As an uptown Hoboken resident who lives mere steps from the piers, I’m just slightly (read: very) partial to the ferry. It’s scenic. It’s on time. And it’s by far the easiest way to get across the river. In fact, the ferry jives with the Hoboken community so much that the NY Waterway is setting up a new route between Hoboken Terminal and Midtown (39^th Street) later this year. (Note: The Hoboken Terminal currently has a ferry route to downtown Manhattan and Wall Street.) Whether it’s the beautiful summer weather or the lack of traffic, here are 7 reasons you should give the Uptown and Hoboken Terminal ferries a try. 1. No traffic jams After driving through the Lincoln Tunnel and getting stuck in two hours of traffic at 9 p.m., I swore I’d never do it again. Of course, I still do at times, but only when I have absolutely no other options. And by other options I’m talking about – you guessed it – the ferry. While I was pulling my hair out for hours in tunnel traffic, happy ferry goers were jetting to and from the Hoboken/ Midtown waterfronts in less than seven minutes. Le sigh. 2. Kids ride free in the summer The NY Waterway has a special deal for parents entertaining kids 12 and under this summer: free rides! Yes, I said free. No further reasoning on why this perk is awesome necessary… 3. A free shuttle bus makes getting around easy Yes, the Uptown ferry drops you off in a less-than-convenient part of Manhattan (39^th and 12^th), but the free shuttle bus picks up right outside the ferry, taking passengers all over town – Central Park, SoHo, World Trade Center, Times Square and Penn Station (to name a few). 4. It’s safe When I moved out here from Cincinnati, Ohio, my dad sent (confession: continues to send) me articles about why the subway is unsafe. While I still take the subway pretty regularly and haven’t had issues, I do have to admit I let my guard down most when I’m on the ferry. I mean, come on, there’s a piano player in the waiting area! 5. The amenities are top notch For a seven-minute boat ride, the NY Waterway really puts out all the stops. They have a bar, free charging stations, clean restrooms, snacks and a rush-hour piano player as you wait for your boat. I guess that’s why NY Waterway brands it “the civilized commute.” 6. Ferry views are impeccable During the warmer months, you can gaze across the city while commuting atop the ferry’s upper deck. I opted for top deck the first time this summer, and actually wished the stunning commute would last longer! (Extra tip: If you do want that longer ride, take the ferry from Uptown Hoboken to World Financial Center – a weekday route – to get sweeping views of Hoboken and/ or the city, depending on your seat preference. Here’s a timelapse I took while on board!) 7. Get some NYC deals In addition to a stress-free commute, the NY Waterway actually has a concierge service called “Your Key to the City” that can help you save on admission for museums, tickets for Broadway, etc. I’ll be honest, when I first saw the ferry ticket prices ($9 one way) I was astounded. Nine whole dollars when I can take the PATH for $3? But here’s the thing. If you need to connect on to the subway from the PATH, you can add another $3 to that ticket, bumping you up to $6, which isn’t far off from $9. And, when the ferry includes that transfer shuttle (not to mention an absolutely divine experience) it actually does start to even out. If you’re planning to take the ferry this summer, make sure to check the schedules ahead of time; routes go between Hoboken 14th Street and Midtown Manhattan and World Financial Center, as well as Hoboken Terminal and World Financial Center and Pier 11 Wall Street (view map here). If you have any questions on the ferry system, you can always tweet at them (@ridetheferry), too!

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