We had a great experience with Steamship Authority from start to finish. Dock workers in both Hyannis and Nantucket were very helpful and nice to work with. Shuttle drivers to and from the parking lot were very efficient. The parking lot attendant (from NY) was very cheerful and helpful. read more

If I could give their car ferry reservation system zero stars I would. Every year (for the last 30 years) I do everything as instructed; I am ready to get on the system the day, the hour, the summer reservations open. And every year for the last 5 years, when I finally get "my turn", I am only able to book a date 3 days after my trip is schedulled to start, and completely unable to book a return reservation within 2 weeks of when I end my stay on Nantucket. Abosulte crap. read more

Unpleasant Employee. This review is related only to the staff answering the phone at 508-477-8600. Apparently, their goal is to make customers feel like idiots, huffing and sighing, completely unprofessional. I literally laughed at this person, apologized for bothering her and proceeded to hang up. I'm sure they answer the same boring questions all day long (and picking up and putting that phone down is exhausting), but it's their job. If they don't like it, maybe consider looking for other employment. The Steamship Authority should conduct occasional remote observations on these folks. Do better people. read more

We took Steamship Authority's fast boat to Nantucket (1hr). The parking lot for your car is at 75 Yarmouth Rd, Hyannis. There you will take a free shuttle which will take you to purchase tickets at the Hyannis terminal. One of the lady who drove us to the shuttle the first day was so sweet! I did not get her name but she has short hair, glasses and some fabulous blue nails! We were so excited to visit Nantucket but unfortunately after purchasing tickets for the 2pm fast boat and waited almost 2 hours to board since we were early and the 11am boat just left. We walked around in the rainy cold in downtown Hyannis and came back before 2pm just to find out the boat was CANCELLED due to bad weather and choppy waters! It really sucked. Day 2- Came back to try Nantucket again. Parked and got onto the shuttle and the same sweet lady was there! She was so nice and we just joked and laughed about our cancellation the day before. This time we purchased the 11am fast boat. Boat had 2 levels, plenty of seating. We got to Nantucket by 12pm and wandered around until it was our time to board the fast boat back. There is restroom on the boat in case you are wondering. The boat seemed clean but like some others have said, old and a little outdated. COVID updates - Masks are required on the boat. I did not see any social distancing on the dock or on the boat. Its hard when there are hundreds of people packed on double levels. Just FYI. I am vaccinated so I feel comfortable but many people are not ok with such packed conditions. read more

Starboard porthole view Rounding Nantucket's Brant Point Welcome safe Harbor #NOLA_Haiku #BrantPoint @SteamShipAuthority #GrayLady #CapeCod #Nantucket #LightHouse #SafeHarbor #Summer21 #MVEagle read more

Steamship Authority - Starboard porthole view Rounding Nantucket's Brant Point Welcome safe Harbor #NOLA_Haiku #BrantPoint #GrayLady #Nantucket #LightHouse - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

The spot is clean. The staff are friendly. The system to get on the ships is kinda antiquated, but it works for them. read more

Steamship Authority - Steamship just docked - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

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NOT COVID FRIENDLY - TAKE HY LINE INSTEAD Our trip from Hyannis to Nantucket was cancelled. How did we find out? We check in at the dock for the 5 pm ferry & they tell us it's cancelled. No email, no phone call, nothing from steamship letting us know it was cancelled before we got there. I understand technical difficulties and I would normally never write a review just because of the above. I am writing this review because the system at the steamship terminal in Nantucket is inefficient and dangerous. We had mobile tickets (covid friendly) but they gave us these laminated "boarding passes" we had to use in the terminal- usless and unsanitary. I did not feel safe. While waiting for the ferry, they had all the passengers collect in this covid unfriendly area where no one was following or enforcing social distancing orders. Hy line has a spread out line with attendants enforcing masks and distancing. The ferry itself was also more packed than hy line, again with no social distancing. Moral of the story is take hy line it's not that much more expensive and it's worth it. read more

Steamship Authority - No social distancing - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

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Getting to Nantucket requires getting on a boat or a plane. Boaters that we are, if we're not under our own vessel's power, we're happy to take one of the many ferries our state has to offer. This past Labor Day weekend we were headed to Nantucket so this meant a visit to the Steamship Authority. We're about an hour's drive from Hyannis where you find the ferry terminal to Nantucket. In the surrounding area there are a variety of lots where you can drop off your car and the cost for this is about $12.00 to $15.00 per night. Look these options up beforehand because if you've not been here, it can be a little confusing. The regular ferry takes about 2 hours and 15 or so minutes to make the trip on huge, relatively comfortable ferries leaving, at least during the summer, at a wide variety of hours. We were on the 7:15AM which was pleasantly uncrowded affording us at different times, seats on the outside deck and in one of the inside cabins when it got too windy. Bathrooms are plentiful and clean. There is a food counter selling food and drink including beer and wine. This is best skipped. Everything is overpriced and not terribly good or good for you. Best to pack your own bottle of water and some snacks to hold you over if needed. Round-trip passenger tickets on the regular ferry are $35.00. If you bring a bicycle on board, it's an additional $7.00 each way. The big gouge comes if you want to bring a car over if you can even get a car reservation. That will set- you back $200.00 each way. Nantucket is really an island that should be biked or walked but a car can be necessary depending on where you are staying and what you want to do. We were staying at my brother-in-law's house in Sconset (on the eastern end of the island) where we did need a car a few times but thankfully had one available to us. Cars can be rented on the island with advance notice but consider that there is a bus jitney service that can get you around town. Bikes and scooters are easily rented and taxis are available. So, save yourself the money and the hassle and skip bringing your own car. In lieu of the regular ferry you can choose the Nantucket Fast Ferry which cuts the trip by about half but for approximately double the money. For us though, we just sit back and relax on the regular ferry and enjoy the two plus hours crossing over. We talk, read and occasionally nap. You can check your luggage if you'd like and it will be stowed for you. It is unloaded for you at the end of the trip. We just carried our stuff aboard with us so that we were able to disembark quickly. The ferry is animal friendly. And in fact, both coming and going we met many wonderful dogs. More and more I'm finding I am traveling to places by boat whether it's our boat or one of the ferries. Two of the great things about Massachusetts are our ferry system and our islands. You can experience both by going to Nantucket. The Christmas Stroll weekend (the first weekend in December) is a perfect and beautiful time to consider and that's just around the corner. The journey is even doable as a day trip. read more

Steamship Authority - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

We took the fast Steamship Ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket and then back in late December just before they discontinue that service for the season. The staff who get you on and off the ship are very friendly. The ferry is comfortable enough for an hour and the snack bar is pretty basic but nice. The port is a decent place to wait for a few minutes before you get on the ship. Oh and there's wifi on the ferry. I'd gladly use this service again. read more

Steamship Authority - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

Solid ride. No complaints. Took the high speed ferry and only took about one hour to get from Hyannis to Nantucket. Inside of the vessel is very clean and comfy. read more

"Step away from the Senator's widow!" OK we had a quick chat with Vicky Kennedy before she was wisked away by the SSA staff, she seemed friendly enough trying to cope with her three dogs but security might have observed that I'm a Republican and didn't want to take any chances - now that really is paying attention on their part! You never know who'll you'll bump into on your way over to Nantucket, it was somewhat funny with Obama being on Martha's Vineyard & Beck and Palin during the "Restoring Honor" thing in DC that Vicky & I would chat on Nantucket. We took one of their boats (they have quite a fleet, see their website) which happened to have a 1st class section complete with a private bar, deck, free snacks, etc - all for a $7 upgrade - quite worth it imho. After a couple of Dark & Stormies we were back in Hyannis in no time, on our way over a few days earlier on the slow vehicle carrying it took well over two hours but in 8' seas it was surprisingly smooth, no need to consume any D & Ss then because it was quite dark and stormy already without any help from George the bartender. Make sure to check out their website, you can even sign up for weather updates, trip cancellations, etc - we were the last boat out for a couple of days on our initial way over. This feature alone can save you lots of wasted time especially if you are coming down from Boston, etc. http://www.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/ferries.cfm Don't forget to check out Hy-Line either, it might fit into your schedule better. read more

Efficient but wish they'd turn the ferry on later. Passengers wait a while on the ferry smelling the fumes. They are good with COVID masks inside the ferry. read more

The 8:45 PM boat off Nantucket (to Hyannis) is still not here. It's 9:25 PM. People are being absurdly calm given that NO ONE from the Steamship Authority is here to explain anything at all. We're just standing around like fools. I will not forget this experience. read more

We took the High-Speed Ferry to Nantucket. Booked online $45 per person. Showed my receipt at the ticket window at check in and was quickly issued my boarding passes. The ferry arrived close to on time, we were quickly embarked and about an hour later we were disembarking in Nantucket. Comfortable seating on board and large windows for viewing. Easy and efficient way to get to the island. read more

Steamship Authority - High-speed ferry MV Iyannough arriving into port. - Tours Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

The measure of good management is precisely what happens when things don't go according to plan and, on that front, the Steamship Authority seems to fail horrendously. I took a round-trip with them today, and I am not sure I will do so again. The way to Nantucket from Hyannis on the high speed ferry was uneventful, except that the ticket counter employee was rude. I brushed that off as a rogue occurrence, and went on my merry way. On my way back, though, I received unprofessional, highly disorganized and rude service at the Nantucket terminal. The high speed ferry I bought a ticket for in advance was cancelled unexpectedly, leaving everyone to pack into the traditional ferry, which did not leave on time. I received unclear and contradictory directions from two staff about how to proceed, which suggests structural disorganization and unpreparedness for handling these sorts of situations at the Steamship Authority. One of them told me to get on the traditional ferry that was boarding as fast as I could because, apparently, I only had minutes remaining. That was quite anxiety provoking to hear since, by no fault of my own, I now risked missing a bus connection upon arrival. The other told me I need to go stand in line at the ticket counter to get my ticket changed but was unable to tell me a concrete departure time for the ferry that was boarding, leaving me with no way to estimate whether I had time to stand in line. Then, the clerk was rude and incommunicative. Finally, after receiving a refund for the price difference and a new ticket, I joined a crowd of newly arrived confused and disoriented folks in the same predicament. Since no clear line was forming and there were no clear directions given to the newcomers, I asked the ticket checking guy who was just standing there whether boarding is still occurring. He flat out ignored me. Then, in a seemingly passive-aggressive fashion, he barked a few words into a walkie-talkie, and then proceeded to collect tickets from an ad-hoc line that formed to the side of me in the time that he was ignoring me. I suppose he could not tell me that he, too, does not know what is going on. read more

I wish I could travel everywhere by ferry. On a recent trip to Nantucket, I took the high speed ferry to the island and the slow ferry back. The high speed ferry is immaculate inside and the chairs are the epitome of comfort. It's a really quick, pleasant, easy ride. If you're riding with a bike, you check it before you get on and they go in a separate compartment, which is nice because your bike isn't exposed to salt water. The slow ferry is not as luxurious, but it's much cheaper so that has its own charms. Bike check on the slow ferry is under the passenger decks with the cars. You just sort of park your bike on a wall and leave it there, then hope you don't get run over while exiting at the end. The ride itself is beautiful and it's fun to watch the sunset from the boat at night. The only thing that needs serious improvement is the snack bar. There's not much selection, and the hot pretzels are seriously lacking in crispness. Mine was microwaved and it stuck to the napkin. Gross. If you bring a snack on board with you, there will be smooth sailing. read more

Been going to Nantucket for 30+ years since I was a kid and have been on them all.. The Nantucket, Eagle, Unkateena, etc... Ok, it's slow... it's meant to be slow as it is taking over cars and trucks... Does that make it bad... NO!!!! Back in the day, the benches were hard, nothing to do but freeze... Now... They have free (YES FREE) Internet... TV's... electrical outlets everywhere... and it's warm Is it first class... no.. They have made trips very pleasurable though... Now you get your ticket from the booth as you drive in... No longer have to go into the building (HUGE THANK YOU!!!) People still working there are as friendly as ever... Kudos Only knock... STILL DAMN EXPENSIVE!!!! read more

Took the slow ferry back from Nantucket, as we were in no hurry. This boat definitely showed its age. It was clean enough, just dated and well-worn. Not as comfortable as the fast ferry. Still, it was a smooth ride. There are TVs and a snack bar. Or, you can sit outside and relax. Disembarking took a while, since pedestrians had to take turns with vehicles. Other than that, no complaints! read more

Affordable way to get to Nantucket, and on a warm day, the two hour ride can feel like part of your vacation. They sell food and beer on board, outlets to plug in your devices and watch a movie, or sit on the outside deck and let the sea breeze take you away! Takes 2 hours for the cheapest ferry, but what's the rush?! read more

No complaints nice staff all around and a comfortable ride with large seats inside.sat outside on the way there and partially on way home at night with the full moon which was pretty cool. read more

Don't waste your time on the slow traditional ferry. If you're going to Nantucket then fast ferry is definitely the best option. It's more expensive than the traditional ferry but it gets you to the island in half the time. The trip itself is also picturesque and takes you through Hyannisport to the historic Nantucket wharf area. The seats on the fast ferry are nice and comfortable, there's tables to play cards or eat food, there's TVs to pass the time and a little snack bar. With the Fast Ferry you're definitely riding in style. The one area of the Fast Ferry experience that could be improved is crowd control. It's sort of just a free-for-all with vacationers running around all over the place trying to get on board, find a seat, and stow their luggage, bikes, etc. Just a small complaint for an otherwise good experience. read more

Took the basic (slower) ferry to Nantucket this summer and found it to be a pleasant experience. It was really windy and quite cold so I stayed inside during most of the journey. They have several trips back and forth so even though it was Labor Day weekend the boat wasn't too crowded. The best part is you can take the train from Boston and walk or take a free shuttle to the ferry. Nantucket was great and getting there was a breeze! read more

Welcoming staff. Smooth ride to Nanucket. Updated refreshments offered. Slow Ferry gives you time to transition to the island life and then back slowly. read more

Pathetic. Wifi doesn't work and, more importantly, the AC!! Felt like we were in steerage the whole way. Get your act together for the prices you charge. read more

Great ride to and from the grey lady. It's hard to be picky, but the Eagle is the best of the bunch of ferries. Then the Nantucket. One note, we rode the Eagle yesterday and sat near the snack bar. A man who was apparently a supervisor of some kind spent the trip sitting in a booth, talking loudly about Pokemon Go, which is fine except we could have done without the salty four letter word choices. Really?? The families with children especially couldn't do without. Otherwise, every employee very helpful and the ride a perfect start or finish to your trip. read more

Ken who works at the Nantucket dock station was not only unhelpful but aggressively rude. When I arrived 10 minutes prior to a 630am departure on a monday morning, he literally stalled so that I wouldn't make the ferry almost in attempt to teach me a lesson. He was angry and claimed he "didnt have a computer so my reservation number wouldnt help him, nor would my last name." At a loss I just handed him my entire phone with the itinerary details at which point he slowly called the station to confirm it. If not a res number or last name what exactly was he looking for ?? Finally after much delay he gloated as he told me I had to pay a 10 dollar change fee and promised me again that I wouldn't make the ferry. I sprinted to pay and got back to my still running car right in front of the dock as he smiled and shut the gate on me while 5 other dock workers sat staring. It was 6:29 and the ship was out of the port by 632. If he had even been remotely helpful I would of made the boat and not caused it any delays. This employee should be terminated or at the very least not allowed to interface with any paying passengers. read more

We had Tickets for the 11am fast ferrry from Hyannis to Nantucket on 10/12. We arrived @ 9:30am to see a large crowd lined up. No one knew exactly what was going on. We found out that several ferries were cancelled in the 2-3 days prior due to weather. We located on our own where the fast ferry was scheduled to leave from. No notices, no personnel. Eventually a baggage handler came by about 10:15 and said that the 11am fast ferry was cancelled. I went to the ticket office, stood in line and got to a clerk and relayed what I was told. She said in no uncertain terms that the ferry was not yet cancelled and that no decision had been made. 3 minutes Later, an announcement was made that it was cancelled. I went through the line again to buy tickets for the slow ferry that was scheduled to leave @ Noon. Luckily I did not get the same Clerk. After buying tickets, we went and stood in the long line for the Noon ferry. No announcements were made, no direction. The Ferry showed up at Noon, discharged passengers and reloaded some vehicles. Unclear if any passengers actually boarded, we couldn't see from where we were, but the line did not move. The ferry blew it's horn and left.???? We still heard no announcements, no employees were about to give any info. One of the couple in front of went to the ticket office To find out what was going on. He returned and said that we were now To wait for the 2:45pm ferry. And that it was unclear how many people, but likely not all would get on that ferry. The Steamship Authority personnel never gave any direction, seemed to know less than the baggage handlers. There was nothing that gave us Any indication how long we would wait, or if we would get on the next ferry. Total silence and misinformation from the staff. I totally get that this may have been an usual situation, but the handling of this and total lack of communication is reprehensible. Even the website only listed cancellations after the fact. read more

I took the fast ferry. Although it is more expensive, it is also twice as fast as the other ferry. There is also a $50 round trip special if you are in Nantucket just for 1 day. There is plenty of indoor seating along with some outdoor seating. You can buy water and some snacks on the ferry. The ferry was fairly clean. The only negative is parking can fill up on the main parking lot. Thus you may need to park at a secondary parking lot and take a shuttle. Which can add some time to the trip. read more

Fast ferry is the way to go. Clean plush seats with tables, great chowder and beer from the snack bar, Wimbledon on flat screen TVs. Took 1 hour and we even got a 20% discount on the fare from our inn. read more

Our "lifeline" the only way to take your car off the rock. The vessels are clean. the affordable way to go, is walk on boarding. 15 dollars, compared to 300 for a car. read more

Took the high speed to Nantucket and it was great, organized, on time. Traveled w/ my bicycle and it's easy. You put you bags in a numbered bin to then pick up when you exit the ferry. I also handed my bike to a crew member who put it with all others in a locked area. They then line up the bikes on your exit for you to grab on your way off the ferry. There is a bike line and they let bikers board first, look for a sign or ask where that line is. 1 hour! read more

The boat crews are great. Have taken these ferries numerous times. They always have been on time and prompt like clockwork. HOWEVER ---- parking lot / waiting line attendees always seem to be grouchy when you pull in with a vehicle. Calling by phone to check on ferry status and make reservations or get on a wait list is always a nightmare. Getting on to the island is never an issue but getting off with a vehicle is always rough when you can't book a reservation because they are full and you then have to get on a standby list. When on the standby list they make you feel like the worlds biggest inconvenience. Then you have to show up at the terminal and sit in a dirty waiting room and wait for your number to be called --- much like the cold miserable environment you expect from the DMV. This part of traveling here is a sad contrast to the enjoyment had on the rest of the island. read more

Awesome experience! Didn't mind take the slower 2 hrs ferry. Went on a Sunday morning and was not too packed which made it enjoyable! Relaxing! read more

The worst website on the internet. Does not scale during peak times and randomly drops you even if you get in. You can reserve ferry rides and then lose them because the it take too long to complete the transaction. This site is a disgrace and whoever is in charge of it should be fired! read more

Love the slow ferry, on a nice day! If your in a rush forget it. But if you have been traveling for hours it's a nice way to wind down, and shake off the mainland manic vibe. read more

these guys work hard and are the nicest when you show them a little respect....mucvh needed on the island on nantucket.