Back in May 2017, NYC Ferry launched with a pretty sweet promise: a boat ride across the harbor for $2.75, the exact same price as a subway swipe.
Fresh air, skyline views and a beer on board, all for the cost of a MetroCard fare. Honestly, a steal.
Fast forward nine years, and that same ride will now set you back $5.
As of Monday, October 19, the standard one-way NYC Ferry ticket officially jumped 50 cents from $4.50 to $5.
It’s the second increase in just over two years, after the fare climbed from $4 to $4.50 in September 2024.
The good news? There’s still a way to ride for $3 a trip if you know about it.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new fares.
Every new NYC Ferry price
The city’s Economic Development Corporation, which runs the ferry, approved the hikes on September 30.
Here’s what you’ll pay now:
- Single one-way ride: $5 (was $4.50)
- 10-trip pass: $30 (was $29)
- Discounted one-way fare: $1.50 (was $1.45)
- Unlimited two-day pass: $15, unchanged and now permanent
The EDC says the changes are meant to “increase farebox revenue while maintaining the system’s overall growth and accessibility to all riders.”
How to still ride for $3
Meet your new best friend: the 10-trip pass.
At $30, it works out to $3 a ride, the same as a subway or bus fare, because the pass is tied to subway prices.
Do the math and it’s a no-brainer for regulars.
Ten single tickets now cost $50, so the pass saves you $20.
When the two-day pass is worth it
The $15 unlimited two-day pass started as a pilot in late 2025, and it’s now here to stay.
It’s a winner for a waterfront weekend.
Next to single $5 tickets, it pays for itself by your third ride, and everything after that is free.
Already have a 10-trip pass? Then it only beats it if you’re riding six or more times in 48 hours. Think Rockaway beach day plus a Governors Island detour plus a sunset cruise up the East River.
Who gets the $1.50 discount
Discounted fares are available to eligible seniors, people with disabilities and low-income New Yorkers.
And there’s some great news for families: NYC middle school students now qualify too, joining high schoolers, who were added back in 2024.
At $1.50, the discount fare is now exactly half the price of a subway ride.
The ferry’s more popular than ever
The hike comes even as the ferry is having a moment.
Back in June, the system hit new ridership records, and it now serves more than seven million passengers a year across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island.
So yes, the boat costs a little more these days. But with a 10-trip pass in your pocket, that skyline commute still costs the same as the subway.
We’ll take it.
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and now on WhatsApp, too!