The Steamship Authority - Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States

5Ann W 5:00 PM Oct 10, 2021

Very nice day trip!
When we decided to include Martha's Vineyard on our recent road trip, we immediately reserved a spot for our vehicle on the ferry. We made our reservations in March for our September trip. When you make your reservation you need to specify make and model of your vehicle so they can allocate space on the ferry. We were planning on renting a minivan. However, when we picked up our vehicle three days before our scheduled trip to Martha's Vineyard they did not have minivans. So we were given a much larger vehicle. I immediately called and explained the situation. The person I spoke to was very nice and very efficient. She checked to see if the additional space was available, confirmed that it was and indicated that there would be an additional $10 charge each way. She processed my payment and we were all set. Could not have gone any smoother. We arrived at Woods Hole, we were put in line and loaded on the ferry. It was a smooth ride. The attendants give you excellent direction for getting your vehicle on and off the ferry. Masks are required if you leave your car. The passenger area of the ferry was very clean. My reservation said that we would dock at Oak Bluffs on the way over and depart from Vineyard Haven on the return. For whatever reason we docked at Vineyard Haven on our way over. So without paying attention I assumed we would depart from the other location. Thankfully I checked my reservation and checked in at the office at Oak Bluffs with plenty of time to realize that I needed to be in Vineyard Haven. Overall the ferry service is well organized and punctual. By taking our car we were able to travel all over Martha Vineyard and see all the lovely sights. Without a car we would have been very limited in what we would have been able to see.

4mathchef 5:00 PM Oct 10, 2020

Late ferry
People generally practiced social distancing while riding the ferry. But not when boarding or disembarking - then it was just people crowded together trying to get where they were going as quickly as possible. The ride was pleasant; water was reasonably calm when we traveled. Rest rooms were reasonable. Staff were very helpful to us in parking our bikes on board. Shuttle bus drivers were wonderfully helpful in getting our bikes loaded on the front of the bus. They definitely earned a 5-star rating. Make sure you understand the parking procedures. Call to find which parking lot is being used and be prepared for a 15 minute or more shuttle bus drive from parking lot to ferry. We were pleased to learn that we could buy a round trip ticket without specifying what time we were planning to return. Also we could return from Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven without specifying that ahead of time. My biggest complaint is that the ferries do not follow the printed schedule. We left 30 minutes late in the morning for no apparent reason. The ferry coming home left 90 minutes later than scheduled.