Statue City Cruises Tickets: Ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from $33
Quick answer
Statue City Cruises tickets cost from $33 per person for a ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, and the listing holds 4.6/5 from 21,151+ GetYourGuide reviews.
Plan 4 to 6 hours, leave before 1:00 PM to see both islands, and join the security queue at your ticket time, not at the ferry time.
Statue City Cruises
NYC Statue City Cruises: Official Statue of Liberty Tickets
4.6 (21,151) · from $33
Statue City Cruises tickets are the only way to land on Liberty Island and Ellis Island by ferry, and the GetYourGuide listing sells them from $33 per person with an audio guide and a free cancellation window of 24 hours.
The detail that changes the decision is time, not money. The listing tells you to set aside 4 to 6 hours and to pick a departure before 1:00 PM if you want both islands.
A ferry at 2 PM or later leaves too little time for Ellis Island. If your day is short, a cruise that sails past the statue may suit you better, and I compare those further down.
This page sits inside my New York boat tours comparison, and the Harbour Advisor home page lists the other cities if you are still choosing where to go.
| Operator | Statue City Cruises, the ferry service the National Park Service names as its authorised ticket seller for the two islands |
|---|---|
| Boat type | Passenger ferry, no commentary on board; self-guided audio at each island |
| Price | $33 per person from (USD); ages 0-3 are free per the listing |
| Duration | Listing says 5 hours; plan 4-6 hours door to door |
| Departure points | Castle Clinton in Battery Park, Manhattan (Castle Clinton on Google Maps) or Liberty State Park, Jersey City, depending on the option you choose |
| Route | Ferry to Liberty Island, ferry to Ellis Island, ferry back to the departure point |
| Included | Round-trip ferry, Liberty Island and Ellis Island access, audio guides, both museums; crown or pedestal only with the matching option |
| Languages | Audio guides in 12 languages per the listing, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Korean |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before the start, full refund |
| Rating | 4.6/5 from 21,151+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What are Statue City Cruises tickets and what do they get you?
They are ferry tickets that include entry to both islands, not a sightseeing cruise. The listing lists a round-trip ferry, access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, a self-guided audio tour on each island, and entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
- Liberty Island: the grounds, the statue viewed from below, and the Statue of Liberty Museum that houses the original torch.
- Ellis Island: the immigration museum, the former processing hall and a records search room for family research.
- Ferry: one ticket covers the crossing to both islands and the return.
- Audio guide: a free multilingual set at each island, with a children’s version on Liberty Island.
The listing’s inclusion list also names crown access and pedestal access. Those two come only with the matching option. The National Park Service says general admission covers both islands and both museums but not the inside of the statue, so treat the crown and pedestal lines as option-dependent and not as part of the $33 entry price.
Where does the Statue of Liberty ferry start from?
The ferry leaves from Castle Clinton in Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan, or from the New Jersey side at Liberty State Park, and your option decides which one you use. Castle Clinton on Google Maps shows the Manhattan side, and Liberty State Park on Google Maps shows the New Jersey side.
| From | Walking time | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green station (4, 5) | 5 min (359 m) | walking route |
| South Ferry / Whitehall St station (1) | 7 min (524 m) | walking route |
The walking times come from the OSRM foot-routing service and measure the walk from the Castle Clinton queue to the station entrances, rounded to the nearest minute. A single subway or local bus ride costs $3 according to the MTA fares page, read on 2026-10-17.
One reviewer from Germany reached the New Jersey terminal by taxi from Bayonne after a cruise-ship call. That is a different journey from the Manhattan side, so choose your departure point before you book and keep the confirmation open on your phone.
How does the day run, step by step?
The day has five steps, and security is the one that surprises people. The National Park Service says the time printed on the ticket is the time you join the security queue, not the time the ferry leaves.
- Join the queue: arrive at the screening facility at your ticket time; the NPS says waits can pass an hour in summer and at weekends.
- Pass airport-style screening: bags are checked and prohibited items are kept by the US Park Police.
- Board the ferry: the crossing to Liberty Island is short and the deck gives the close view of the statue.
- Explore Liberty Island: collect the audio guide, walk the grounds and visit the museum.
- Continue to Ellis Island, then return: the same ticket covers the second crossing and the way home.
Reviewers describe the system as flexible. One missed their slot and took a later boat without trouble, another sailed in the early morning and covered both islands, and a third ran out of time for Ellis Island, which shows why the early departure matters.
How long do you need, and which departure should you pick?
Pick a departure before 1:00 PM if you want both islands, because the listing says 4 to 6 hours are needed and a 2 PM start with priority entry leaves too little time for Ellis Island. Lines to enter the statue itself can run over three hours in busy periods, again per the listing.
| Departure | Time on the islands | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Before 10:00 AM | Enough for both islands at a slow pace | Best for a first visit |
| 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Both islands if you keep moving | Workable, plan lunch on Ellis Island |
| After 1:00 PM | Liberty Island only, in practice | Pick this only for the statue and skyline |
The third column is my reading of the listing’s advice and is not an operator timetable. The listing does not publish the first or last ferry, so check the ferry schedule for your date on the operator’s site before you plan the rest of the day.
Are Statue City Cruises tickets worth it against a sightseeing cruise?
For landing on the islands, yes, because no sightseeing cruise lets you step ashore. For skyline views and a sunset, a cruise is shorter and often cheaper per hour. The table sets the ferry ticket against the other first-pick options on the water.
| Trip | Price | Length | Rating (reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statue City Cruises (this page) | $33 | 5 hours | 4.6 (21,151) |
| NYC: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise Ticket | $27 | 1.5 hours | 4.6 (2,888) |
| NYC Sunset & Harbor Lights Cruise with Statue of Liberty | $45 | 2 hours | 4.6 (9,008) |
| NYC: City Cruises Luxury Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Cruise | $115 | 2 - 2.5 hours | 4.5 (1,058) |
My rule: to stand under the statue and see the Ellis Island halls, book this ticket.
To see the statue within a view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline, the 90-minute Circle Line sunset cruise at $27 is cheaper, and the Circle Line harbor lights cruise at $45 adds narration. The 90-minute cruise does not stop at the islands, even though its inclusion list mentions a visit; its length and title make a landing impossible, so ask Circle Line before you assume otherwise.
For evenings, my sunset cruise guide covers the options that sail near the statue after dark.
When is the best time to book Statue City Cruises tickets?
The best time is a weekday morning outside holiday weeks, and the second best is early evening on a cruise instead of the ferry. Crowds are the real variable. New York City’s tourism board reports record-level visitor numbers, and the queue is where you feel them.
64.3 million travelers were expected to visit New York City by the end of 2024, 97 percent of the 2019 record.
| Month | Avg high (2025) | Rain days | Sunset, 15th | On the deck |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 6 | 4:54 PM | Heavy coat, gloves; the deck is bitter after dark |
| Feb | 40°F | 11 | 5:32 PM | Heavy coat, hat; stay in the cabin for most of the sail |
| Mar | 55°F | 9 | 7:04 PM | Coat and scarf; deck is bearable at dusk only briefly |
| Apr | 63°F | 10 | 7:36 PM | Jacket; the deck is fine at midday, cool at dusk |
| May | 70°F | 16 | 8:07 PM | Light jacket for the evening wind off the water |
| Jun | 84°F | 12 | 8:30 PM | T-shirt by day; bring a layer for the dusk breeze |
| Jul | 89°F | 15 | 8:27 PM | Hot ashore, sun cream for daytime decks |
| Aug | 83°F | 6 | 7:55 PM | Warm; evenings are the comfortable time on deck |
| Sep | 78°F | 9 | 7:06 PM | Pleasant; a light layer for after sunset |
| Oct | 65°F | 7 | 6:17 PM | Jacket for the deck after sunset |
| Nov | 52°F | 9 | 4:39 PM | Coat and hat; sunset is before 5 PM |
| Dec | 38°F | 9 | 4:31 PM | Heavy coat; the cabin is the sensible seat |
The climate figures are monthly averages for 2025 from the Open-Meteo archive API, and the sunset column comes from the sunrise-sunset.org API for the 15th of each month in 2026. The ferry deck is open-air, so July is hot and January is bitter. The National Weather Service New York office publishes the forecast for the harbour on the day.
What do passengers say about the Statue City Cruises tickets?
The pattern is praise for the close view and the freedom to roam, with the meeting point as the main complaint. GetYourGuide rates the transport 4.5/5 and the value 4.4/5, and its summary of 300 recent reviews says travellers want clearer directions to the meeting point.
- Close view of the statue: the most repeated point, along with the skyline from the water.
- Time to explore: several describe a relaxed pace and a self-managed day.
- Audio guide: one reviewer calls it worth using, which fits the listing’s own advice.
- Not enough time: one reviewer lacked time for Ellis Island, another found it quiet because of renovation work.
The visible sample is positive-only, filtered to 5-star reviews, so I rely on the sub-scores and the AI summary for the complaints.
Who should skip Statue City Cruises tickets?
Skip this ticket if your day is short, if you cannot walk for several hours, or if you only want a photograph of the statue. The listing says the queue to enter the statue can pass three hours, and a four-to-six-hour visit is a commitment.
- Short stays: try the sunset cruises or the dinner cruises that pass the statue in 90 minutes to 3 hours.
- Unaccompanied minors: anyone under 17 needs an adult aged 25 or over, per the listing.
- Large bags and drones: luggage, large bags, glass and drones are not allowed.
- Crown seekers on a last-minute plan: crown tickets sell out far in advance.
The listing marks the product wheelchair accessible; ask the operator about the crown and pedestal levels, which the NPS says involve 162 steps without an elevator from the statue’s feet to the crown. I cannot confirm accessibility details from the listing alone.
How do you book Statue City Cruises tickets?
Choose the option on GetYourGuide, pick the date and departure point, and carry the ticket and an ID. The button below opens the listing; the price shown is for one adult.
Statue City Cruises tickets start at $33 per person and cover the ferry, both islands and the audio guides, with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat tour in NYC?
It depends on the goal: for stepping onto the islands, Statue City Cruises tickets at $33; for the skyline at dusk, a Circle Line sunset cruise from $27; for dinner, a dinner cruise from $115.
Are NYC boat tours worth it?
Yes if you pick the right one: the $33 ferry gives two museums and an island visit, while the 90-minute cruises give the skyline and bridges for $27 to $45.
Which ferry ride in New York City is the most scenic?
For the statue up close, the Battery Park ferry in this listing; for the whole skyline, a harbour cruise at sunset from Circle Line or a yacht sail.
Is there a $4 boat ride in NYC?
I found no $4 fare in the listings: this ticket is $33 and the cheapest cruise is $27, while the city-run Staten Island Ferry is free, per NYC DOT.
Are there any free boat rides in NYC?
NYC DOT lists the Staten Island Ferry as free service between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan; it is a commuter route, and the island landings need this ticket.
How long does the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island visit take?
Plan 4 to 6 hours, per the listing, and start before 1:00 PM if you want both islands.
What is included in the ferry ticket?
The round-trip ferry, Liberty Island and Ellis Island access, audio guides and both museums; crown or pedestal access depends on the option you choose.
Where do the ferries leave from?
From Castle Clinton in Battery Park, Manhattan, or from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, depending on the option booked.
Does the ticket time mean the ferry departs then?
No: the National Park Service says the ticket time is when you join the security queue, not the ferry departure.
Can children go free?
The listing says children aged 0-3 are free, and anyone under 17 needs an adult aged 25 or over.
Can I cancel Statue City Cruises tickets?
Yes, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund.
Sources: National Park Service, Statue of Liberty plan your visit; Statue City Cruises; MTA fares; NYC DOT Staten Island Ferry; National Weather Service New York; Open-Meteo archive API; Nager.Date API; sunrise-sunset.org API; GetYourGuide listing 393246.
