I decided to reserve my #8,200 Yelp milestone review for this unexpected ferry ride because in hindsight, it was one of the best hacks that New York City offers both tourists and locals. Jamie W and I were finishing up our cocktails at High Tide (review: https://yelp.to/47E8cyxeMd) when it dawned on us that we could take the ferry rather than the subway back to Manhattan. A smart decision indeed. It only cost us $4.50 per person to take us to the pier at East 34th Street. Just a year earlier, we boarded the Circle Line by paying the $70 Premium pass for exclusive access to the top deck for a carefully timed two-hour cruise. We enjoyed it, but considering the significant cost difference, this one was quite a deal. Not only was it a simple commute, but it was a genuine tourist attraction no one really talks about. Going straight to the upper deck, we were able to take in the stunning skylines of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Same as the Circle Line cruise, we traveled underneath the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges. At a relaxing pace, the ferry made three brief, interim Brooklyn stops: North and South Williamsburg and Greenpoint, and they offered alternative views we would've not seen otherwise. RELATED - Exploring NYC? Here's a collection of non-culinary places l've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Uzg4Azk4_G read more

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NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing is at Brooklyn Bridge Park. I rode the ferry on a Sunday between Brooklyn Bridge Park and Long Island City. It was a hot day and the East River was sparkly! Just kidding! I'll be back! read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - View from the NYC Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

If you need assistance, look for Oscar Gomez. He is the best with information and directions. His customer service is impeccable!

This ferry can be a bit confusing depending on how you arrive. We came from the park and there were a few workers that looked like they may sell tickets. We approached and asked to buy a ticket and they mentioned you can't buy tickets from them. You need to buy the tickets out front. We ask where is out front and were pointed to a general direction. We ask for clarification and were told "look, look" with a finger pointed in a direction. Alright we decide just to walk down and after a bit we saw a couple of people line up at a machine that was beside a store. We may have missed it if there wasn't a lineup. We buy 2 tickets, which I have to say was a really reasonable price and head back to the line. We jump in line and notice the times for it were a bit later. We head back to info to ask if there's a schedule for the ferry or if anything would come before the departure time we saw. They told us we could line up in a second line and the ferry should be there in about 15 minutes. It's not obvious each of the lines which direction the ferry is going. We lined up and hopped on the next ferry in no time. All this to say, the ticket machine is out front by the store before the pier. If you're not sure which line you should be on, ask the staff, they're pretty good with which ferry you need to hop on and good luck! read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I really wish the ferry was run a bit better. For a tourist waiting here in the dark with no indication of which boat was arriving or leaving, you might be SOL if you're in the wrong line (when it appears there's only one and nobody is telling you which boat is here). I saw one coming and going to wall street and it just dropped people off and then picked some up and left. There was no signage or anyone calling out for which ferry was there. If i wanted to go to lower Manhattan i would have missed that boat. I do think the whole ferry system is a huge boondoggle, but it actually is convenient. I was able to take it to E 34th in about 40 min vs the hour or so on the subway. Not to mention i didn't have to walk back up the hill to High street! read more

I'm not sure why people have given this ferry terminal such low ratings. This dock is actually super handy for tourists and locals. Firstly, this dock is for the East River ferry. It starts in the Wall Street Area, stops here (DUMBO Brooklyn), goes up the East River, stops in Midtown Manhattan near east 34th Street, and then finishes in Long Island City, Queens. For tourists who just finished a visit to Brooklyn Bridge Park, this ferry is a great way to then get amazing views of all three boroughs from the water - for only $4.00. And the ferry actually passes under all the major bridges. As a local, it is a quick and easy way to get from Brooklyn to Queens or Manhattan without walking the long distance to the nearest subway station. read more

Ferry was on-time, clean and super quick ride to Manhattan. Super chill. Got tickets via the app. Recommended. read more

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While I'm giving this 3 stars, I will say I'm VERY grateful that this ferry terminal exists. Having the ferry in this location is amazing, and it connects you to so many other ferry lines leaving from Wall St / Pier 11 across the water. With that being said, unless you know what to look for, this ferry terminal can be confusing. The area to buy tickets is about 300ft to the left of the entrance with no signage. I would have never known the ticketing booths were in that location if I hadn't been before. (PRO TIP, download the NYC Ferry app to purchase your ticket on mobile!) The machines always have technical errors, the buttons will be jammed, or the card reader won't work. If not for the app, this would be a stressful situation to get a ticket. Lining up for the ferry is also a little quirky. The lines are separated by destination, but there's never more than 20 or so people waiting. Get your ticket via the app and show up 10min early to get your bearings! Once you do it the first time, it's the easiest way to travel in the city! read more

We took the F subway line from Chelsea to Brooklyn to sightseeing Dumbo area. For our return trip to Manhattan, we decided to take the ferry from Dumbo terminal to the 35th St. terminal. The cost was $4 per person one way. It offered a manificent sunset view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines as we cruised up the East River. It was one of the best and cheapest sightseeing tour that we had ever been on. read more

The people working at the ferry are truly miserable. The lady working at the gate called my group dumb because the app on my phone was slow pulling up our (already paid for) tickets. She had a lip piercing which should have been an indicator she was going to be grumpy. This is my first and last nyc ferry experience! Better off taking the subway!! read more

Back in the days of my misspent Manhattan youth the ferry was but the big orange one from South Ferry to Staten Island or the excursion boats to the Statue of Limitations or the Circle Line, the last not really a ferry but one of the popular boat rides all the same. Now everything is Different, and for those in NYC this review tells you nothing you don't know already but perhaps a few here in my temporary home away from home can benefit from knowing of the East River Ferry both for their trip planning and for ideas as to how to make the Bay Area ferry system more useful. The aspect of the ERF I like the best is its collector attribute. As in its bouncing along the east side of the river from Brooklyn Bridge up to LIC with its fast little boats coming often bouncing and packing people like fish at rush hour and dropping them off midtown or FiDi. This is EXACTLY what's needed in SF. We have hella boats from their respective city ports all headed to the Embarcadero but no collector service around the Bay margin. If you live in South Bay or Peninsular cities you're SOL either on the BART w hypodermics in your bottom or on Caltrain still dropping you off a million miles from your destination in the City. For reasons too numerous to mention, the cities of the Bay Area will never be able to unify around a singularly run transit system and as a consequence in our lifetime at least we may as well just accept the fact that the subway and bus are going to suck. But. The ferry doesn't have to. Unconstrained by track right of way or road traffic, all the ferry system needs is more boats. Like the speedy ones of the ERF bouncing all over in the elements safe and fast and aesthetically pleasing. Double dog dare you, Bay Area. Look outside yourself for once to somebody who gets it right. No problem borrowing an idea if it's a good one. read more

What can I say about the NYC ferry system I got on a couple of times here? It's underdeveloped, and not really good for commuting. Despite the infrequent boats, I was peeved when two boats took up the small dock and my third one had to wait after twenty minutes of no boats at all. The good news is tickets aren't too much, though the separate fare system and confusing transfer policy are not helpful. It's a good way to get a view of the city if you're not in a hurry, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to why a city with this geography and this traffic doesn't have a huge fleet of commuter boats. read more

Easy to get to. This was a little late but so was I! Great from of transportation while in the city only $2.50 to travel of a great big boat. They have a gift shop on board too, clean and friendly. read more

I was debating switching from the subway to the ferry, given that the L will eventually be shutting down and the subway is generally evil anyway. I figured I would give the ferry a try. Forget it. There is no shade at the North Williamsburg stop-- so get ready to burn in the sun or freeze your behind off in bad weather. Plus you don't always fit on the boat. You line up and pray there is enough space otherwise you just have to wait for the next one. Mind you, this isn't even rush hour. I don't even want to know what it is like then. I doubt I'll ever find out. Unless you are on the back of the line, you have to stand and wait on a floating platform. So be ready for that too-- playing on your phone while waiting will likely make you sick if you are prone to motion sickness. The only sort of redeeming factor was the service woman selling tickets. She was really nice. So that was cool. Though the guys counting heads couldn't care less about anyone there. They told us the next ferry would come in 15 minutes. Nnnnope. Stick with the subway. Or spend the extra money for a cab or Uber. I know, one is awful and the other can be pretty pricey. But my new-found perspective says it can DEFINITELY be far worse. And you won't suffer sunburn. read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - The line keeps getting longer. I'm finally up front-- took about an hour. But I think these people in the back have a long way to go. - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Took this with a friend for the first time to get to Greenpoint for an event. Although the ferry itself was very fast (beware, those who suffer from motion sickness), the views were great and equivalent to any South Street Seaport ferry (besides the Statue of Liberty). You get to see the cityscape just fine. There are several ports along the Brooklyn side, so be careful to get off on the right stop. Stay on the top if you want to take pictures, but the staff don't really announce the stops, so just stay aware of where you need to get off. The stop in Greenpoint is really sketchy - I got scared walking this even with a friend by my side. It's just because it's by the riverside and will be surrounded by warehouses/the like. Definitely more reliable than the G train and a cool alternative for those who want to experience NYC in a different way. read more

Great alternative to a cab or other means of transport. Second time taking the boat but this time I took my 7 year old...and she LOVED it. Def. a cheap trip to take a kid on and escape the city for a minute. For only 4 bucks you can cross from the city or take it all the way from L.I.C to BK as I did. Very cool and unexpected find in the city....can't see it being the same for so long. read more

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A pretty sketchy ferry stop in the middle of nowhere Greenpoint. Literally, this stop is bordered by a construction zone and some warehouses. There's no sidewalk, so you'll find yourself walking through an active driveway to get to the ferry. The ferry service itself generally runs on-time from this stop. Of the dozen or so times that I've taken it to the city, it's only been late once. There's one (small) wind-shelter and last winter the heat lamp was broken, which made for pretty cold waits. If you're visiting the city, this is a nice (and cheap) way to traipse around the East River and get from WBurg/Greenpoint to the city. Knocking off stars because for $4, I'd expect greater comfort and more service times than the subway. Not there yet. read more

It was so beautiful. I love the mini bar inside with the snacks and libations. The seating was comfortable and the scenery was out of this world. Definitely a cute way to travel into the city. Great date idea! read more

$2.75 to take us from south street seaport to east 32nd street. Excellent way to relax on a hot day, and kill some time. I had never actually taken this boat before because I drive everywhere, but we have people visiting us and it really was a great way to kill 45 minutes while giving them a ny experience. I'd highly recommend taking any of your visitors to the ferry - only if you aren't on a strict schedule, that is. The scheduled time to leave did not end up being correct. * I think they should either put large signs of the stop at the port, announce the stops or put more signs around the boat letting you know all the stops because we were quite confused as to where we were read more

A pretty way to get to Manhattan from Greenpoint. The ride is cheap, takes only 10m, and there's a CitiBike station right on the other side of the river. It's quicker than taking the G to most of central Manhattan. The ferries are usually on time but only every 30m. You can buy tickets at this station (there's a machine) or on the NY Waterway app. Enjoy! read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Terrible experience with this system. Only in town a week but during two attempts both were awful. The first try to get on, the people waiting were told the ferry was only allowing 3 people on due to capacity. When others asked about their bought ticket, the worker showed no compassion. The second attempt (a few days later) the ferry did not follow the schedule shown on their website. So after a 40 minute wait, the ferry came, going in the opposite direction we needed. Attempting to ask about going South the worker replied only with "34th street," no help what so ever. So we waited for it to make the round trip North and back and as we walked on after a quick 10 minute wait the worker wanted to act like he JUST wasn't rude to us as we asked questions a few minutes before. Never attempting ferry again, not in the cards for us. read more

What an untapped gem for both New Yorkers and tourists alike! How had no one told me to do this on one of my many trips to the city? Skip the Staten Island ferry and ride from 34th street down to Governor's Island instead. I had spent the afternoon in Williamsburg when I noticed the East River ferry dock. Waaaait a minute, you mean this will take me back across to Midtown? I enjoyed my ride so much that I rode it back to Brooklyn later that day, then rode down to Wall St on another day. The ride offers gorgeous views of the Manhattan skyline, first Midtown, then under the Brooklyn Bridge past downtown. On a beautiful day, this is the perfect way to get around while also taking in gorgeous views (at just $4 for a single ride, it's a good value, too). Both times I rode the ferry, there was hardly anyone on it and there were plenty of seats on the open air top deck. Note: there was a problem with the ticket machine at the 34th St dock, but I was able to download the ferry app and just buy tickets that way. read more

Come on, are you people really complaining about a $4 ferry that gets you great views of Downtown Manhattan, and all three of the four most popular bridges? And because of super gentrification, it now makes two stops in Williamsburg (south and north), so you can take the scenic route. read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Took the ferry a few weeks ago. Weather wasn't ideal so lines were manageable. The ferry itself was fine and quite a bargain. Some chop in the water caused me a little motion sickness but that is the way it goes on a boat. We took a boat off peak. I would not attempt this during a busy time, they are just not prepared for that. The main reason this is one-star rating is the horrible app. It cheated me out of $11 and their customer service is very hard to reach, very slow to respond once you do, and was unwilling to resolve my problem. I had to resort to disputing the charge through the credit card company, which still pending, weeks later. The app is bad in every respect, so I recommend steering well clear of it. Buy your tickets at the machines. Next time I will drive or take a train. The bad vibes I got mean no repeat business from me. Too bad. They missed the boat. read more

Took this from bklyn bridge to n. williamsburg a couple of weekends ago - ferry was prompt, service was pleasant and there were plenty of seats in both the sun and the shade for the riders. Super pleasant way to get around the city - felt a little like a holiday rather than a commute :) read more

Best way to start the day is with a coffee and ride down and up on the ferry. Enjoy the views and fresh air. The boats also have a bar for an afternoon ride and beer. It is a nice way to shake up a date as well. Some of crews are hit or miss. Not sure why they aren't the happiest MTA workers in nyc. Seems like a sweet gig. read more

I'm not crazy about this particular stop on the E.R.F. The boarding area is a few blocks away from Greenpoint ave, which is a bit sketchy. But then again, it's the ferry, so all of its boarding areas are by the river and out of the way. I suppose this place gives me the chills because there is only one person usually selling tickets at this station and no one else around for security. Shiver. read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Very poor. Horrible customer service with unfriendly staff who are not helpful. Ferry extremely late. read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - 40 minutes late. :( - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Stayed in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for a few days and took the ferry many times to get to Manhattan (midtown). What a great way to get around! Cheap (4$/person one way weekdays, 6$ weekend), amazing city views, quick, confortable and convenient (great way to travel if you have young kids on a stroller as there are no steps). read more

NYC Ferry.DUMBO Landing - On the wharf. Greenpoint ferry (india street). Vire of Manhattan. - Public Transportation Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Hornblower took over he East River Ferry and it all went downhill. Instead of adding more boats to existing routes, reducing wait times and improving the experience for every-day ferry commuters such as myself...they added more routes, spread themselves too thin resulting in reduced frequency, consistent lateness and overall diminished commuter experience...thanks for nothing Hornblower! read more

THIS IS THE WORST SERVICE EVER !!! We bought our 7 tickets and, at this moment, the seller told us boats were coming every 15 minutes. The truth was that they came every 30 minutes. We finally could take a boat after 1h30....to have a 7 minute ride ! During the wait, the guy managing the queue lied each 5 minutes to keep the line smiling...what a strange strategy! Just to let you know, when each boat we saw coming and going only took 5 people, a person from the company told "a completely empty boat is coming in 10 minutes". What was obsiouly a lie... I really suggest you to ride a bike or a subway. Uber or yellow cabs - which will be more expensive - will be infinitely more satisfying ! read more

7/7/2018, 11:21 am from N. Williamsburg to Wall Street. The pier representative from Hornblower allowed 2 people to skip the line and be first passengers to enter. When questioned, he said it was "the parents of my boss". Wow!! Perhaps this is how they do it in SF, we New Yorkers do not appreciate - nobody should skip the line because they know someone who works at Hornblower! Poor practices. read more

What an awesome way to get around. Oh, for that to be my main mode of transportation! For the first time in my life, I have a reason to want to live in Williamsburg. read more

Always late the ferry is more like a tourist shuttle, i.e. for someone with all the time in the world. Not good for people with appointments. Our ferry this weekend 29 April 2017 from pier 11 was 45 minutes late. Service was professional and courteous. Passengers were not offered any life vests and neither did I observe any in sight, now that can be a very unsafe and dangerous situation. Just saying. read more

Ten minutes from Greenpoint to Dumbo and you can't beat the view.

Somehow managed to crash into a docked ferry while pulling into the N. Williamsburg stop. Went out of service and refused to give anyone their money back. One of the boat hands yelled "do I look like I have your money" at me and my infant son when I asked for a refund. Less reliable than the G train and far more dangerous. The worst. read more

It would be great if it followed its own schedule. I relied on getting to the city with it and it left early. The other night it arrived 20 minutes late. Unreliable read more

The ticket vending machine on the India St. pier was broken and at first they allowed us to board but then we could not get the ticket app installed on my phone fast enough to please the staff while they hounded us. They treated us like thieves- me, my husband and daughter. The guy stood over my shoulder the whole time I tried to do the transaction to purchase tickets, making me nervous so I could hardly concentrate on getting my card info entered. Internet reception wasn't great on the moving boat. It didn't load fast enough and we got kicked off at the next stop while I was still trying to complete the purchase. I didn't know about the app beforehand and it's not my fault the ticket machine was out of service. We were treated very poorly and had to walk home, unable to complete our trip. CURSE THE FERRY AND A CURSE ON THE NASTY CREEPS WHO RUN IT. read more

Never on time and rude personnel. Over an hour late with no explanation. Waste of time and $6. Update: most poorly run business, ever. read more

i don't understand why people are complaining. you need to download the app on your phone and check the times that the ferry arrives and buy your ticket in advance or you are just gonna waste time. the ride itself is so beatiful, faster then any train ride read more