Let me start by informing you that the Staten Island Ferry is still totally 100% FREE of charge! SO always be aware of anybody in the city trying to sell you a ticket if you are a tourist, sadly this happens often and is a fraudulent way for people to make money!

As it costs you absolutely nothing, this is by far the best bargain in the city and is an absolute must for all tourists and visitors. The ferry still runs from St George Terminal in Staten Island and now goes to Whitehall Terminal at the tip of Manhattan. The ferry runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Meaning that you can view the city from the Staten Island Ferry in the daylight and you can go back and do the same in the dark to allow you to view all the wonderful lights that light up the city that never sleeps. Most people can access the Staten Island Ferry really easily by using subway links and a short amount of walking, other people will be happier to ride cabs, but either way, it isn’t far from modes of transport and so you won’t have difficulty in finding your way. In fact, as so many people are desperate to ride the Staten Island Ferry, you can just follow the crowds! And don’t forget, Staten Island has lots of great places to explore too and many tourists are discovering the borough of Staten Island to be a great place to visit from the Staten Island Ferry. So don’t make a U-turn when you arrive in the borough of Staten Island from the ferry. Explore Staten Island and you’ll quickly learn why many tourists have started to explore the beauty of Staten Island and what it has to offer. As several tourists have said before, Staten Island is a secret place they were glad to discover, and they were glad they didn’t just stay in Manhattan. So continue to explore Staten Island too and look for more links of places to see, and best places to eat in Staten Island.

The Staten Island Ferry ride lasts around 25 minutes, allowing you just enough time to settle in, look at the various views from each side of the boat, and take those most important snaps with your camera of the city view and the statue of liberty. This is one of the best ways to get close to the statue of liberty and you won’t get a better view of her than you will from the Staten Island Ferry. With being only 25 minutes, you have enough time to do everything you need to do, without having to wait too long to get to your destination, making it an efficient and useful trip. Once you get to Staten Island, you can get off the ferry and board the ferry again from the boarding terminal, but keep in mind it’s probably best to explore Staten Island. Especially if you’re a tourist, as Staten Island will give you a lot to talk about, possibly more than the city (Manhattan).

As it has done for over 100 years, the ferry continues to run every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour. However, a recent improvement has been for weekday rush hours where the ferries can now run at an increased turn over of every 15 minutes to assist the commuters and keep business running efficiently! This is just another point that proves the people-orientated attitude of the city and the solidarity and pride shown to the residents, by providing them with a free transport service and thinking firstly of their needs during the rush hours.

If you are a tourist it is advisable to avoid rush hours, however, the ferries can hold 6000 people and so you won’t have to wait long to get on. They also provide spacious areas and you won’t have trouble viewing or taking photographs of landmarks as you pass. Remember that the commuters do it every day, so they won’t be blocking your camera or fighting you for the best view, they are just peacefully traveling to their day’s work. It is also definitely advised that given the option and working around your schedule, you should try to ride the Staten Island Ferry at night time and soak up the atmosphere and view of the living city from the water.
If you still aren’t convinced or impressed, then you may be swayed when you hear that there is free wi-fi available in the terminals and onboard the ferry, and a refreshments area where you can buy snacks, food, and drinks. What could be better than eating and drinking whilst slowly cruising along the NYC harbor soaking up the breath-taking views?

So, as you can see, the Staten Island Ferry is still as popular today as it was over 200 years ago, and its primary aim is still to serve the inhabitants of the city and islands, as well as to show the tourists what the community is really like. There have been some improvements made such as WIFI and snacks, however, these services really don’t require a lot of updating and the raw historical feel is what makes others want to come on board.