Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to beach season, and NYC Ferry has timed its biggest summer schedule of the year to match. The Summer 2026 schedule took effect Monday, May 18 and runs through September 13, bringing more weekend trips, restructured routes, and the return of reserved Rockaway seating. If you’re heading to the water this weekend, here’s exactly what changed and how to ride it.
Holiday Schedule: Sunday Service on Memorial Day
All NYC Ferry routes run on a weekend schedule on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. That means holiday Monday looks like a Saturday or Sunday on the water, not a weekday — plan departures accordingly.
East River Splits Into Two Routes on Weekends
The single biggest thing East River riders need to know: on weekends, the East River route now operates as two separate routes, East River A and East River B. If your stop isn’t on the route you boarded, make a free transfer at DUMBO/Fulton Ferry, Wall St/Pier 11, or East 34th Street.
- East River A: Wall St/Pier 11 → DUMBO/Fulton Ferry → North Williamsburg → Hunters Point South → East 34th Street
- East River B: Wall St/Pier 11 → DUMBO/Fulton Ferry → South Williamsburg → Greenpoint → East 34th Street
Weekday afternoon departure times on the East River route have also shifted, so double-check your usual boat even if you don’t ride on weekends.
South Brooklyn Extends to Bay Ridge
On weekends, the South Brooklyn route extends to Sunset Park/BAT and Bay Ridge and skips Governors Island. The weekend routing runs Bay Ridge → Sunset Park/BAT → Red Hook/Atlantic Basin → Atlantic Avenue/BBP Pier 6 → Wall St/Pier 11 → Corlears Hook → East 34th Street. Headed to Governors Island? Transfer at Wall St/Pier 11 to the dedicated Governors Island shuttle, which runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Rockaway: More Frequency and the Return of Rockaway Reserve
For beachgoers, Rockaway is the headline. On summer weekends, some Rockaway-Soundview trips run only between Wall St/Pier 11 and Rockaway. Expect departures making all stops roughly every 50 minutes between Ferry Point Park and Rockaway, and departures every 25 minutes from Wall St/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/BAT to the beach. On busy weekends, ferry crews actively manage vessel capacity so riders can board at each landing.
The Rockaway Reserve is back, starting Memorial Day Weekend. Reserve tickets let you lock in a guaranteed spot on select peak weekend and holiday departures to and from Rockaway — useful on the days when standby lines get long. Reserve tickets are sold in the NYC Ferry app and can be purchased ahead of time. Most seats on each vessel stay un-reserved, so riders paying the regular $4.00 fare (or $1.35 discount fare) can still board normally.
Fares Haven’t Changed
The basics are still the basics: $4.00 adult one-way, $27.50 for a 10-trip pass, $1.35 for seniors, riders with disabilities, and Fair Fares participants, and free for children under 44 inches. All transfers within the system are free and valid for 120 minutes once your trip starts — which is exactly what makes those new weekend transfer points work in your favor.
Schedules can change, so confirm departure times on the official NYC Ferry routes and schedules page before you sail. Sources: NYC Ferry Summer 2026 Schedule and ferry.nyc.
