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I feel the same way. I am surprised they don't try to capitalize on the growing population by lowering rates and attracting more customers. I am fairly certain they would remain profitable by lowering the rates to $4 each way as they would have much higher volume. Sometimes I ride almost empty boats. Last year, when their fares were being subsidized on weekends, the boats were at FULL CAPACITY. Obviously, many people would opt for the ferry if the fares weren't exorbitant.

I also find it annoying that they charge an extra dollar (each way) to bring a bicycle on-board when it doesn't take up any usable space (you leave it outside, and hook the handlebars onto the railing) which is another reason I don't often take the ferry.

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That's only if your cell provider has good signal over the Hudson. My phone is on the AT&T network and I find that I lose my connection at about the halfway point of the Hudson crossing. I am out of signal for just a few seconds, or maybe even a full minute, but it is long enough that I get dropped when on a call.

Its great if you have a conference call during your commute, you can chat via phone or video as you cross the waters... PATH not so much.

If the fare is cheaper, I'd use it a lot more. The only reason I don't take the ferry nowadays is because it's so much more expensive than the PATH.

I ride the ferry somewhat frequently because I often commute to Manhattan by bike, and I can take my bike on the ferry at rush hour. I love it, but it is pricey. If I buy the monthly pass - right now - it's only about $25 more than a monthly pass on both PATH and MTA. But then if there are days I don't ride the ferry and have to buy a fare for both PATH and MTA, it really starts to add up.

NY WATERWAY SUMMER SPECIAL - KIDS RIDE FREE!
Children Under 12 Ride Free*

I ride the ferry everyday and while not pleased about the increase will continue to do so. I buy a monthly and the price per trip drops considerably.

You have to factor time spent commuting and how much that is worth. For me, I live close to Paulus Hook Terminal and work a few blocks from Pier 11 Wall St. so taking the ferry saves roughly 45 mins or more a day on my commute and that's well worth the $$.

Also, the ferry from Paulus Hook is not fully enclosed, you can go outside on the 2nd floor.

When my lottery win comes in perhaps I'll consider a ride on to New York on this first class service?

Is there an open buffet, swimming pool, or other amenities for this Cunard type pricing?

I guess the long 10 minute ride on PATH will have to do for now even if it means forgoing river cruises with the Whitneys and Vanderbilts. Gee, and no 12th Avenue jitneys either.

The real insult here is that while all the postings at the terminals and the website claim that they've only raised their rates 8% over 3 years, the price of a 10-Trip ticket has effectively gone up 15%. They removed the 10-Trip discount, so the price of the Port Liberte-Pier 11 10-Trip went from $80.25 to $92.50.
I'd venture to say that 10-Trip Tickets are a very big part of their sales. For me, the drive into the city, including parking, is cheaper now than the ferry and subway combo.

when I lived on the north side of Hoboken and worked in midtown, I took the ferry quite a bit. it was faster than the bus, and - on pretty mornings - sitting on the top deck was a wonderful way to start the day. it was also only 6 dollars.

now I'm just too far away from the terminal for a ferry commute to make sense, plus the boats from Paulus Hook to midtown are all enclosed.

the ferry is really the only thing I miss about living in Hoboken.

does anyone here ride the Ferry?
Payin that much to cross the river seems steep to me even at the rates before the fare increase.

NY Waterway hikes fares
By Patrick Villanova/The Jersey Journal
March 25, 2010, 6:00AM

Starting April 1, riders of the New York Waterway ferries will be paying more for their trips to and from Manhattan due to decreased ridership and an increase in expenses, company officials said.

Five routes to and from Hudson County terminals, including the Lincoln Harbor terminal in Weehawken and the 14th Street terminal in Hoboken, will be affected.

According to New York Waterway spokesman Pat Smith, fare increases will be between 7 and 10 percent, as one-way fares will increase by 75 cents. A 10-pack of tickets will cost an additional $7.50 and monthly passes will increase by $20.

According to Smith, New York Waterway ridership decreased at the end of 2008 as the financial market collapsed. This will be the first fare increase for the five routes since June of that year.

"That drop continued into early 2009 and then flattened out," Smith said. "It's a regrettable decision, it's an unavoidable decision, but you have to pay the bills."

Current ridership is about 10 percent below what it was in mid-2008, Smith added.

On April 1, a one-way trip from 14th Street in Hoboken to the World Financial Center will cost $10 for an adult, while a monthly pass will run $282.

On Monday, the fares for eight other routes to and from Hoboken and Jersey City terminals increased 50 center or 75 cents for one-way tickets. The cost of monthly passes increased by $15. It was the first time rates increased for those eight routes since February 2007, Smith said.

Chad Scherr, a Weehawken resident, rides the ferry two or three times a week and usually buys either single tickets or a pack of 10.

"I think the rates are already inflated. At the same time, I consider this to be luxury transportation," Scherr said yesterday at the 14th Street terminal in Hoboken. "It's more comfortable, it's a more fun ride than taking a train or bus."