A trip to the Statue of Liberty is one of the most important experiences for those looking to visit New York City. This famous landmark can be found on Liberty Island and can only be reached via boat, making it important for visitors to plan ahead in order to have a smooth experience.
Statue City Cruises is the official ferry operator that provides access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Visitors have the chance to choose between two departure locations: Battery Park, located in lower Manhattan, or Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Battery Park option is better as far as popularity is concerned. It is the best option for people visiting Manhattan due to its wonderful transport connections. Ferries that depart from Battery Park usually stop at Liberty Island first, and then they visit Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park. The alternative departure point is Liberty State Park, which stops at Ellis Island and then continues to Liberty Island before returning back to New Jersey.
Booking your tickets before time, preferably in the wee hours, is a way to save guests from the crowd. The tickets should be bought form the official website of Statue City Cruises only. The time mentioned on the ticket is only the boarding time and not the sailing time. Security check is mandatory before getting on the ferry.
Navigation on Liberty Island and Statue of Liberty Museum
While on the ferry, people can have seats both inside and outside. Outdoor seating area of the ferry has an extraordinary view of Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Statue of Liberty. The boat trip will give you incredible opportunities to take gorgeous pictures and see the statue very closely.
There are some other things to view at Liberty Island except for the statue itself. The Statue of Liberty Museum is located here and has many interactive displays telling the people about the construction of the statue and its importance in history. The museum has something special to show the guests: the original torch from 1886. The torch was substituted in 1984 when the statue was repaired.
Pedestal Access ticket holders can gain admittance to the base of the icon after entering a screening process. To reach the pedestal observation deck from the base, visitors must scale 215 steps though they can use the elevator if they wish to do so. Once on the observation deck, visitors take in sweeping views of the New York Harbor and the city from every angle.
For the finest experience, visitors are advised to check for Crown Access tickets which can only be bought from the National Park Service, as they are limited in number and don’t usually stay around for long. To access the tiny observation windows in the crown, visitors are expected to climb an extra 162 steps on a spiral staircase.
After returning from Liberty Island, amusement seekers can take the ferry to cross over to Ellis Island where visitors will find themselves in the middle of the United States immigrant history. Ferries usually leave the starting point after every 25 minutes but visitors should always check the timetable and other notices for updated info.
Even those who choose not to get off the ferry at Ellis Island can take pleasure in the sights of its ancient buildings and listen to the audio describing its history.
The completion of the ferry trip means that it returns back to the place of the original departure. In addition to the Battery Park tour, visitors are free to check out the Financial District and the 9/11 Memorial site.
By booking their tickets ahead of the time, arriving early, and getting an opportunity to tour the museum and its observation decks, visitors will be assured of an unforgettable experience at the Statue of Liberty.
