The Limited Manhattan Sailing—and What to Take When It Is Unavailable

Yes, there is an NYC-to-Nantucket ferry in 2026, but it operates only on select seasonal dates. Seastreak’s service boards at East 35th Street in Manhattan, stops at Martha’s Vineyard and continues to Nantucket. It is not daily, year-round or nonstop.

Confirm that your exact date is bookable through Seastreak before reserving lodging or making other non-refundable plans. The standard timetable below shows how the sailing normally operates, but it does not mean service is available every day within the season.

Related: NYC Ferry Routes by Stop and Direction.

The short answer: a limited ferry leaves from Manhattan

Seastreak lists limited 2026 service from East 35th Street to Nantucket through Martha’s Vineyard. The vessel begins in Highlands, New Jersey, before calling in Manhattan, but NYC passengers board at East 35th Street and do not need to start the trip in New Jersey.

This is best understood as select-date seasonal through service. Passengers remain on an itinerary continuing to Nantucket, but the vessel stops at Martha’s Vineyard along the way. It should not be described as a nonstop or regularly scheduled year-round connection.

Before organizing the rest of the trip, use Seastreak’s booking flow to confirm that your exact departure is available. Holiday-weekend sailings can also have different times and higher prices, so a standard departure time alone is not enough to plan the journey.

Standard schedule, terminals, and trip length

Seastreak publishes the following standard itinerary for its NYC/NJ-to-Nantucket route. Arrival times are approximate, and designated holiday departures may operate at different times on select dates, according to the official Seastreak route and schedule page.

From the scheduled 1:30 p.m. Manhattan departure to the approximate 7:15 p.m. Nantucket arrival, the journey takes about 5 hours 45 minutes. Seastreak identifies the Nantucket arrival point as the Steamship Authority terminal.

The standard return itinerary is:

The trip is longer when measured from its actual starting point in Highlands. A third-party route listing gives 7 hours 15 minutes for the full Highlands-to-Nantucket itinerary, which includes the New Jersey-to-Manhattan portion before NYC passengers board. For planning from Manhattan, use the 1:30 p.m. East 35th Street departure and approximate 7:15 p.m. Nantucket arrival rather than the duration attached to the entire Highlands-origin route (Ferrygogo route listing).

All arrival times remain approximate. Weather, tides, sea conditions and other operational circumstances can lengthen the journey, while designated holiday departures may use a different timetable.

What the ferry costs

Seastreak lists the following regular base fares, plus separate bicycle charges and purchase fees. These figures should be checked against the amount shown when booking because the operator applies additional charges and may use higher holiday pricing (Seastreak fare information).

The base fare is not the final amount due. Seastreak lists a 3% booking fee and an approximately 5% temporary fuel surcharge added at purchase.

For example, a regular adult round trip begins with a $270 base fare. The booking fee and temporary fuel surcharge are then added, along with any optional bicycle fee. Because the fuel surcharge is approximate and may change, the operator’s checkout flow provides the current amount due at the time of booking.

Bicycles cost extra:

Holiday-weekend fares may be higher, and the associated departures may not follow the standard times. Check the selected sailing and the entire basket before paying, particularly when booking for multiple passengers or adding bicycles.

Check the restrictions before booking

The Manhattan sailing is a passenger-only service. Its transport and baggage rules are narrower than those of a traditional vehicle ferry.

Seastreak’s general policies confirm that its passenger ferries do not carry cars or other engine-powered vehicles. Rules and remedies can differ by route, however, so travelers should use the NYC/NJ-to-Nantucket terms rather than assuming that provisions for another departure port apply (Seastreak ferry policies).

For this route, Seastreak states that passengers may bring one item that fits beneath the seat and one small personal item. Larger luggage must be checked with the crew. Travelers carrying large or unusual items should confirm the current checked-baggage limits directly with Seastreak before purchasing a ticket.

Standard and electric bicycles are accepted for the additional charges shown above. Pets are not permitted on this NYC/NJ-to-Nantucket itinerary because of the trip’s length.

“Passenger-only” also means that a car, motorcycle, van or other engine-powered vehicle cannot travel on the Manhattan ferry. Anyone who must bring a vehicle will need a separate ground journey to a vehicle-capable ferry departure in Hyannis.

Ticket changes, delays, and the cost of a rigid itinerary

Tickets for the NYC/NJ-to-Nantucket sailing are non-refundable. A reservation changed before departure incurs an exchange fee of $20 for a one-way booking or $40 for a round-trip booking. After the vessel has sailed, an unused ticket cannot be exchanged and its value is forfeited.

These terms make the route a better fit for travelers whose dates are settled. They also make it unwise to build a tightly timed, separately booked flight, tour or other onward commitment around the approximate arrival.

Seastreak does not guarantee departure or arrival times. Weather, tides, sea conditions and other circumstances can affect the trip, and the operator says it is not liable for passengers’ additional expenses arising from delays or cancellations.

Reconfirm the sailing and review service alerts close to departure. Do not assume that trip-protection options or cancellation remedies described specifically for New Bedford customers apply to a Manhattan booking. The route-specific terms shown during purchase should govern the decision.

When the Manhattan ferry does not fit: connect through Hyannis

Hyannis is the main ferry-port alternative when the East 35th Street sailing is unavailable, sold out or incompatible with a vehicle plan. Reaching it requires a separate ground journey from New York and a transfer to a ferry, but Hyannis has year-round passenger service rather than only select-date seasonal service.

Hyannis ferry options include high-speed passenger crossings of approximately one hour and a separate traditional passenger-and-vehicle crossing of approximately two hours 15 minutes. Hy-Line states that its own high-speed Hyannis-to-Nantucket passenger service operates year-round (Hy-Line’s NYC-to-Nantucket planning guide).

Those durations cover only the ferry crossing from Hyannis. They do not include the ground journey from New York, waiting time between services or the transfer at the ferry terminal. Current ground schedules and fares must therefore be compared as part of the complete trip rather than added to a ferry time in isolation.

For the ground leg, Peter Pan offers bus service from New York City to Hyannis via Providence. Another documented option is Amtrak from New York to Boston South Station, followed by a bus or rental car to Hyannis. These services operate independently, and bus, train and ferry connections are not guaranteed, according to the Steamship Authority’s connection guidance from NYC.

The practical choice is:

• Choose East 35th Street when Seastreak has a bookable sailing on your exact date and minimizing transfers matters most.
• Choose Hyannis when you need broader date availability or a traditional ferry capable of transporting a vehicle.

When using Hyannis, compare each leg using current schedules. A delayed bus, train or drive does not mean the ferry will wait, and the one-hour or two-hour-15-minute crossing time is not a door-to-door estimate from NYC.

A booking checklist before leaving NYC

Before committing to the NYC-to-Nantucket ferry, verify the details that can change or affect whether the route works:

• Confirm that a sailing is bookable for your exact travel date.
• Check the selected departure time instead of assuming the standard timetable applies.
• Review the full amount due, including the booking fee and temporary fuel surcharge.
• Confirm that your luggage meets the route’s carry-on or checked-baggage rules.
• Add the appropriate charge for a standard or electric bicycle.
• Accept that pets and engine-powered vehicles are not permitted.
• Review the non-refundable fare and pre-departure exchange fees.
• Understand that an unused ticket loses its value after the vessel sails.
• Check service alerts near the departure date.
• Keep separately booked onward arrangements flexible.

Holiday-weekend travelers should pay particular attention to both price and departure time because designated holiday sailings may differ from the standard fare and timetable.

Use the East 35th Street sailing when it is bookable on your exact date and the long, passenger-only journey suits your plans. Otherwise, build the trip around a Hyannis ferry and account for the separate ground connection.

Does the NYC-to-Nantucket ferry stop at Martha’s Vineyard?

Yes. Seastreak’s itinerary stops at Martha’s Vineyard before continuing to Nantucket. It is through service, but it is not nonstop.

Can I take a car on the ferry from NYC to Nantucket?

No. The Seastreak route from New York City is passenger-only and does not carry cars or other engine-powered vehicles. If a vehicle is essential, travel separately to Hyannis and book a vehicle-capable crossing from there.

Is there a year-round ferry from New York City to Nantucket?

No. The Manhattan sailing is limited seasonal service available only on select dates. Hyannis has year-round passenger-ferry options for travel when the East 35th Street service is not operating.