Cruise to the Statue of Liberty – What to Know Before You Go

A few days before my planned visit, I booked a Statue of Liberty cruise ticket on trip.com for the 10:30 a.m. time slot. However, soon I was contacted by the staff via email and phone saying that the 10:30 slot was no longer available. They offered me the option to cancel or reschedule. I agreed to take the 11:15 a.m. slot, and they sent me a new ticket. On the day of the cruise, I arrived early at Battery Park, where the ferries depart. I got there around 10:30 a.m., and although my new ticket was for 11:15, the staff told me it was okay to board an earlier boat. The waiting line wasn’t too long at that point, but the overall crowd was huge. By the time I got onto the ferry, it was already packed and there were no seats left only standing space was available. Still, I was excited as the boat started heading toward Liberty Island. The ferry ride was short, but once we arrived, it took a while to disembark because of the number of people. Finally stepping onto Liberty Island and seeing the Statue of Liberty up close was a great moment. I took lots of photos and spent a couple of hours walking around. The park surrounding the statue was peaceful and scenic, despite the large crowd. At that point, I thought the visit was over but then I realized the ticket actually included a stop at Ellis Island as well. I didn’t know that beforehand, and by then I was already very tired. Plus, the line to board the return ferry was long, and standing under the midday sun around 1–2 p.m. was exhausting. Once on the boat again, I still couldn’t find a seat, so I stood the whole way back to Battery Park. In the end, I really enjoyed the cruise and the experience of visiting Liberty Island. But I recommend being more informed than I was: 1. Check carefully what your ticket includes many cruises include Ellis Island as well. 2. Arrive early if you want a seat on the boat. 3. Prepare for crowds and be ready to wait in lines, especially in peak hours. After I returned to Battery Park, I grabbed some snacks and rested. Despite the confusion, it was a memorable and meaningful experience.