NYC Ferry Expands Service for Summer Crowds

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation on May 19 launched NYC Ferry’s 2026 summer schedule, saying it would deliver the most service in the system’s history. The changes began this week and include added vessels and trips on high-demand routes, more route connections across the system and the return of Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve tickets for beach-bound riders. (nyc.gov) City officials tied the expansion to what they described as one of the busiest summers in recent city history, with New York preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and an expected rise in visitors. (edc.nyc) The summer service plan runs through Sept. 13, 2026. (ferry.nyc) ### When does the new summer schedule start, and how long does it run? Monday, May 18, is when NYC Ferry’s Summer 2026 schedule took effect, according to the operator’s schedule notice published April 30. The city formally announced the expansion a day later, on May 19, in a press release led by Mamdani and NYCEDC Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak. The added summer service is scheduled to remain in place through Sept. 13. Memorial Day, May 25, and Juneteenth, June 19, will both use weekend service patterns across all routes, NYC Ferry said. Riders are being directed to the system map, route schedules and the NYC Ferry app for updated departure times. (nyc.gov) ### Which trips are being added for beach riders? Rockaway service is getting the clearest increase. On summer weekends, departures to and from Rockaway from Wall St/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/BAT will run every 25 minutes, according to NYC Ferry’s service notice. Some Rockaway-Soundview trips will operate only between Wall St/Pier 11 and Rockaway, while all-stop departures between Ferry Point Park and Rockaway are scheduled about every 50 minutes. (ferry.nyc) The city also said Rockaway Rocket is returning as part of the summer buildout. In the May 19 announcement, officials described the broader package as more vessels, more trips and more frequent connections aimed at moving commuters, recreational riders and visitors through the peak season. (ferry.nyc) ### How do reservable seats work this summer? Memorial Day weekend is when Rockaway Reserve returns, NYC Ferry said. The program lets riders reserve a spot on certain peak weekend and holiday departures to and from Rockaway instead of relying only on first-come, first-served boarding. (ferry.nyc) “Starting this week, 2026 summer schedule will feature more ferry service, more frequent connections across the city and reservable seats on beach-bound trips,” the mayor’s office said in its announcement. Executive Director James Wong said the city was also using the summer rollout to showcase five custom-wrapped vessels representing the five boroughs. (edc.nyc) ### What changes should regular riders expect on other routes? Weekend East River service will split into two separate patterns, labeled East River A and East River B, with free transfers available at DUMBO, Wall St/Pier 11 and East 34th Street. Weekday afternoon departure times on the East River route are also changing, according to the operator’s notice. (ferry.nyc) South Brooklyn weekend service will extend to Sunset Park/BAT and Bay Ridge and will not stop at Governors Island. Governors Island instead will be served on weekends by a Governors Island-Pier 11 shuttle operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., NYC Ferry said. (nyc.gov) ### Why are city officials expanding service now? Mayor Mamdani said the summer buildout comes as New York prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “The world is coming to New York City — and New York City is ready,” he said in the city’s release, which also linked the ferry increase to expected summer crowds. Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su said the administration was “putting more vessels on the water because this summer demands it,” while Pak and Wong joined the rollout announcement as the city framed the ferry system as part of its seasonal transportation plan. (ferry.nyc) Those statements were presented by the city as the rationale for the largest single-season increase the system has announced. ### Where can riders check the updated schedule and next service changes? NYC Ferry has posted the full Summer 2026 schedules on its website and directs riders to its mobile app for tickets, alerts and route planning. The next key dates are May 25 for Memorial Day weekend service, the return of Rockaway Reserve over that holiday weekend and June 19 for Juneteenth weekend scheduling. (edc.nyc) The city’s expanded summer service is set to continue until Sept. 13. (ferry.nyc)