June 29, 2007
Circle Line loses Statue of Liberty ferry monopoly
Ending Circle Lines' five-decade monopoly on ferry service to the Statue of Liberty, the National Park Service on Thursday said it intends to switch to Hornblower Yachts Inc., which shuttles tourists to San Francisco's Alcatraz Island.
Under the proposed 10-year exclusive contract, Hornblower could begin operations as early as October to Liberty and Ellis islands. Round-trip adult ferry fare would rise 50 cents -- to $12 for adults and $5 for children, according to the Sun.
 NewYorkology's last review of the Statue of Liberty tourist experience -- in April -- again found the route to be poorly managed with excessive and crowded waits, conflicting information, random rule changes and surly service at ticketing.
The proposed contract faces a 60-day Congressional review period. Six companies bid for the contract, potentially worth $350 million, according to the New York Times.
More from the Times:Organized labor has criticized Hornblower for using nonunion workers on the Alcatraz tour and the rest of its business. But Mr. MacRae said that some operations in Hawaii and Delaware were unionized and that he had not made up his mind about the Statue of Liberty operation, which may be renamed “Statue Cruises.” Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn), is again proposing $1 million for a study he hopes will force the National Park Service to once again allow visitors to the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, tourists have not been allowed above toe-level of the statue. But NPS spokesmen have called the statue a "firetrap" because there is only one exit, and building an exterior staircase would be aesthetically horrible.
"Circle Line" is a slightly complicated business. Originally it was just one company operating on the Hudson, including Statue of Liberty service since 1954. But in 1981 the company split in two, with Circle Line "uptown" keeping the harbor cruises operating from near 42nd Street on the Hudson. Circle Line "downtown" operates the Liberty/Ellis ferries, and has another branch, Circle Line Harbor Cruises LLC, which operates out of the South Street Seaport. This was also the outfit that was going to start ferry service to LaGuardia Airport, a plan that was put on hold in 2006.
Earlier: Circle Line proposes solar ferries for Statue of Liberty
High in the Sky: Statue of Liberty's observation decks
Odd rules for new Statue of Liberty ferry bidders
Circle Line adds cruises, but LaGuardia ferry on hold
NewYorkology Basics: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
June 29, 2007 07:53 AM in Downtown, Museums, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology, Tours, Transportology
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