Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard Ferry Discounts

by Denise
(Baltimore, MD)

Question: Are there any discounts for the ferry rides to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard? I was shocked at how expensive it is to get from island to island.

Dee's Reply: Hi Denise. Yes, some of the ferry fares are a little on the "pricey" side. But not all.

The long and short of it is that the price point for ferries to the islands depends on three basic factors: (1) which island you're going to; (2) where you leave from; and (3) how quickly you want to get from here to there.

Not surprisingly, the farther and faster you travel, the more it costs.

Let me give you a few examples ...

Nantucket is about 24 nautical miles from Cape Cod.

The "fast ferries" to Nantucket make the crossing in about an hour. Round-trip adult fares range from $69-$77, depending on which ferry service you use.

If you're willing to spend more time getting to Nantucket, then you can take a "traditional" (slow) ferry. The trip is over 2 hours long, but the fares are significantly lower - from $35 to $45 round trip per adult.

Martha's Vineyard is only 5 or 6 nautical miles from Cape Cod at the nearest point.

It's possible to make that crossing in about 15-20 minutes for $16 round-trip per adult, if you leave from Woods Hole.

If, on the other hand, you leave from Hyannis, it's farther to travel - about 16 nautical miles, if memory serves. So the trip is longer and fares are higher. Fares from Hyannis to Martha's Vineyard range from $45 to $72 per adult ticket, round-trip.

Rather than try to explain all the different port/fare options here, your question gave me the idea to create "summary charts" showing all the different ferry fare/port options at a glance.

So I've just gone back and added that info to my Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard ferry pages. The charts will make it super-simple for you (and all my other site visitors) to quickly see which ferry service will work out best for you.

Here are links to those pages:

Martha's Vineyard Ferry Information

Nantucket Ferry Information

Ferry Discounts and Special Offers

Be sure to check each ferry company's website for discounts and specials. You'll often find dollars-off discounts or sometimes a "kids ride free" promotion.

Go Boston Card

One last thing that I should mention is the "Go Boston" card. It's an all-inclusive pass that covers admission to more than 50 popular activities and attractions in Boston and nearby areas in Massachusetts.

The Go Boston pass includes ferry rides from Cape Cod to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, as well as the ferry from Boston to Provincetown, and a number of activities and attractions on the Cape, too.

Although you haven't said so, I'm assuming you're coming to the Cape on vacation?

If, by chance, you're planning to do some sightseeing in or around Boston as well as here on the Cape, then have a look at the Go Boston card. A number of my site visitors have used the card and loved it for the significant savings - and the "go to the front of the line" admission - it offers.

Go Boston Card

I hope all this information is helpful to you. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!

Best Regards,

Dee

P.S. It just dawned on me that in your question you mentioned "getting from island to island". Are you thinking of taking a ferry between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard?

If so, the only company that offers that option is HyLine out of Hyannis. It's their "Around the Sound" excursion, and you'll find the information about that on my Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard ferry pages linked above.

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