Brookfield Place Terminal — Local services in New York

I’m writing this review to warn other families visiting the Statue of Liberty via the Brookfield Ferry Terminal. The customer service experience at the ferry station was incredibly frustrating and disappointing. We went today, May 12th during the morning hours and asked the lady at the counter to purchase tickets to go into the Statue of Liberty. All she did was POINT at a sign and tell me that if I wanted to go inside, I needed to go to a different station 15 minutes away.

What she failed to mention was crucial: that you need to buy tickets to go into the crown six months in advance, and even pedestal tickets must be purchased at least a week ahead. That critical detail would have saved me, my husband, and our FOUR kids (ages 3, 6, 8, and 12) from walking much more than 15 minutes in the heat and crowds—only to be disappointed and forced to buy tickets for a sightseeing boat ride three hours later.

By the time we got back, everyone was hungry, tired, and frustrated. Our kids were understandably irritated, and our itinerary for the day was completely thrown off.

If the staff had simply told us the full picture when we asked, we would’ve just boarded the ferry then and there and made the most of the experience. This lack of clear and basic communication ruined what could have been a smooth and enjoyable visit.

Tip for future travelers: Do your research ahead of time. Apparently, clear information is too much to expect from the ferry...

My mom and I have been to this terminal and that there were lots of people there waiting for the ferry. The Brookfield Place Ferry Terminal's history is tied to the redevelopment of the former World Financial Center complex following the 9/11 attacks, which also displaced ferry service. The original World Financial Center was built in the 1980s, and its Winter Garden Atrium was severely damaged in 2001. The ferry terminal was re-established as a temporary station after the attacks, with its current form and connections to the permanent Brookfield Place structure developing over time. The terminal's permanent passageway to Brookfield Place opened in 2013, and its connection to the PATH station was...

While visiting Rockerfeller park with my siblings we saw the ferry and decide we would go for the ride. The teller was a little rude. She told us the ferry was used mostly for commuting purposes from Manhattan to Jersey vice versa. Round trip was around $14 each for adults. Kids are free for the summer, which was nice. The ferry we took made two stops in Jersey. First one in Jersey city and second stop in Hoboken. The ride was smooth and quick. The views were beautiful. The ferry crew was very welcoming and eager to answer any...