FAQ

Yes, Seastreak offers multiple connections to and from Martha’s Vineyard via New Bedford and NYC. For more information on alternate transportation please give us a call at 1-800-BOATRIDE to speak with a Seastreak customer service representative.

Not currently, but if you have any suggestions on tours or activities you’d like to see us offer, please drop us a note on our Contact page.

From New Bedford, the trip is typically one hour and forty minutes travel time. Keep in mind that travel times may vary due to weather, tides, sea conditions, and/or other unforeseen circumstances.

We recommend flying to TF Green airport located in Providence, Rhode Island. From Providence, we are approximately 45 minutes. We recommend Yes We Van for transportation between Providence and our New Bedford Terminal. Reservations can be made by calling 1-304-GOBYVAN or online.

Yes! There are two parking options for ferry passengers.

Valet Parking

Available April 25 – October 14, 2024

Convenient valet parking is available at our New Bedford terminal. With our SMS Valet service, you no longer need to make reservations ahead of time via our website. When dropping off your vehicle, please pull up to the valet booth and provide our valet attendant with your name and mobile number. You will receive a ‘Welcome’ text message from Seastreak at that time.

While on your return ferry trip back to New Bedford, simply locate the ‘Welcome’ text message and follow the instructions to request your vehicle and pay via your mobile phone. The valet booth will get a digital notification that you are returning and will move your car to a nearby location. Upon exiting the ferry, please proceed to the valet booth and present your ticket number to our attendant.

Valet Parking Address
49 State Pier
New Bedford, MA 02740

Offsite Parking

Available April 25 – October 14, 2024

Offsite parking is available at the Whales Tooth parking lot. Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the lot and pier. Passes may be reserved ahead of time through Seastreak, or purchased at the Whale’s Tooth parking lot booth (subject to availability).

Whales Tooth Parking Lot Address
532 Acushnet Avenue
New Bedford, MA 02740

Seastreak cannot guarantee any trip length as travel times may vary due to weather, tides, sea conditions, and/or other unforeseen circumstances. Seastreak at its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to cancel any scheduled trip and/or substitute another vessel without liability if it becomes necessary for any reason. Seastreak does not guarantee that the service shall depart or arrive at the time stated in the schedule and will not be liable for any additional travel costs incurred by the passenger as a result of any cancellation or delay.

Over the last two years of operation we have had very few instances where we have needed to cancel all of our trips due to weather. If a weather cancellation should take place during a departure you are booked on, we make every effort to contact you using the telephone number and email address provided in your reservation and arrange the most efficient way possible to get you to or from the island.

New Bedford Departures: Ticketed passengers who have not yet departed from New Bedford will be offered either an exchange for a ticket on a different day or a full refund.

We recommend arriving at least 45-60 minutes before your departure. Boarding will begin 40 minutes prior to the departure. Reservations not picked up 10 minutes prior to a departure may be released to stand-by passengers.

We depart from the Steamship Authority Terminal located at 1 Steamboat Wharf, Nantucket, MA 02554.

Nantucket is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Yes, for children age 12 and under. Please see the regular and holiday child fares on the Martha’s Vineyard page.

Seastreak reserves the right not to accept any passenger under the age of 13 years, unless accompanied by an adult.

We do not offer a senior discount to/from New Bedford.

ALL TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, unless Trip Protection is purchased (please see terms below). Exchanges can be made for a fee prior to the intended date and time of departure. Once the boat has sailed, tickets are not exchangeable, and the value is forfeited; the ticket will be marked as a no show, and you will be required to make a new reservation. All credits are valid for travel within the same calendar year as the original date of travel.

For passengers traveling between New Bedford, and Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket: Passengers who need to make changes to their reservations will be charged a per-ticket service fee.

Trip Protection Terms: New Bedford customers who purchase trip protection are able to refund their ticket(s) and parking pass up to two hours before their planned departure time. If your ticket is for a departure earlier than 9:30 AM, you must notify Seastreak by 5PM the day before travel. Trip protection prices are per-ticket and dependent on the ticket type (one-way or round trip), and for which island your ticket has as its destination. The trip protection waives the exchange fees normally assessed for date, or time exchanges. Your exchange must be made within the same time period listed for trip protected refunds (see above). Waiving of exchange fees is limited to one exchange; any additional changes to the date, or time of a ticket will incur a per-ticket exchange fee. Once the boat has sailed tickets are not refundable, or exchangeable, and the value is forfeited; the ticket will be marked as a no show, and you will be required to make a new reservation. Trip protection cannot be added to an order after the purchase is completed and is not refundable.

We do recommend making advance reservations especially for travel during our peak summer season. Reservations can be made online, over the phone, or in one of our ticket offices.

Yes, pre-payment in full is required to secure a reservation. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended. Tickets may be purchased at the vessel on the day of travel on a first come basis, however we cannot guarantee seating and availability.

If a departure is sold out, we will try to accommodate passengers that wish to stand-by for boarding. If you would like to stand-by for a sold-out departure, you must purchase a ticket for the next available boat in the ticket office. Stand-by passengers are boarded on a first-come, first-serve basis from the stand-by line located at the boarding gate. All stand-by passengers must be parked and present at the terminal in the stand-by line when unclaimed reservations are released. Unclaimed reservations will be released 3-5 minutes prior to departure after all ticketed passengers have been boarded.

All tickets purchased online will be emailed to the email address provided at the time of purchase. All tickets purchased in person will be printed out at the time of purchase.

The Nantucket ticket office is a seasonal office, and hours may vary. During peak season the ticket office is open Monday – Thursday from 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM, and on Friday- Sunday from 9:00 AM until 8:00 PM.

Stowage of baggage onboard Seastreak vessels must comply with 46 CFR § 116.820. Carry-on baggage is limited to one carry-on size item that must be able to fit underneath your seat, and one small personal item. Larger baggage must be checked-in with the onboard crew for proper storage. Luggage cannot be left un-attended at the terminal or on the pier. Combustible materials cannot be brought on board. We do reserve the right to screen all passenger baggage.

We love our pets and we’re glad you do too! We welcome pets onboard most of our trips.

For passengers traveling from New Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard: Yes, we do welcome dogs aboard our vessels traveling from New Bedford to Martha’s Vineyard. All dogs must be leashed at all times in and around the terminal and while on board. We do also ask that dogs not be permitted to ride on the seats while on board. The Captains reserve the right to deny boarding to any dog if he/she feels that there would be a threat to other passengers. Please remember to clean up after your pet.

Seastreak ferries are designed to carry passengers and are not equipped to carry vehicles. Coast Guard regulations do not allow us to transport engine powered vehicles or gasoline.

Yes. All of our vessels and terminals have USCG approved security plans in effect. Per 33 CFR 104/105, we must ensure the implementation of security measures designed to protect the safety and security of our passengers, vessels and facilities. Per this regulation, Seastreak reserves the right to screen persons, baggage and personal effects for dangerous substances or devices. Further, entrance to Seastreak facilities and/or vessels is deemed valid consent to screening or inspection. Failure to consent or submit to screening or inspection will result in denial or revocation of authorization to enter our facilities or vessels.

We have the lowest incidences of motion sickness among passenger ferry services in the North East for the following reasons: 1) our short 24 mile route to and from Martha’s Vineyard from New Bedford has us pass through two protected sounds, 2) catamarans offer the benefit of stability, and 3) our vessels are equipped with a computer aided ride control system that senses and counteracts the wave motion.

However, inclement weather can occur and those who are sensitive to motion sickness should take that into consideration when traveling on board any vessel.

Yes! We do transport bicycles and scooters for a nominal fee. Charges are listed on our Routes & Schedules page. Please be sure to include that you’ll be bringing a bicycle or scooter when booking your reservation. Bicycles and scooters must be stored outside on our vessels in designated areas. Passengers with any questions may reach out to Seastreak deckhands who will be happy to assist and identify these designated areas.

Yes! All Seastreak ferries have a full cash bar serving spirits, beer, wine and soft drinks as well as bagged snacks. We allow passengers to bring food onboard, we just ask that you do not bring hard coolers onboard.

The Seastreak catamarans have either two or three decks. The Lower Deck is entirely indoor, the Second Deck is half indoor and half outdoor, and the Third Deck is entirely outdoor.

New Bedford customers who purchase trip protection are able to refund their ticket(s) and parking pass up to two hours before their planned departure time. If your ticket is for a departure earlier than 9:30 AM, you must notify Seastreak by 5PM the day before travel. Trip protection prices are per-ticket and dependent on the ticket type (one-way or round trip), and for which island your ticket has as its destination. The trip protection waives the exchange fees normally assessed for date, or time exchanges. Your exchange must be made within the same time period listed for trip protected refunds (see above). Waiving of exchange fees is limited to one exchange; any additional changes to the date, or time of a ticket will incur a per-ticket exchange fee. Once the boat has sailed tickets are not refundable, or exchangeable, and the value is forfeited; the ticket will be marked as a no show, and you will be required to make a new reservation. Trip protection cannot be added to an order after the purchase is completed and is not refundable.

Express Ferry Service fares include all applicable fuel surcharges and Commonwealth of MA embarkation fees.

Yes, for children age 12 and under. Please see the regular and holiday child fares on our Routes & Schedules page.

ALL TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, unless Trip Protection is purchased (please see terms below). Exchanges can be made for a fee prior to the intended date and time of departure. Once the boat has sailed, tickets are not exchangeable, and the value is forfeited; the ticket will be marked as a no show, and you will be required to make a new reservation.

For passengers traveling between New Bedford, and Martha’s Vineyard, or Nantucket: Passengers who need to make changes to their reservations will be charged a per-ticket service fee.

Trip Protection Terms: New Bedford customers who purchase trip protection are able to refund their ticket(s) and parking pass up to two hours before their planned departure time. If your ticket is for a departure earlier than 9:30 AM, you must notify Seastreak by 5PM the day before travel. Trip protection prices are per-ticket and dependent on the ticket type (one-way or round trip), and for which island your ticket has as its destination. The trip protection waives the exchange fees normally assessed for date, or time exchanges. Your exchange must be made within the same time period listed for trip protected refunds (see above). Waiving of exchange fees is limited to one exchange; any additional changes to the date, or time of a ticket will incur a per-ticket exchange fee. Once the boat has sailed tickets are not refundable, or exchangeable, and the value is forfeited; the ticket will be marked as a no show, and you will be required to make a new reservation. Trip protection cannot be added to an order after the purchase is completed and is not refundable.

Seastreak ferries are designed to carry passengers and are not equipped to carry vehicles. Coast Guard regulations do not allow us to transport engine powered vehicles or gasoline.

If a departure is sold out, we will try to accommodate passengers that wish to stand-by for boarding. If you would like to stand-by for a sold-out departure, you must purchase a ticket for the next available boat in the ticket office. Stand-by passengers are boarded on a first-come, first-serve basis from the stand-by line located at the boarding gate. All stand-by passengers must be parked and present at the terminal in the stand-by line when unclaimed reservations are released. Unclaimed reservations will be released 3-5 minutes prior to departure after all ticketed passengers have been boarded.

Seastreak cannot guarantee any trip length as travel times may vary due to weather, tides, sea conditions, and/or other unforeseen circumstances. Seastreak at its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to cancel any scheduled trip and/or substitute another vessel without liability if it becomes necessary for any reason. Seastreak does not guarantee that the service shall depart or arrive at the time stated in the schedule and will not be liable for any additional travel costs incurred by the passenger as a result of any cancellation or delay.

Over the last two years of operation we have had very few instances where we have needed to cancel all of our trips due to weather. If a weather cancellation should take place during a departure you are booked on, we make every effort to contact you using the telephone number and email address provided in your reservation and arrange the most efficient way possible to get you to or from the island.

New Bedford Departures: Ticketed passengers who have not yet departed from New Bedford will be offered either an exchange for a ticket on a different day or a full refund.

Yes, we love groups and will do everything possible to accommodate their needs! Please give us a call to speak with our group sales coordinator at 1-800-BOATRIDE (1-800-262-8743).