On all of our previous visits to NYC from Central NJ, we have taken the train. NJ Transit is easy and affordable. It is also incredible boring. It functions primarily as a commuter train system and therefore caters to commuters more than families or vacationers. Even when my kids were train-loving pre-schoolers, they didn’t enjoy the long and boring ride. The trip from Red Bank to New York Penn Station (not to be confused with Newark Penn Station, which is the stop right before and sounds pretty much the same on garbled train announcements), takes almost an hour and a half. Then getting to our final destination in the city often took another 30-60 minutes of subways and/or walking. Especially when they were younger, the boys were often done with the trip before we had even arrived wherever we were going.
So we finally decided to try out an alternative to the train for our return to central NJ from NYC. SeaStreak Ferry runs between NYC and Highlands, NJ and offers a fast, comfortable alternative to the train. Instead of going through industrial areas and other less-scenic parts of NJ, you get a stunning view of the NYC skyline and the Jersey shore. The self-proclaimed “most civilized commute in New York”, SeaStreak turned out to be one of my boys’ favorite things we did in NYC. The views of the city and the thrill of the wind blowing them around the top deck made for a surprisingly exciting hour.
The ferry leaves from East 35th Street and stops at Wall Street before making the trip to Highlands, NJ. There are 6 ferries scheduled on the weekend with departure times spread throughout the day. During the week there are 13 ferries, with departures occurring more frequently during commuting hours. Fares are considerably more expensive than train tickets. Adults tickets are $27 one way or $46 round trip. Kids 5-12 are charged $11 one way or $18 round trip. Kids 4 and under ride free. For us the up charge was totally worth it. Given how much fun they had, I would actually include this as a vacation “activity” and therefore not just part of the transportation budget. And in fact, now that we know how much the boys loved this, I’d say we are much more likely to take day trips into the city again.
We left from the East 35th Street landing and actually got there way too early. There isn’t much to do in the area to kill time so be prepared to occupy yourselves while you wait. We bought pretzels and hung out while the boys read and played with lego minifigures. The terminal is outdoors and although part of it is covered, be prepared in case of bad weather. It drizzled on us for a little bit so we headed under the covered area.
The NYC Ferry also operates out of this landing and runs 6 different routes between the boroughs. Their ferries come much more frequently than SeaStreak so be aware of which of the two docks SeaStreak is operating from and watch out for their ferry. NYC Ferry tickets can be purchased ahead of time online or through their app, as well as from a ticket booth or a ticket machine at the landing. SeaStreak offers none of these purchase options.
It was frustrating that we couldn’t buy a ticket while we waited. I had been told ahead of time that prior to the arrival of the ferry, an agent would walk through the line selling tickets with a mobile device. Although we stood on the line the entire time, I somehow missed him. I expected to pay the agent as we walked onto the ferry but he was only collecting tickets already purchased. I panicked briefly as I tried to figure out how I could possibly have missed the ticket agent and ran back up to the dock entrance. The agent there told me he would sell me the ticket onboard. We boarded, waited for the agent, and then bought our tickets without any problems. So it turned out fine, but for as long as we waited, I couldn’t believe we could have possibly missed the ferry because I hadn’t seen the ticket agent.
The ferry was really comfortable and offers lots of amenities, including a full-service bar (selling drinks and snacks), multiple restrooms, satellite TV, and free wi-fi. The indoor areas has comfortable seats and is climate controlled. The top deck has fewer seats but plenty of room to stand and watch the view along the railings. The boats have a capacity of 505 passengers.
We headed to the top deck (if you have luggage you will have to haul it up two flights of steps) and the boys were immediately giddy with excitement. The ferry pulled away and started motoring along at a good clip, and they thought it was the greatest thing in the world. The views were incredible.
A sea plane flew overhead and landed on the water behind us…
We passed under three bridges on the way to the Wall Street pier: the Williamsburg Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Brooklyn Bridge.
After a brief stop at the Wall Street pier, we headed out into the New York Harbor and towards NJ. With Wall Street and the rest of Manhattan fading away behind us, we passed the Statue of Liberty on our way to Highlands.
The boys were super excited when they spotted Sandy Hook. They recognized Officer’s Row, the historic brick buildings of Fort Hancock lining the shore, and the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, both of which we explored last summer.
We arrived at Highlands quickly and happily. The boys truly loved the ride. While admittedly pricey for everyday commuting, the ferry is definitely worth it for occasional trips from the Jersey Shore into NYC (or vice versa). It is comfortable, quick, and apparently quite exciting for kids. And you’ll get an unbeatable view of the Jersey shore, the Status of Liberty, and the NYC skyline.
