Cross Sound Ferry
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Cross Sound Ferry has been providing daily, year-round passenger and vehicle service between New London, Connecticut and Orient Point, Long Island, New York for over 30 years. Crossing Long Island Sound, the ferry service bridges New England and Long Island, saving a traveler up to 200 miles of driving.
The company owns a fleet of seven vehicle-passenger ferries and a single high-speed, passenger-only ferry, the Sea Jet I. The fleet consists of both new build vessels and vessels retrofitted at sister company, Thames Shipyard and Repair in New London. The fleet has been greatly upgraded over the years to serve a surge in demand from the traveling public.
On the New England side, the ferry is located near Mystic and the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, Mystic Seaport and Olde Mistick Village. The city of Providence and Newport, Rhode Island are within an hour's drive from the New London terminal. Boston and the Cape Cod bridges can be reached in two hours or less. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos are 20 minutes from the ferry terminal in New London.
On the Long Island side, the ferry is located within Long Island Wine Country and its collection of over 30 wineries located on Long Island's North Fork. The maritime village of Greenport is just 10 minutes away. Montauk and the Hamptons are within an hour and a half drive of the Orient Point terminal.
Cross Sound Ferry is a gateway between eastern Long Island and New England for over a million travelers a year.
For more than 20 years, Cross Sound Ferry has attempted to establish service between New London and the South Fork of Long Island in East Hampton Town. A local ordinance passed by the Town in 1997 prohibits vehicle ferry service within the Town's borders and places limits on the speeds of passenger vessels. A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit has sent back an earlier decision upholding the anti-ferry law. This decision represents a significant victory for supporters and potential users of a direct service to East Hampton.
Cross Sound is also seeking to improve its terminal facilities at Orient Point by creating additional parking at the terminal to accommodate the demand for its service. Currently, cars park along the shoulders of State Route 25 to use the ferry service when the terminal lots are filled. This improvement will accommodate all East End users of the ferry service and will meet the demands of the traveling public.
Another related company to Cross Sound Ferry, Block Island Express, offers seasonal, high-speed passenger service between New London and Block Island, Rhode Island May through October.
- Cross Sound Ferry official website
- Block Island Expressofficial website
