Believe it or not, summer is very nearly upon us and with that comes one thing on Cape Cod. Traffic. That’s right. You know what we are talking about. That unbelievable, soul deadening, blood curdling, mind numbing, rage inducing, heart breaking traffic. The roadways are packed during the summer. So can we be honest? You’re not really going anywhere fast in a car.
There are in fact other methods of travel and today we will explore how you can avoid those dreaded traffic jams by taking advantage of mass transport Cape Cod-style. Ferries.
Boston to Provincetown:
Coming from Boston you say? But with all of that work they’re constantly doing on the bridges you dread the prospect. Fear not for there is in fact a ferry service available from Boston to Provincetown. Boston Harbor Cruises’ Provincetown Ferry “Salacia,” the largest and fastest catamaran of its kind in North America, is fully equipped with clean, modern amenities including a snack bar serving beer, wine and cocktails. It can take you from the city to P-Town Harbor in 90 minutes.
The service operates mid-May through October offering up to three trips per day. An adult can procure a one-way ticket in either direction for $61 dollars, $83 for the round trip. You save a few bucks if you’re a senior citizen, a few more if you’re a child under 11 years of age.
For more information on the Salacia service visit: www.bostonharborcruises.com/provincetown-ferry
Bay State Cruise Company offers the “Provincetown III,” with ample comfortable seating and an enclosed, air-conditioned lower deck, it will also get you there in about 90 minutes. Or you can escape into the past with the nostalgic traditional style ferry, the “Provincetown II,” and enjoy the scenic 3-hour ride lying in the sun or taking in the sites.
For more information on the Bay State Cruise Company visit: baystatecruisecompany.com
Hyannis to Nantucket:
It’s hard to beat being on Cape Cod when the weather is decent but Nantucket Island isn’t so bad either. For those looking to make the trek from Hyannis to the island, there are several ferry options.
For starters there’s the Steamship Authority. The Authority provides two options for Hyannis-Nantucket travel. First, Iyanough, the luxurious seasonal high-speed passenger ferry that gets you there in just an hour. Or take a leisurely 2 hour and 15 minute ride on one of their traditional ferries. You can even buy a ticket for your car. The schedule of each of the ferries is evolving and dependent many times on weather. For more information on the Steamship Authority Hyannis-Nantucket service visit: steamshipauthority.com
On the other side of Hyannis Harbor sits Hy-Line. Hy-Line, offering up to 18 daily high-speed trips between the destinations. An adult round trip ticket will run you $77 and $44 if you are going one-way. You can even buy a fairly reasonable ticket for your bicycle.
For more information on the Hy-Line Hyannis-Nantucket service visit: hylinecruises.com
Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard:
The folks at Hy-Line also offer service between Hyannis and Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard, and they are the only ones who can get you to the island from the Cape’s tourism hub. Again, the trip will take about an hour and rates are $29.50 for a one-way sail and $59 if you want to come back again.
Falmouth to Martha’s Vineyard:
The Steamship Authority offers dozens of passenger and vehicle ferry trips Woods Hole and the Vineyard on a daily basis. You can opt to arrive in/depart from either Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven, the trip between there and the Cape is about 45 minutes in either case. A one-way adult ticket is a mere $8.50, travel for your vehicle is about $70.
The Island Queen offers up to 10 daily trips from Falmouth Harbor to Oak Bluffs, they report that it takes about 35 minutes, costing between $18 and $22 for adults, less for kids and active members of the military.
To Learn more about the Island Queen visit: islandqueen.com
Intra-Island travel:
Let’s suppose you’d like to travel between Nantucket and the Vineyard. Back to Hy-Line. They offer three daily trips between Nantucket and Oak Bluffs for $65 (round trip) or $36 (one way).
Harwich Port to Nantucket:
The only service from the Lower Cape, Freedom Cruise Lines sails between Nantucket and Saquatucket Harbor. It’ll cost you $39 one-way, $76 for the round trip. They’ll even give you free parking if you happen to be a day-tripper.
To Learn more about Freedom Cruise Lines visit: nantucketislandferry.com
By CapeCod.com Staff
