July 25, 2007
Statue of Liberty ferries to get timed-entry ticketing
 Hornblower Cruises & Events, the company expected to take over the monopolistic ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, plans to use a new ticketing system that would cut the suggested wait-time to 30 to 60 minutes from Circle Line's current two-hours, the Associated Press reports.
Hornblower plans to let advance ticket buyers reserve a time on a specific ferry rather than queue up in the excessive lines at the Manhattan dock for the twice-hourly boats.
While Circle Line often insists the real problem is the post-Sept. 11 security, NewYorkology has consistently observed that to be untrue. The airport-style security on the Manhattan side is efficient, thorough and fast. (Read the full account of NewYorkology's hassle-filled April visit to the Statue of Liberty.)
This past Saturday afternoon, an absurdly long line for the boat and security snaked from the dock, all the way up to the WTC globe, and bent back toward Castle Clinton. Circling Castle Clinton itself, there was another line of people foolishly waiting to buy tickets. Nowhere are they warned that buying a ticket on a summer afternoon virtually guarantees that you'll have almost zero time to get off the boat at both islands and see much before you have to grab the last boat back at 6:30 p.m.
As long as Circle Line has the contract, the best plan is to buy your tickets online in advance and print out your verification. You MUST select the box for the free monument pass, otherwise you will not be allowed into the Statue of Liberty museum or get to climb into the statue to toe level (which is as high as you're allowed to go since Sept. 10, 2001.) The monument pass is time-coded; it's up to you to navigate the Circle line/security lines to get to the shorter statue-access security line in time. The best plan is to get the first boat of the morning with the earliest monument pass (currently 8:45 a.m.)
But if you don't have at least half a day to devote to this endeavor, simply walk through the park and board the Staten Island Ferry, which will pass fairly close to the Statue of Liberty. It's free and the whole experience takes about an hour.
 Hornblower, which will operate the Liberty and Ellis islands ferry service under the name Statue Cruises, last month was chosen by the National Park Service to take over the exclusive contract from Circle Line. The contract is expected to be signed this week, AP reports, but no start date for the service switch has been set.
Earlier: Circle Line loses Statue of Liberty ferry monopoly
High in the Sky: Statue of Liberty's observation decks
Fire safety keeping Statue of Liberty's top closed
July 25, 2007 08:27 AM in Museums, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology, Tours
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