US Japan Fam
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • Hire Me!
    • Mommypreneur Coaching
    • Contact
    • Subscribe to our List Serves!
    • Press Page - Travel
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimers
  • Day Trips & Weekend Getaways
  • Hudson Valley
    • Day Trips & Activities
  • Bay Ridge Families
    • Scavenger Hunt
    • Advertising
    • Submit Your Event
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Birthday Party Guide
    • Classes & Activities for Babies & Toddlers
    • Bay Ridge Baby Sitters
    • Halloween Guide
    • Holiday Guide
    • Life in NYC >
      • Brooklyn
      • Bronx
      • Manhattan
      • Queens
      • Staten Island
  • Family Travel
  • Blog
  • About Me
    • Hire Me!
    • Mommypreneur Coaching
    • Contact
    • Subscribe to our List Serves!
    • Press Page - Travel
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimers
  • Day Trips & Weekend Getaways
  • Hudson Valley
    • Day Trips & Activities
  • Bay Ridge Families
    • Scavenger Hunt
    • Advertising
    • Submit Your Event
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Birthday Party Guide
    • Classes & Activities for Babies & Toddlers
    • Bay Ridge Baby Sitters
    • Halloween Guide
    • Holiday Guide
    • Life in NYC >
      • Brooklyn
      • Bronx
      • Manhattan
      • Queens
      • Staten Island
  • Family Travel

Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry from Bay Ridge

6/3/2017

7 Comments

 
The NYC Ferry just started service from Bay Ridge a few days ago and we couldn't be more thrilled. A way to get out of the neighborhood with kids, without having to collapse a stroller or lug it up and down subway stairs? HALLE-FREAKING-LUJAH, am I right?! Game. Changer!!
My family of five took our first journey on it today, roundtrip from Bay Ridge to Brooklyn Bridge Park, so I thought I'd share our experience and some tips for those of you who haven't ventured out on it yet!
US Japan Fam's Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry with Kids
1. Download the NYC Ferry App
On the app, you can view the "real-time" schedule (boats every 30-60 minutes) and also purchase tickets, which saves you time if you're running to catch the boat or don't want to leave your kids alone at the back of the line while you run ahead to buy tickets from the machine! It's pretty cool the way it works - you purchase tickets on the app and then when you're about to board you activate them. You show the screen as you board the boat to show how many active tickets you have, but nothing is scanned, they'll simply expire in 1 hour, which I guess is how the whole "free transfer" works if you're jumping to another line for a different destination? You can use the "trip planner" part of the app to see where to transfer, and unfortunately it looks like transfer timing may not be so great - for example you can transfer at Sunset Park to get to Rockaway, change at DUMBO to get to Williamsburg and 34th Street in Manhattan, or change at Wallstreet to get to Astoria or the Bronx, but you may have to wait a while unfortunately!

​Good news: you can go directly from Sunset Park to Governor's Island from Bay Ridge in the summer, and if you plan to drive to the ferry, there's lots of free parking at the pier at Sunset Park.
US Japan Fam's Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry with Kids
2. It is Stroller-Friendly!
There was concern over whether or not you could keep your kids in the stroller on the boat, since the website says the boats have designated stroller parking areas. But, after having taken a ride, I can say yes, you can keep your stroller with you - on the bottom inside (temperature controlled) deck anyway. There are some seating areas at the end that can fit a bunch of strollers with the kids still in them. In addition, the two aisles are very wide so it doesn't seem like parking a single stroller next to a seat on the aisle would be a problem either - you can see someone's done that in the picture below right.
US Japan Fam's Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry with Kids
3. Consider Dramamine
We've taken quite a few ferries and I've never before experienced this amount of rocking. My son, who gets car sick, felt rather ill. By the time we finished our 40 minute journey I wasn't feeling great either, thinking back on it I probably should have avoided using my phone and instead kept my eyes on the horizon. Anyway, if you or your family experience motion sickness, consider taking a dramamine or wearing sea bands. 
4. They've Got it All
​A few of the seating areas have little tables you could use for eating or playing games. I saw a few outlets around so if you were in dire need to charge a phone you could. There are bathrooms, and a changing table for the babies!! There were signs that wi-fi is coming soon. And there was a nice concession stand with all kinds of snacks, alcoholic (and non-) beverages, iced coffee, and even some random games like UNO. They really thought of everything!! 
US Japan Fam's Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry with Kids
US Japan Fam loves the NYC Ferry - check out this huge bathroom with a changing table!
5. Only 149 seats...
With Bay Ridge being the first station of the South Brooklyn line, there's probably not a big problem getting on the next ferry, except maybe during rush hour. But returning home is another story. We got on around 5:30pm at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 Station and noticed them counting how many people came off the boat, and then announced they could take on 28 passengers. Well, lets just say there were plenty of people who did not get on and weren't too thrilled with having to wait an hour for the next boat. Ouch. So... don't wait to run to the dock at the last second. Consider getting in line with PLENTY of time to spare, or sending ahead someone to take one for the team and wait in line for you.
6. Great views!
Sure, it's not free like the Staten Island Ferry, but it offers amazing views and a fun travel experience unlike anything you'll find on the MTA buses and subways, and for the same price! From Bay Ridge, you get a really great view of the Statue of Liberty and South Brooklyn. If you can part with your stroller and the weather is nice, head up to the top deck and breath it all in!
US Japan Fam's Tips for Taking the NYC Ferry with Kids
So, what do you think? Have you ridden the new NYC Ferry yet? Is it opening up new possibilities for you to travel alone with your kids, as it is for me? Do you plan to switch your daily commute from bus or subway to ferry?? Leave a comment below!!
7 Comments
Mechy
6/4/2017 08:31:34 am

Thank you for the info, very useful!

Reply
Nellian
6/4/2017 09:39:08 am

Niceee! Can't wait to try it, thanks!

Reply
Rochelle
6/4/2017 03:53:47 pm

Took it today from BR to Governors island. Thanks for the tips. I will add that I did use the bathroom (nice and clean, and had a baby changer!). I had spotty luck on the strollers though. Had to unload and fold it up on one trip, but could keep it open for one. Think they need to get the routine down still.

Reply
Heather link
6/4/2017 10:50:11 pm

Oh booo about the strollers! Was it because it was too crowded or did the staff instruct you to fold it?

Reply
Kathy Leonia link
6/6/2017 01:50:43 am

it is really helpful:)

Reply
Jenna Hudson
7/19/2017 11:18:28 am

Thanks for all the tips and pictures. Truly a great help!

Reply
gloria patterson
11/8/2017 06:42:50 pm

Just looking at this list your kids have traveled so much. It is good for kids to see and do new things

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Follow on Bloglovin
    Contact Me!
    Picture
    Follow @usjapanfam

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    About Me ^_^

    I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1).  This blog is chock full of product reviews, family travel guides, and giveaways galore! It's also home to Bay Ridge Families, and several guides focused on kid-friendly activities and guides to South Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, as well as family-friendly destinations beyond the NYC area (check the menu bar!)

    Brand Ballot
    Picture
    Legit Ways To Make Money From Home - a stay at home mom's guide to working from home
    The Network Niche

    USFamilyGuide.com

    Parent Reviewers Directory Listing

    Categories

    All
    Baby
    Babywearing
    Babywise
    Bay Ridge
    Bilingual
    Birth Story
    Breastfeeding
    Childbirth
    Co Sleeping
    Co-sleeping
    Fashion
    Fitness
    Giveaway
    Guest Post
    Hair Dye
    Healthy Living
    Home
    Hudson Valley
    Hypnobabies
    Interracial Marriage
    Japan
    Jet Programme
    Learn Japanese
    Maternity Leave
    Mommy Nearest
    Motherhood
    New York
    Pregnancy
    Review
    School
    Sleep Training
    Sponsored Post
    Stay At Home Mother
    Technology
    Toddler Faves
    Toddlers
    Travel
    Twin Pregnancy
    Twins
    Vaccination
    Vlog
    Weaning
    Weightloss
    YouTube / Social

    Archives

    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    December 2012

Proudly powered by Weebly