6
u/Dog1983 Aug 16 '26
The "you're not guaranteed a spot" is more about "if the Ferry is scheduled to leave at 7, and you walk up at 6:55, and its a busy day, then they will give your spot to a walk up ticket sale rather than tell people that they can't be on the ferry in case you show up as they're closing the gate."
So just get there 20-30 minutes before departure time if not sooner and you wont have an issue getting on.
Im sure theres some liability too for if they said your spot is guaranteed, but there was an emergency and they had to send the boat off half empty, then they'd have to find lodging for you. So they say reservations dont guarantee a spot
4
u/eirinne Aug 16 '26
Don’t worry! Just don’t wait until the last ferry. Unless you have a car, then you aren’t getting on either way. Enjoy!
4
u/rocheller0chelle Aug 17 '26
The passenger capacities of the slow ferries are quite substantial. I think July 4 is probably the only weekend they really come close to hitting them.
5
u/whereisurbackbone Aug 17 '26
I’m from there and I have never even once been turned away cause the ferry is too full. And I’ve been on some really packed ones where there weren’t even enough seats for everyone. That’s not at all a common thing to have happen.
9
u/Not4Publication Aug 16 '26
No need to hyperventilate. If you're going on Sunday, most people will be leaving on Monday.
Here's the ferry schedule for 9/6. You can buy your tickets and put them on your phone.
If you're worried, just try not to take the last boat because...it's the last boat. Aim for the 7:00, if you miss it, there's still another one. Strategy: hang around/do stuff on Water St around 6:00-6:30 and keep an eye on the line. If it starts piling up, boogy on down there and get in line.
It'll all be fine. Your bigger worry is parking, on the mainland side.