catch the ferry it is. We got back a bit later than we had planned due to this unexpected turn of events. As the boat was large and comfortable and had a variety of food options, we grabbed a bite to eat and a couple of drinks and enjoyed the ride back to Woods Hole. read more

Steamship Authority - Lots of clean restrooms in the building you purchase tickets. - Travel Services Near Me - Falmouth, Massachusetts

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80 percent are very nice yet paying 250 bucks for aroundtripcar..the parking people some are rude and jerks

The most important aspect of the Steamship Authority are the Captains, and I've always had smooth rides on the ferries, so hats off to the Captains! I'd give the Steamship Authority 5 stars based on them. However, I have to shave off 2 stars, because if you have bikes and want to take a shuttle, the bus drivers do nothing to ensure that someone who arrives well after you doesn't usurp your bike slot. My husband and I help each other put one bike on at a time, because we are Senior Citizens, and way too often, an entitled bully will put his bike on the other rack, while we are securing the first bike with the 2nd bike clearly right next to the 2nd rack. When you ask the miscreants, who are very adept at cutting in, to remove their bike, because you were there first, they just scoff at you. We had to miss 2 shuttle busses due to this trick. We finally, drove both bikes to Woods Hole and dropped off the bags with one of us remaining at the ferry, while the other drove back to the lot and took the shuttle solo. The bus drivers, who know full well the game, do not get involved. They say it's a matter between us and the unscrupulous bike rack cheaters. This bike rack incivility continues on the Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority busses, but sometimes the bus drivers there will stick up for us. We now simultaneously lift our bikes on the racks ASAP, even though it is hard on us, and then help each other straighten them out and secure them. read more

Taking this ferry is the econo-buy to get to Martha's Vineyard. It's just $8.50 to walk on. The boat is roomy & spacious. On board they sell food, snacks, drinks and alcohol. The disadvantage to this ferry is the offsite parking. It's a 15 minute bus ride from the Falmouth parking lot to Woods Hole. The parking was $15 for the whole day. Looking for a cheap trip to Martha's Vineyard this is the way to go. read more

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Over 150 people waiting for a bus since 10:10, definitely not making the 10:45. Doubt I'll make the 11:05. What a joke. Not a single bus for 30 minutes and counting. For my entire life this company has been successfully making transportation as difficult and as expensive as possible. I'm just watching the line grow and grow and I'm stunned that there has not been a single bus. The 10:45 and 11;05 going to be completely missed by all these people who got here with more than enough time. read more

Steamship Authority - Over 100 people and 0 buses for 30 minutes - Travel Services Near Me - Falmouth, Massachusetts

I made my reservation a couple of months in advance. I then called them to ask some questions around things like vehicle-type (I didn't know for sure, as I was renting) and license plate (ditto). The lady on the phone was quite helpful. As long as I specified a type of vehicle and didn't get a radically larger one, I was fine. We arrived at the ferry terminal about 40 minutes in advance of departure. We were directed to a specific lane (1 of 8) to prepare. We had time to walk over to the concession stand / restroom place. The only gripe there was that a bag of potato chips cost $2.39 (it would be just over $1 at most places near home). Fees for the round trip for our rental car were around $200. That seems pricey, but there are no other choices. Loading and unloading were handled efficiently. During the crossing, you can exit your vehicle and sit on one of the upper decks. They have a small grill / snack bar and (I think) a bar-type set-up at the rear of the ship. We didn't buy anything on board. Overall, it was an okay experience. I'd like to have paid less, but that's generally true of most travel items. read more

I've been waiting over 30 minutes for a shuttle. There was no sign indicating that the Palmer Lot was closed so many people had to turn around and go back to the Thomas Lander lot. During a high summer travel season ya'll have to do better. read more

What a mess. Try your best to navigate the mess of angry employees here and you will fail. The systems that work during the off- season are clearly over stressed and out of date for the growing Summer crowds. Put in the hands of patient problem solvers things might work but, those in charge are neither equipped mentally or physically to think on their feet. As gatekeepers to an Island that is truly a marvel, it is a shame they aren't more welcoming or capable. read more

Want to go to Martha's Vineyard? The Steamship Authority has an affordable ferry from Woods Hole to one of two ports on the island - Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. For adults, it is $8 each way, or a $16 round trip for your outing. If you're going often during the year, or traveling with a group, consider the 10 ride ticket book that you can pick up at a ticket office for $65, but head's up - I think you have to let the ticket taker rip out the proper tickets. They use a handful of satellite parking lots (ranging in price from $8-13 per calendar day depending on the season, payment accepted as you depart the lot) and offer free bus shuttles to the terminal. The ride from the Palmer Lot was about 10-15 minutes once the bus was filled. The terminal wasn't all that big, but it had a few seats inside, a coffee shop with some food options, and bathrooms. What more do you need? The ship was actually pretty big. We got on the early morning boat on the early side, so our group of 12 meandered a few floors and was actually able to find a circle of 12 seats just waiting for us by the stern. During the 45 min trip, we walked about and got windblown outside. Comfy enough a ride. The trip back was a bit more packed, so we had to divvy up our group in terms of our car rides back. I tried to use their wi-fi, but was quite unsuccessful. Jump on the appropriate bus - remember which lot you parked at? - and get ferried back... but there may be more than one bus stop at your particular lot... did you remember where you parked at your lot? This is key to finding your car in the relative dark. Official word from their website: "Calling our Woods Hole Parking Information Line at (508) 457-PARK (7275) Visiting our mobile site at m.SteamshipAuthority.com Tuning into 1610 AM radio Watching for road signs on approaching highways 511 Massachusetts from your mobile phone*" "We recommend that passengers arrive 1 hour prior to scheduled departure time to allow time for parking in our off-site parking lots during our busy summer season." read more

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