NYC Ferry Adds Record Summer Service

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Economic Development Corporation Interim President and CEO Jeanny Pak said on May 19 that NYC Ferry has begun its 2026 summer schedule, which City Hall described as the most service in the system’s history. The expanded plan started this week and runs through Sept. 13, according to the mayor’s office. City officials said the changes are aimed at handling heavier summer demand as New York prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a busy beach season. The package includes more trips, larger vessels on high-demand runs, expanded beach service and reservable seats on some Rockaway trips. ### When did the new ferry schedule start, and how long does it run? NYC Ferry said its Summer 2026 schedule took effect on Monday, May 18. The mayor’s office said the expanded summer service began this week and will remain in place through Sept. 13. amNewYork reported the same end date, describing the changes as running until just after Labor Day. (nyc.gov) May 25 and June 19 will use weekend schedules across all routes for Memorial Day and Juneteenth, according to NYC Ferry’s service update. That matters because several of the biggest changes — especially beach-bound service — are tied to weekend and holiday operations. ### What is actually changing for riders this summer? City Hall said the summer package adds more ferry service, more frequent connections across the city and reservable seats on beach-bound trips. (ferry.nyc) The mayor’s office and related reports said the city is also putting larger vessels on high-demand routes and peak travel periods to carry more passengers. The Rockaway-Soundview line will see denser summer weekend service. NYC Ferry said departures to and from Rockaway from Wall St/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/BAT will run every 25 minutes on summer weekends, while all-stop departures between Ferry Point Park and Rockaway will run about every 50 minutes. On busy weekends, crews will manage vessel capacity at landings, the operator said. (nyc.gov) ### Which routes are getting the biggest summer changes? The East River route will change on both weekdays and weekends. NYC Ferry said weekday afternoon departure times will shift, and weekend service will split into two separate East River patterns, with free transfers available at DUMBO, Wall St/Pier 11 and East 34th Street. The South Brooklyn route will also change on weekends. (ferry.nyc) NYC Ferry said the line will extend to Sunset Park/BAT and Bay Ridge and will stop serving Governors Island directly on weekends; riders heading there can transfer at Pier 11 to the Governors Island shuttle. Governors Island shuttle service will run on weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the operator. ### How do the reservable Rockaway seats work? NYC Ferry said Rockaway Reserve returns starting Memorial Day weekend, with reservable spots on certain departures to and from Rockaway during peak weekend and holiday service. amNewYork reported that Rockaway Reserve begins Saturday, May 23, operates on weekends and select holidays, and runs through Sept. 13. (ferry.nyc) The Rockaway Rocket will return later in the summer as an express option from Long Island City and Greenpoint, according to the mayor’s office and other reports. City-backed announcements said both Rockaway Reserve and Rockaway Rocket tickets will cost $12, while non-reserved seats will remain available on vessels operating along the Rockaway-Soundview route. The Rocket is scheduled to launch in early July and run through Labor Day, amNewYork reported. (ferry.nyc) ### Why are city officials tying this to the World Cup? Mayor Mamdani said, “The world is coming to New York City — and New York City is ready,” as the administration rolled out the summer schedule. Executive Director of NYC Ferry James Wong said the FIFA World Cup, Sail4th 250 and beach season are all converging in summer 2026, bringing more visitors onto the harbor. Those statements came from the mayor’s office announcement. (nyc.gov) The city also unveiled five custom-wrapped NYC Ferry vessels with World Cup-themed designs representing the five boroughs. The mayor’s office said those boats will begin operating this week and stay in service through the end of the summer. ### Where should riders check before they travel? (nyc.gov) NYC Ferry said the full Summer 2026 schedule, route maps and service alerts are posted on its official site and app. The operator specifically warned East River riders to review revised departure times and weekend routing before traveling. Memorial Day weekend is the first major test of the new plan. (nyc.gov) Rockaway Reserve is scheduled to start that weekend, and the broader summer service package is set to continue through Sept. 13 with weekend beach service, Governors Island shuttle trips and the later launch of Rockaway Rocket in early July. (ferry.nyc)