Such a beautiful ride! We even unexpectedly saw a Winke whale in the harbour, which was delightful. The staff were helpful, the trip was on time, and we were all really happy with our experience there and back. This was a great addition to our time in Boston. Our tour guide in Salem was great and we all really enjoyed his knowledge, even if his insights on sites from the film 'Hocus Pocus' were learned more than experienced. I appreciate his honesty! I could've spent so much more time in this area! read more

We rode the ferry twice this week while vacationing in the area, round trip from Boston to Salem and back. Even though you were using the Whale Watch boats this week, it was still wonderful! We had awesome weather and a great time. Reggie, the bar tender was a bit grumpy it seemed and he overcharged us, but we got it fixed. We do want to give a shout out to JOHN, the guy that tied us off upon arrivals! What a hard working young man. He was very pleasant and cordial too!! A great employee on your staff. We wish we could have spent more time talking with him!! read more

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This is the perfect way to get back-and-forth from Salem to Boston and Boston to Salem. I would absolutely recommend it! It's totally relaxing and they share fun details of history along the way which I wasn't expecting! The ride was absolutely stunning and I'm so glad that we chose to do this! read more

The Salem Ferry - Views - Ferries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Good experience overall! We were unfortunate in that both going there and coming back, there was huge amount of fog so we didn't get to see the incredible views but I imagine that they are phenomenal. It wasn't crowded at all on a Saturday and the staff were very helpful and kind. There is a little snack bar area where you can get beers, drinks and packaged snack foods. They also serve some sandwiches and wraps and coffee too. Leaving Boston, you get a great view of the Downtown as well as the Harbor. It really is a nice way to get to and from Salem, albeit a bit more expensive than the train. This is a must try! read more

Wonderful ride from the Salem Wharf to Boston. You slowly cruise out of the Salem Harbor, turn right and drive across the Atlantic Ocean towards Bean Town. In the morning, you can get coffee and cereal at the bar, in the afternoon, the serve beer and wine. Staff is amazing. Piece of advice: Bring a thick sweater or jacket if you plan to sit outside - it gets chilly and windy, even in the summer time. read more

The Salem Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This summer we took the commuter rail to Salem to hang out on a friend's boat for the day. While out and about, we noticed this high speed catamaran thing coming in and out of Salem harbor. That was the day that we discovered... The Salem Ferry It leaves from the Aquarium in Long Wharf. It drops you within walking distance of downtown Salem. It is only $18 round trip. It is a flippin sweet 50 minute care-free smooth ride. We took it home that night, and it was fun. They even serve beer on board. You can actually stand on the bow of one of the catamaran(s) and it feels like you are flying through the water at fifty miles per hour. It runs May through Halloween. This summer, check it out. It is a trip in itself. *I do not work, nor do I know anyone who works for Salem Ferry...I just think it's cool.* read more

The Salem Ferry - The Salem Ferry...grrrrrrr - Ferries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Excellent boat ride from Boston to Salem and back. Informative and entertaining narrative from the crew. Very scenic and affordable for the round trip with plenty of time to wander around Salem. read more

This was a fun way to get from boston to salem!! Really really enjoyed the tour guide Charlie L very knowledgeable!! Great snacks!

Going into town for a RedSox game I have zero interest in driving in, parking, and then sitting traffic to leave. Using the "North Shore Resident" discount the ferry ride in and the subway over was less expensive than a parking spot. Hassle free, food/booze onboard, clean restroom, on time. Could not really ask for anything more. read more

The Salem Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I'd probably give it 4.5 stars, if only because the 6pm pick up in Boston is pretty much always late (usually not more than ten minutes in most cases). Once on board, it is a great way to commute home after a long work day. I haven't taken it into the city in the morning yet, since I am not a morning person and can't get up early enough. I bought a Zone 5 T-pass for July (and August!), so my ride is paid for already, which makes it more affordable than $9.50 one way. The boat is clean, never super crowded and best of all, serves beer! You can't get that on the commuter rail. I have noticed some regulars already, but it is mostly tourists and families aboard. When going Boston to Salem, the pickup is right by Tia's, very close to the Aquarium T stop. It then stops at the World Trade Center to pick up 4-5 people, and then we are off. Definitely a fun way to travel, and one of the perks of living in Salem. read more

nice ferry into boston. vibes are great. pretty slow and easy ride into the city. convenient.

The ferry has to be the best way to go into Boston for an evening. The boat is a clean, high-speed catamaran that can carry more than 100 people. Riding intown in the daylight, you pass Marblehead Neck, Nahant, and Spectacle and Thompson's Islands before passing between Logan and Castle Island. The ferry docks at Aquarium (Central) Wharf, so you are within easy walking distance to Quincy Market and the North End. When you return to Salem later, you can enjoy the lights of the city on the way out of the harbor. Parking is free. (On one occasion we returned to the boat to find it disabled. The crew arranged for and paid for taxi service back to the Salem parking lot. We were able to use our return tickets on a later trip.) read more

I understand they could have to cancel at short notice due to inclement weather. But, you'd think the staff would come out to the dock to let everyone know, and not just sit inside and wait for people to ask. Horrible customer service. When we asked when they found out, they said they knew half an hour ago. They tried to convince everyone to keep their tickets... no thanks, we wanted our money back. Almost $200 for four people is ridiculous anyway. read more

Sweet! (and slightly salty) I love the water; I love boats; I love the wind in my hair; I love the warm feeling that you get when you go back inside after being blown around on deck; I love that it is only $20 return offseason; I love that the captain gives you some chat when you reach marblehead and on leaving Salem. I love the plane spotting when leaving and arriving in Boston! read more

Taking the ferry to and from Salem from Boston was an excellent decision! More relaxing than normal forms of public transportation, and they serve beer on the ferry! read more

I thoroughly enjoyed taking the ferry from Boston to Salem. You can sit outside and watch the coastline zip by, or you can cozy up inside and read a book. This is a wonderful way to spend 45 minutes inhaling the fresh sea breeze. The boat doesn't rock that much, and serves snacks, sodas and alcoholic beverages. The bathrooms are clean and the crew is really friendly. read more

What a treat this was! We were planning on just taking the train in, but decided this last minute. We took the 1:00pm ferry and when we were coming up on Boston, we stopped and watching planes fly right over us!!!! It was awesome!! Definitely use this as your route to Boston at least once even though it is a little pricy. read more

I love taking the Ferry into Boston. As a resident it's especially nice just being able to walk there. I have even used it to get to the airport (it's near the blue line which is pretty close to the airport). Going back from the airport you just have to time it right to get on but if you do it's a heck of a lot easier than taking the train with luggage. The boat moves super fast. It moves slowly out of the dock and after it's in a safe crusing area it's like something out of Star Trek on the water (I can hear the captain say "Warp 3 Mr Sulu" ). You won't get seasick since it's pretty steady as well. read more

Ferrying is preferred mode of transport to Salem, I must concur with the previous yelps. For $22 roundtrip, you get a lungset full of salty air, a sneak peek at the seaside mansions of Marblehead, an ample snack bar/drinky bar that doesn't break the bank, and a breathtaking view of Boston's cityscape upon your return. Be ye careful, though, at that bar. Take note of the location of the toilets at the helm of the boat, with the loo water splish-splashing out against your rump and ye will know why you would not want to be intoxicated... Our experience on the 11a.m. ferry Sunday morning was quite marvelous. The boat was not too crowded (no need to buy tix online in advance) and afforded us comfortable seating in our out the boat, depending on the mood. The ride is fairly smooth, with the exception of having to wait for a big oil tanker which exposed us to a choppy brake at sea (see also: queasiness until landing upon blessed terra firma). Salem is fairly compact and as we were not going to sample the Peabody Essex (which is an easy walk from the dock where the boat drops you off), we really felt that it would have been better to have returned on the 4p.m. ferry...but we lingered until 6p.m. and that was 2 hours too long in broomstickville. read more

Great ride. Only negatives are the timing of the trips--either to close or too far apart and only one restroom in the ferry terminal. read more

The Salem Ferry - Ferries Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

3 stars for the public transportation says a lot. Its a boat that goes to Boston. Whats better?? oh it drops you off in walking distance of Mike's Pastry read more

Must say that if you have a Salem/Boston commute, this is the only way to travel. Grab a snack, a beverage, settle in, and by the time you reach work or come home from work, you are a relaxed and happy person. My commute in the car is sucking the joy out of my life. Salem Ferry puts the joy back into my world. I only wish the season were a little longer, but May until October is pretty generous for Boston. The crew are very professional, the food is pretty good, and it's a fast, fun trip to or from Boston or Salem. read more

A fun & great way to get to Boston! Pleasant ride on a sunny day. FYI...some homeless people were on the dock waiting for the ferry arrival in Boston. Welcome to the city tourists! read more

Taking the Salem Ferry from Boston to Salem was an okay experience. Not great, but not horrible. We took the 8am trip from Boston's Long Wharf to Salem. In total, there were three people on the ferry. Like any ferry, it was a bit chilly (I'd bring a sweater) and took about forty-five, fifty minutes to get from Boston to Salem. Because it was so early (8am seems average to me), the only thing available for breakfast were bags of chips/pretzels or candy. The menu selection wasn't big, but it did list soft pretzels, popcorn, and fresh muffins for $1.50-$2.50. But it didn't have either pretzels or muffins, so I ended up having candy at eight in the morning. It's a good price for an hour-long trip. The ride itself is enjoyable, offering some nice picture opportunities. I'd ride it again, rather than taking a water taxi. read more

Get thee to Salem by ferry! I had no idea this option was available until I took advantage of it for the first time this past Memorial day weekend. It's a most wonderful and scenic ride. Nothing really beats the wind in your hair, cruising on the endless ocean on a hot summer day! It's the perfect mode of transport for a day trip to Salem from Boston, or the other way around. Just make sure you bring a hoodie or windbreaker as it can get rather chilly on the water with the strong ocean breezes. You could also ride inside on the lower deck, but where's the fun in that? From the ferry landing, it's only a 10-15 minute walk to downtown Salem. I was amused that the pedi-cab drivers were urging people not to walk the mile into town... On the Boston side, the ferry docks right at Long Wharf by the New England Aquarium. It's literally a stone's throw from Faneuil Hall, North End and the many other delights of downtown. It would be nice if tickets were a wee bit cheaper for the 45 minute ride ($22 round trip), but my main gripe is that the ticketing system is really inefficient and we waited in line for well over 15 minutes despite there not being many people in line (less than 10). By the time the boat was docked and loaded in Boston, we were still waiting for tickets...At that point, the crew just ushered us onboard and told us to pay on the boat. We were told that this was a new ticketing system, and you used to be able to buy tickets onboard. Also, the ticket kiosk is not very clearly marked so I walked all around the two sides of the wharf before finding myself in the right line (note: the Salem Ferry booth is closest to the Aquarium and next to the whale watch ticket line). They should make the directions more clear on their website! Andy hopefully they will also work out the ticketing issues over the next couple of weeks... read more

What's really to review? It's a boat. If it doesn't sink, it's a successful experience. It's clean, the staff are friendly, the ride is beautiful, and there is a bar to help you kill the 45 minutes of time on the ride. Coming into Boston at night is a pretty amazing experience. If you need to get Salem, for the price, this is certainly a great way to get there. read more

After comparing the train and ferry, we decided to take the ferry from Boston at 9:30am and return to Boston at 4:00pm. Since the ferry leaves from Long Wharf, we are able to walk there from our hotel. The ferry was on time both ways and it is a very comfortable and relaxing trip between the two city. read more

My review seems a little harsh, but let me elaborate why. The ferry and the ride itself was terrific. The speed and the convenience was ideal, as was the scenery, and the overall fun of the experience. My main issues lies with the customer service. I purchased my tickets online 4 days prior to the day I wanted to take the ferry. I promptly received an email stating to bring my ID and credit card to the will call booth to receive my tickets. No links and no further instructions. Upon arriving at the will call booth, I was greeted by an older woman who immediately gave me an attitude, and refused to give me my tickets unless I provided a copy of my email. When I informed her that the email instructed me to provide my ID and credit card, I was informed that I was wrong and she couldn't give me my tickets. My wife attempted to help by going to the other ticket agent, who was even worse. The ticket agents insisted that the email contained a link (which it didn't) that I had to click on to print my tickets. There computer system also had no record of my purchase. After much discussion and showing them the actual email on my Blackberry, they finally decided to give us our tickets. Perhaps a flaw of the system, but the general unpleasantness was unnecessary. And as my wife owns her own business, I can say that confidently. read more

Not the cheapest or most efficient way to get to Salem for me since I live in Arlington, but for a scenic route, this can't be beat. It seems appropriate to go between Boston and Salem by sea, since both cities are famous port cities. The ferry departs from the New England Aquarium wharf (where the Liberty Clipper docks) and is a fast and comfortable ride. You get great views of both the Boston harbor skyline and the Salem waterfront coming and going. I got some great photos! read more

It was announced today in the Salem News that ferry passes will be combined w/commuter rail passes zones 5 and up! Something that makes the ferry more realistic as a regular/ affordable transportation option... read more

everyday i take the commuter rail back and forth from home in salem to boston. i am always pleased as pie when i get off work just in time to make it to the ferry to go home on a summer night. i'd like to encourage anyone who has the chance to spend the little extra cash to take the ferry when traveling between boston and salem. it offers refreshments (including the always refreshing beer), and of course, a bit of a wake up call on the windy deck. gotta love a boat ride home. not to mention in boston, you get an incredible view of the city that is hard to come by unless you travel by sea, and in salem you can enjoy docking right near the house of gables and enjoy a historic walk toward downtown. just as a tip, i heard that salem will begin building another dock for this ship with a more direct walk to downtown, and a sort of small boardwalk. salem ferry, ftw! read more

Patrons Beware: Extremely QUESTIONABLE company. Me and my wife were staying in Salem and decided to take the ferry into Boston for the day. We pre-purchased round-trip tickets online and, while the ride to Boston was nice and convenient enough, when we went to catch our return ferry at 8pm, the terrible experience began. We, along with a family of 5 with young kids and another commuter, waited at the pick-up site in Boston until 30 minutes past the scheduled departure with no news, when I called and was first informed that the ferry had been canceled for the rest of the day starting at 4pm due to maintenance (or weather, the story changed). After learning of this from a ticket saleswoman (no managers or supervisors around), There were no signs announcing the cancellation; no representatives notifying customers, and no contact made even though Salem Ferry had my contact information due to my online purchase (they had both my cell phone number and e-mail address). I was informed that we, along with the others, were on our own for figuring out how to get back to Salem for the night. Imagine our stress: completely new to the area with no experience with the MBTA and we had to figure out how to get home with the added factor that it was almost 9pm by this point. Luckily we were able to take a bus back, putting us home over an hour and a half later than planned. From there, it only got more frustrating trying to talk with this company. I dealt with a lack of returning phone calls, a change in stories (from weather to maintenance to weather), and a run-around when it came to getting reimbursed for my canceled trip. As of now, I was supposed to hear back last Friday (7/15/11) and still have not, and have not received reimbursement. Unforeseen issues occur and it is reasonable to think that a ferry trip may be canceled. However, it is completely unacceptable for no steps to be taken to notify passengers (pre-paid ticket holders) of the cancellation as soon as it occurs. A simple phone call would have prevented all of our trouble. When questioned about steps in place to prevent this type of situation, I was told that I could follow them on Twitter in the future in order to be up-to-date with cancellations... read more

Love taking the ferry in and out of Boston. Also love that they have the Landing at the Salem Ferry open for an open air beverage on a warm summer night. read more

Fantastic way to visit this historic city north of Boston -- complete with great views of the skyline and harbor from the water, and a guided tour of regional history to boot! Walking distrance to major attractions from the ferry landing at the Salem end, and right by the aquarium and Quincy Market at the Boston end. read more

If you are looking for something to do for either locals or people visiting from out of town, take them on the Salem Ferry for the day. We departed Salem and rode into Boston. The view of the coastline and the island is amazing. The ride is very relaxing and an inexpensive way to enjoy a day. You can take as long or short of a day as you want and of course there is much to do in both locations. It was a nice alternative to driving into Boston. The mini tour that goes along with the ride is also informative for people visiting. read more

I agree with the first reviewer, the Salem Ferry is a GREAT ride to or from Boston/Salem. If you're looking for something to do on a weekend night take the ferry up to Salem where you can walk to tons of restaurants right downtown is great. We can actually walk to the Salem ferry from where we live and take it to Boston to go out to dinner and then back to Salem. The ride out of Boston harbor at night is amazing with tons of party boats all around with the back drop of the city....perfect. Plus, they do serve beer and wine on-board, not sure if it's a full bar though. read more

I highly recommend the Salem Ferry. The ride to Boston takes about 45 minutes, docking right next to the aquarium and the trip over is always fun, relaxing and scenic. They sell drinks and snacks, and there's a guide who talks about the sights as you go. I believe a round-trip adult ticket is $19 but if you buy online it's $17 and worth every penny! read more

What a fun time! We recently utilized the Salem Ferry for a birthday adventure. Starting with drinks out in front of the aquarium, we were blessed with a beautiful day. Then on to the boat, where drinks can be purchased, our own little booze cruise! You're dropped off in Salem, which is of course a very cute little walking town, and you can show you ferry ticket for a discount on dinner at several destinations. Just check the Salem Ferry website for your options. After dinner you head back to the boat and are back in Boston in time to hit the evening scene. All in all, a fabulous time! read more

I've been commuting from Salem to downtown Boston via ferry for the past month or so and it's GREAT. There is no nicer way to get to work. It is also new and different every day -- some days it's foggy, some windy, some rainy, some unbelievably gorgeous, but in any weather the trip along the coast is beautiful. I recommend 100%. (And, if the Salem dock is just a bit too far from the center of town for you, rest assured -- there are nearly always a few handsome young pedicab drivers waiting around to whisk you away to wherever your heart desires.) read more

Great way to get into Boston, whether for fun or work. View is lovely, people are nice. I wish it ran year-round.