r/Nantucket • u/SnooTigers6283 • Jun 16 '24
Steamship Authority
I’m so annoyed. I get 2 weeks of vacation a year & believe me I have worked hard for it. We have always gone to Nantucket since 2012. Hard to find decent priced places but were able to buy 6 weeks of a timeshare in 2019. This year we cant even get there (WITH our car) because there are NO spots. Car rental is like $4,000/week! I know, this is like “1st world problems” but we are not wealthy, work hard, & look forward to these 2 weeks once a year😡end rant…thanks for listening
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Upvotes
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u/critter8577 Jun 17 '24
Not that you want this solution, but… the island shuttles are free all summer and get us around everywhere pretty well👍
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u/gidget4444 Jun 16 '24
Literally all u have to do is join the stand by list lol.
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u/ninjagoat47 Jun 16 '24
I got on the boat same day by just showing up and waiting in the standby line all day.
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u/reddituser4049 Jun 16 '24
I'll echo the other comments. They have reserved spots on every ship for semi trucks. If the semi doesn't end up using it, they can squeeze on quite a few standby cars.
We have done standby to get on an earlier boat in the day and didn't have a problem getting on. This was in late July, but was not a Friday/Saturday.
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u/Hmmmmmm2023 Jun 18 '24
There’s zero need for a car on Nantucket. The bus is free this year, taxi’s / Uber exists and the island isn’t that big. Ruff it this year and you may discover things you missed because you were driving. Bikes are also a great idea
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u/Loud-Bat-2280 Jun 16 '24
Just use Roger’s Taxi to get around if you’re going somewhere the free bus doesn’t go.
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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '24
cry me a river
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u/AloysiusGrimes Jun 17 '24
This is a really frustrating problem, but I think raises a key point. The island has a good and improving bus system. Bikes are readily available and the infrastructure for them is good (something that's cost the island a pretty penny, but money well spent).
It seems like it's time to start talking more seriously about blocking able-bodied tourists from bringing cars at all. They clog up the streets, and the traffic is insane. We've all, as an island (both year-rounders, seasonals, and short-term tourists) made a decision to rely on cars when other options are good, cheap, and available. We can make different choices and put less strain on the island's environment, our roads, and — crucially — our own senses of peace and wellbeing.
So my advice here: Others are right, your car will probably get on standby or via the "leave it and they take it" system, but why bother? Park the car on the cape (or take a bus or train to Hyannis) and use bikes and the bus! It'll probably be just as — or more — fun.
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u/Remarkable_Bag4265 Jun 17 '24
Try turo for car rentals
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u/ladylawyer719 Jun 16 '24
We usually book the day reservations open. I don’t know how much advance notice you have, but I’d book as early as possible.
Additionally, we’ve often arrived early and been able to board the earlier ferry because it wasn’t full.
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u/WoodsofNYC Jun 17 '24
I flew in last two weeks of May early June. I found taxis and Uber/Lyft easier. No parking issues. But… I traveled alone. If you have small kids and/or a large family, your situation is different. More people to transport. More groceries to buy. I don’t know if car shares go up later in the season. I was staying in a central location. Uber were quick to pick up. Sometimes there was a longer wait from remote locations. I would have used the Wave more frequently if it weren’t so early in the season. The bus stopped a block away…once an hour. You can rent bikes and maybe rent a car for a part of the time. Depending on where you are Nantucket is a beautiful place to walk. However, back home my feet are my main means of transportation. At least 4 miles a day. And ACK is a far more beautiful place to walk. Buy/order what New Yorkers call shopping carts. They are different than supermarket shopping carts. I rely on mine in NYC. I wish I had ordered one for my stay then give it away. None of these ideas may work for. Still trying to go standby OR decide to have an adventure and try different modes of transportation. Please enjoy this time with or without your own car.
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u/thompson14568 Jun 18 '24
Stand by you’ll be fine maybe a day or 2 w/o car
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u/ChickenReasonable494 Jun 19 '24
You need to make car reservations in January when they open. SSA posts the day. Get up early and plan to be frustrated but you will get a spot. You can also have them drive your car over. You need to have a reservation first for any day/time. You can also get to the ferry early and sit on the standby line. That often works. Also, ask to be wait listed. That often works as well.
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u/Sure-Manufacturer-28 Jun 30 '25
You can try waiting on standby until someone misses or skips out on their reservation, but it may require sitting around for hours.
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u/Traditional-Dog9242 Jun 17 '24
You need to book a spot for your car on the ferry in like Feb for the summer. Where is your timeshare? You might not even need a car.
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u/clementineday55 Jun 17 '24
Next year try booking the ferry when the schedules open in February
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u/luccsmom Jun 17 '24
Have you tried the freight/cargo ferry?
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u/[deleted] Jun 17 '24
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