I'm really disappointed in my recent trip to Governors Island, and unfortunately the ferry experience ruined the visit. On the return ferry to Pier 6 (around 5-6 PM), the worker responsible for ushering passengers on and off was extremely rude and unprofessional. He was yelling at passengers, including families with young kids, and went so far as to separate children from their parents simply because the kids had bicycles and the parents didn't. Watching small children being forced away from their families was stressful and upsetting for everyone nearby. Instead of calmly explaining procedures or ensuring safety, the staff member barked orders and treated riders with disrespect. Governors Island is supposed to be a fun and family-friendly destination, but this kind of treatment is unacceptable. Families should never feel unsafe or disrespected when taking public transportation, and staff should be trained to handle passengers with patience and care, not hostility. I hope management takes this seriously and trains their ferry staff better. Until then, I would warn anyone with kids to be prepared for a very negative and unsettling ferry experience. read more

One day last summer I was in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which was a regular occurrence that summer. I glanced over to my right and noticed some information about a ferry to Governor's Island. I had never been there before, it was a nice day, it was a nominal fee if my recollection serves me right, I decided it was something to do. So we boarded the boat and set sail, it was a relatively short trip and we got about 50 minutes until the next back to Brooklyn. I got to walk around, eat at good food truck , view some sights, take some pictures, and learn some history all in I didn't have the luxury of going back this past summer, but hopefully next summer I can make my way back there. read more

Governors Island Brooklyn Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I just say at first I was a little afraid to visit Governors Island due to COVID 19. I so glad I went. They limit the amount of people on each ferry to create social distancing. When we got there, there was not a lot of people on the island. We were able to find a spot away from everyone and enjoy our afternoon. Please make sure you book your tickets in advance online because they do limit the amount of people on the island and you would have to wait on standby. read more

Governors Island Brooklyn Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Three stars only because I liked the ferry ride. We waited about 2 hours for the ferry TO Governors Island for the Parked: Food Truck Fest. Frustrated after waiting and waiting and waiting, we headed back to the mainland and waited another 40 minutes to get back to Brooklyn. Why you ask? Because the captain of the boat decided to turn around and take more people from Brooklyn to Governors Island, where they couldn't get food anyway, instead of taking people from Governors Island to Brooklyn on his way. So stupid. We were left waiting, and hungry, and cranky. Bleh. read more

The Governors Island Ferry that leaves from Brooklyn is far less organized than its Manhattan counterpart. There is no air-conditioned building lined with posters of island activities for the summer. There is no clearly delineated line system with security staff* at every point to guide your way. This ferry is not as punctual; it seemingly runs on a continuous basis, rather than every half hour on the half hour. Or perhaps it is just perpetually behind schedule. In addition, it seems to be much smaller, which tends to leave angry people at the end of the line. On my last trip, I was literally the last person to get on the boat, which was glorious for me, but I'm sure highly irritating to the poor bastards behind me. __________ *There is also no bag check, which means that if you were going to smuggle illicit substances over to the Island, this is probably a better bet. Not that I would ever do that. read more

It's difficult to find this place on google maps; it will lead you instead to Pier 5 sometimes. The Brooklyn Ferry is at Pier 6 by the playground, just look for NY Waterway. This is open only on Saturdays and Sundays; on the 11AM and 11:30AM rides, it's a free fare. I was late for the Satruday 11:30AM ride and got there at 11:40. The place to buy tickets isn't even a stand, it's like a little cart that they have with an umbrella. You buy the $2 ticket, which is basically a credit card receipt, and wait on line. After you are in front of the boat, then you hand your "ticket" to one of the people in the blue shirts. If you have a bike, it is not an extra cost to have it on there. You will actually get on first if you have a bike. And, no, baby carriages are not considered bikes. The best thing about having kids is that it's free for them to ride the ferry. The worst thing about not having kids is dealing with the annoying ones that are riding with you (it's like they wanted to find me!) read more

There's a little bit of something for everyone-food trucks, World Cup watching, beautiful vistas, concerts, biking, NY history. Nice way to spend a few hours. Can't wait until the Governor's Island trust finishes the beautification project because so far it looks good. It's also not overrun by people yet so not your usual Central Park on a weekend scene. read more

Governors Island Brooklyn Ferry - Hidden treasure only a ferry ride away! - Ferries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

A great connection with Governors Island that can further stretch the day trip from the city. I took the free ferry from Battery Park, visited the island, then took this free ferry to Bklyn, played some beach volleyball by the pier, got an Italian gelato, and finished my day hanging out in Cobble Hill. read more

I had read others talk about the pros and cons of this free ferry from Brooklyn to Governors Island and I was set for an adventure. I had been to Governors Island from Manhattan, but I wanted this to be easier and better. It was. Taking our car, there was a parking garage right next to Pier 6 and the lovely park. It cost $20 for the entire day, which I think it extremely reasonable (if you are cheap, you can try to find a free spot in Brooklyn Heights - good luck). We did go around 11am and came back around 3:30, so other peoples experiences might be different, but we never waited long, the trip was quick and professional and I would certainly do it again. Friends of ours took the Water Taxi and that was much longer and cost money. Overall, a great way to travel to an oasis in NY harbor. read more

Governors island is a beauty! I love the Activities such as bike riding, Hammock, kids playground and etc. it's extremely Clean and a big island to go visit on a sunny day. The plants and flowers are beautiful along with the amazing view of Manhattan! I love this place. Price: it's very cheep! ONLY $2 per person One time payment to go on the ferry. I got the ferry from pier 6 Brooklyn Bridge ( Atlantic Ave entrance) ( Saturday & Sunday ) " ferry ride also lets you bring in strollers & bikes " read more

Yesterday I went to Governors Island via--as usual--the Manhattan ferry that picks up near Battery Park. After picnicking and catching some of She & Him, my friends and I needed to get to Brooklyn. We were in luck! Bloomberg just opened a new ferry that connects Gov Island with Brooklyn (for more info about the opening, which just occurred last month, look here: http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2010a/pr256-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1). The ride was longer than the Manhattan one, but not by a significant amount. Certainly better than taking the ferry to South Ferry and catching the subway to Brooklyn. I'm pretty sure both ferries use the same boats, so it must be a distance thing. Anyway, the ferry dropped off at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. From there it was easy access to Brooklyn Heights, Borough Hall, the A/C/F/G/M/R/2/3/4/5 subways, and all of Brooklyn. Note: The Brooklyn ferry operates ONLY on Saturday and Sunday, whereas Manhattan runs on Friday as well as weekends. Midweek there are other events including concerts and the now-infamous polo match attended by Prince Harry. Note (addendum): The Island is open through October 10th this year. read more

Free is always good! But it runs on a whenever-ish kinda schedule. On a hot day, prepare to roast if your sitting/standing on the upper level, plus there's no AC on the lower level. However it is very convenient for Brooklynites and the ride is virtually 5 minutes long. I love that they offer bike space however I feel sorry for folks coming on with babies and strollers because then the space becomes hot and cramped. Nonetheless, its a free service and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. read more

Governors Island Brooklyn Ferry - Tourists on the ferry - Ferries Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I had just finished walking around Governors Island and took the ferry to Pier 6 in Brooklyn and it was free, woo hoo. The ride was cool and but the ferry itself was old and in some dire need of modernization. This was my first time on the ferry and the experience reminded me of riding the Staten Island ferry. We waited on a long line to board the ferry but it moved along real quick once people started boarding. I would ride the ferry again since it's really cheap and drops you off in a cool area to check out other sites in the city near downtown Brooklyn. read more

If you can't find the start of the ferry initially crossing into Pier 6, look out for the big yellow umbrellas that signal the dock. There's no announcement of boarding so keep an eye out for when the line begins to form or you may miss your trip. The ride of the ferry to Governors Island is fairly short (about 10 min) which makes me wonder why the ferry doesn't run a bit more frequently, especially looking at how packed the boats gets when folks head to the island. The no charge admission is a welcomed perk, especially with how much you'll be spending once you arrive on the island. read more

I took the ferry from Manhattan to Governor's Island, and then from the island back to Brooklyn where I now live. It was a super easy 10 minute ride...there were plenty of seats for pedestrians with some comfy seats in the enclosed area downstairs and some open air seats upstairs. They only allow 20 bikes per ferry ride, so if you bring a bike, you may have to wait a bit longer. I do love that you don't have to take the subway to Manhattan to get to the island...very smart thinking! Plus its FREE! read more

Some things I feel obliged to let people know about the 2011 season: The boats are bigger and are coming more frequently. I've never tried to take a bike on though, so I don't know if that situation has improved or not over last year. There are now food vendors in the park on the weekends; you can even buy beer and wine up on the rooftop patio there. The B63 bus stops right at the pier, which makes getting to and from a lot easier than dealing with the crowds at Pier 1. However, it stops at 7. Whenever they have events like the Governors Island Ball they had last weekend, the ferrys only go to Manhattan after 7. Talk about a bummer! read more

You can grab the Governors Island ferry from pier 6 in brooklyn bridge park (basically where Atlantic Ave dead ends to the water) during the summer on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Bikes and strollers are allowed on board. Best of all, it's free if you catch the 11 or 11:30 am! Otherwise it's $2 for adults for all the other ferries (no costs for a return to Brooklyn). Kids under 12 are free. It's a decent sized ferry that has both outdoor/upstairs seating benches and indoor/covered benches as well. It takes less than 8 minutes to go from pier to pier and you'll enjoy views of lower Manhattan, brooklyn, and governors island. Staff is efficient and friendly at both ends and keep to the schedule. You'll get dropped off at Yankee pier in governors island and from there it's a short walk to wherever you'd like to go on the island (food trucks, playground, hammocks, and Nolan park all less than 5 minutes walk). Can't wait for my next trip! read more

It's free to go to Governor's Island from Brooklyn on weekends before 11:30. But always free to come back. There's a ton of space both inside and out. You get wonderful views on the East River. Anyone who complains about any of that is silly. read more

There are several things of note to stick to this ferry. First, I love the apartment building at 360 Furman that is right by it with quaint first floor retail space that's empty currently. Second, the Brooklyn Bridge Park will stretch here once it's complete. So I guess one star just for the potential. You wait in line for half an hour. You see Governor's Island. You think, this boat probably goes slower than molasses and it's a nice little ride. After getting to Governors, you realize you could have swam faster than it took to get on the boat. It doesn't help that the boat ride is about 20 seconds long. Which is funny to me. Anywho, it's always a crapshoot as to whether you might get cut off and have to wait 20 minutes for the next boatz. If it's nice weather though, at least you can watch parents yell at kids not to pee in the kiddie pool and receive some free water toward the front. read more

I go to Governors Island every summer (May-September). It's definitely like going on a vacation in NYC since there's no cars and a lot of greenery on Governors Island. The Brooklyn ferry leaves from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It doesn't run as often as the Manhattan ferry. It runs every hour as opposed to every half hour in Manhattan. Also, it starts at 11am on the weekends whereas Manhattan starts at 10am. The ferries before 12pm are free for everyone and there are no ferries on weekdays, only weekends. If you have IDNYC, it's free all the time so you don't need to pay $3. There will be a lot of people on line so come early to make sure you get on the ferry. There are two lines - one for pedestrians and one for bikers or strollers. There's a lot to do on Governors Island - biking, slides, hills, picnicking, BBQ, etc. There's also festivals on Governors Island all summer long - Figment Art, City of Water Day, Jazz Age Lawn Party, etc. Go out and have fun! read more

This ferry gets an automatic boost in the ratings because it's FREE! And who doesn't like free things? It's a quick ride to Governor's island--it probably takes more time to board the board than it does to get there. However, it would be great if the ferry ran more on schedule. It's supposed to run every 20 minutes, but seemed to be leaving at haphazard intervals on the day we went. read more

Living in the city makes me happy. No matter the weather, I always enjoy walks and trying new foods and new places. Thankfully in the summer months, I can enjoy Governors Island. There are two ways on and off Gov Island: a ferry to and from Manhattan and one for Brooklyn (there is also an east river ferry but that is $6 so i am not counting it). The Manhattan ferry is simple, easy to get to, subways are right there, you can wait indoors in the shade. Brooklyn is a different experience (although I do not believe it to be a bad thing). I said earlier that I enjoy walking. Well you better enjoy it if you'd like to get to the departure area. I generally walk into the Brooklyn bridge park entrance much farther north and meander down. There was a foot bridge to allow you to enter closer but it is under construction. Maybe it is needing to be repaired considering it would rock every step you took. God forbid there was a child gleefully running past you. It essentially turned into that scene from Harry Potter when the death eaters flew around the Millennium Bridge and it fell to pieces. Anyway, I digress. It is a bit of a hike to get there but the park itself is coming together nicely and it is a pleasant walk. I have not had any issues with the ferry service itself. I usually arrive for the first morning ferry to head into the island. Considering my ghostly skin tone, I am usually completely coated in sunscreen (with extra for reapplication) so waiting outside generally does not bother me at this point. They load everyone fairly efficiently. I usually head upstairs and hang out near the driver. Two quick things. They dock facing forward so if you want views of the city make sure to keep that in mind for your seating. Secondly, please try to play it cool when they blow the horn. Don't dangle your phone for a selfie until you hear it if you are jumpy. They run for free before noon, but are only 2 bucks if you miss that window. They are only open on the weekends and run every half hour ( http://govisland.com/info/ferry-schedule ) Feel free to bring your bikes if your an avid rider or a blanket if you are a serial sitter. Go enjoy some fresh air and some sun. read more

Take that one from the Island and i ll drop you off right by the legendary River Cafe. Go there for prosecco on their terrace or go take a walk across the brooklyn bridge which is also close by- the route of this ferry is its value, and i love boats in general. read more

I am a HUGE fan of this ferry and of Governor's Island! I want more people to know about it, but I'd also like to keep it quiet since the island is so peaceful. The ferry is $2 unless you get there early in the morning- check the website for details. The ride is super short, maybe a little less than 10 minutes. They run on time and you can catch that nice river breeze. Governor's Island itself has plenty to do - kayak, ride bikes, explore some historic sites, bring your kids to the playground, swing on hammocks, etc. If you are in New York City and are sick of the hustle and bustle of the city, go check out Governor's Island. read more

Not everyone knows about the Ferry that leaves Columbia St in Brooklyn. This is a much shorter ride from Brooklyn to Governors Island than Manhattan to Governors Island. A ferry ride is a ferry ride. Not really too special about it. Only it's convenience to the people living in Brooklyn. read more

Easy way to get to Governors Island, you can take your bike on the ferry too which is very handy. Best part is, it's free!

Cut out the middle man! I love not having to pass through Manhattan to get to Governors Island! The wait for the ferry is okay if you are a pedestrian but they only allow approximate 20 bikes each trip so bikers wait a bit longer. I'm sure if you get here early you can avoid the long wait. The ferry is super fast and boarding/unboarding goes much faster than the Manhattan ferry. PLUS the water park/playground looks like so much fun... I should go find myself a child to bring here... read more

So ridiculous. Went to a concert at Governors island and the security searching everyone getting on the ferry were just utterly ridiculous. No other word. Couldn't bring water, and they had the nerve to throw people's cigarettes out if the pack was open. If it was closed you could bring it. One cig missing and that's it. Toss it out. Just a pathetic rule. And they took forever when getting off the island after the concert. Two minute ride and they sat there for thirty minutes. Shows there are fun. George Clinton and Parliament funkadelic kicked ass. Did many of their classic funk tunes. Heavy duty dance funk show but ugh the ferry security checkpoint were out of control. read more

There really isn't much to say about this ferry. It fits a surprising amount of bikers/strollers and people alike. The ride is probably about 10 minutes. I do still enjoy the ride. the loading seems fairly efficient (which can sometimes be a nightmare because of said bikes and strollers) but they try to get people in and ready to go within a reasonable amount of time. read more

Easy peasy free ferry ride from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park to Governors Island. I went on a Saturday for the Figment (also free) art festival, so perhaps throngs I encountered waiting to embark on the boat were abnormal. But. Everything was organized and moved swiftly, staff was friendly. Those traveling by foot seemed to wait no more than 10 minutes in the line - they had those ferries coming and going like clockwork. My one *minor* complaint was the bike-situation. Being cheap as ish, I brought my own bike so as to save 20 bucks renting one on the Island. I'm so smart, I thought. After waiting in line for an hour (plus) at side (without cover - burned like cray on the Brooklyn side, was rained on on the Gov. Is. side), I was humbled back into believing that I am indeed, not so smart. Be prepared to stand in line for a lot longer than you would if you had chosen to not bring your own bicycle. They let only 20-30 on at a time, when, in my opinion, they could really jam in a bunch more. All in all, it WAS free, and the ride itself is like 5 minutes. So. I'd do it again, but maybe not bring my bike. read more

A free ferry service with beautiful views. You can take your bike as well.

There was an art fair this weekend. We got there at 135. Boats are supposed to run on half hour but instead it came at 230 departing at 245. Half the people left because of th long wait. Classic inefficient government workers..I would take a pass unless you live in Brooklyn and have nothing to do but sleep, wait and go to restaurants for brunch and have that kind of time. read more

$2 round trip on weekend from Brooklyn. 7 minute ride to Governors Island GREAT!

The island can be crowded, but them's the breaks. The ferry guys do their best to keep things nice and orderly. If they have two boats running the wait is less than 10 minutes. If only one, it could be 45, depending on the size of the boat. I do my best to go every weekend for the opportunity to bike on closed roads. read more

When we got to Governor's Island on the 4PM ferry one hot Sunday, there was a huge line already waiting for the next boat back. We went to the excellent Cooper Hewitt exhibit but when we got out - at about 4:35, the line for the NY ferry was beyond belief. So we went for the Brooklyn ferry, which only required an hour wait in the heat with no place to sit and no water. Then you are deposited in some waterfront area of Brooklyn that is supposed to be Brooklyn Bridge Park. The subway is a mile away uphill. Until these people get their ferry act together, I would give the island a miss read more