The NYC Ferry will start its 2025 summer schedule this Memorial Day weekend, which includes the return of the ever-popular Rockaway Reserve and Rockaway Rocket boats, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced on Wednesday.
Both Queens-based boats arrive in time to bring more passengers to NYC Beaches amid record ridership to the peninsula’s vast beaches, NYCEDC officials said. According to Beyond the Boardwalk: NYC Beaches as Economic Engines, an NYCEDC report that analyzed beach season in the city, the Big Apple’s shore spots saw 11.6 million beachcombers in 2024, a year-over-year increase of more than 230,000 people.
“With summer 2025 just around the corner, New Yorkers are more excited than ever before to take advantage of everything the City has to offer in the warmer months,” NYCEDC president and CEO Andrew Kimball said. “From NYC Ferry to the NYC beaches, we’re building on a strong year of ridership and economic data to ensure that we continue to make all five boroughs more accessible and spur economic activity across the City.”
In an effort to attract summer-loving New Yorkers and tourists to the scenic beaches of the Rockaways in Queens, NYC Ferry will launch the Rockaway Reserve so riders can book space in advance. Meanwhile, the Rockaway Rocket aims to provide smooth sailing express service between Queens and Brooklyn.
In more NYC beach travel news, the MTA reopened A train service to the Rockaways on Monday after a four-month shutdown between Howard Beach-JFK Airport, Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue, and Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street in Queens.
About the Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve schedule for summer 2025
- Rockaway Reserve: Starting Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 7 on weekends and holidays, riders can reserve a spot on select morning trips towards the Rockaways and afternoon trips back to Wall St./Pier 11 and Brooklyn Army Terminal along the Rockaway route.
- Rockaway Rocket: Returning to Long Island City and Greenpoint to provide express, all-reserve service, Rockaway Rocket service will start on July 4 and go through Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is on Sept. 1. As a dedicated beach route, the Rocket will operate two direct morning trips to Rockaway from Long Island City and Greenpoint and two afternoon return trips.
Tickets for both ferries are $12. NYCEDC officials said each ticket includes priority boarding and a guaranteed spot on board a specific departure. Non-reserved seats will still be available at the regular $4.50 fare.
Meanwhile, the larger NYC Ferry system, which has a fleet of 38 boats covering all five boroughs all year, has already seen a 5% increase in ridership this year, according to the NYCEDC report.
NYC Ferry summer schedule went into effect on May 19, with the Rockaway Reserve and Rockaway Rocket available Memorial Weekend and July 4, respectively.
More information is available at ferry.nyc.
