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How Much Is the Ferry to Martha's Vineyard in 2026? Book Ahead?

Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBackOctober 9, 2026

What the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket costs in 2026 according to the Steamship Authority's published fares, when to book ahead, how the Seattle to Victoria and Athens to Santorini ferries work, and why you book through ShopBack US on Direct Ferries or Omio before you pay.

Short answer. In the US in 2026, **the ferry to Martha's Vineyard costs $11.00 one-way or $22.00 round trip for an adult on the Steamship Authority's 45-minute crossing from Woods Hole, according to its published 2026 fare table, so book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. Foot passengers do not need a reservation on that route, but cars do, and car fares change by season. Faster private ferries from Hyannis and Falmouth cost more and are bookable on Direct Ferries. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order.

ShopBack US is a free rewards app, website and browser extension. You start your booking from the booking site's page on ShopBack US, book as usual on that site, and part of what you paid comes back as cash once the booking confirms. Join ShopBack US for free before your next ferry trip.

How much is the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, and should I book ahead?

For foot passengers, the ferry to Martha's Vineyard is cheap and needs no reservation on the Steamship Authority's Woods Hole route; for cars and summer weekends, book as early as you can.

The Steamship Authority's 2026 fares between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard (traditional service, about 45 minutes):

Ticket	One-way	Round trip
Adult	$11.00	$22.00
Child 5 to 12	$5.75	$11.50
Child 4 and under	Free	Free
Bicycle	$5.25	$10.50
Car under 17 feet, January 5 to March 31	$73.50	$147.00
Car under 17 feet, Friday to Sunday, May 15 to September 14	$168.00	$336.00
Car under 17 feet, November 1 to December 31	$79.00	$158.00

Source: the Steamship Authority's fare information page for January 5 to December 31, 2026. Adult and child fares include the town embarkation fee.

Should you book ahead? The Steamship Authority says reservations are not required for passengers on this route, but it recommends arriving 30 minutes before sailing because vessels sometimes reach passenger capacity on busy weekends and holidays. Car space is the real limit. At the time of writing, it is taking reservations for travel through January 5, 2027, and reservations for travel from January 6 to May 17, 2027 open on November 3, 2026.

Ferry to Martha's Vineyard in 2026: the routes to compare

Three main ferry options reach Martha's Vineyard, and the cheapest depends on where you start and whether you bring a car.

Steamship Authority from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, and to Oak Bluffs in season. This is the year-round route and the one that carries cars.
Hy-Line Cruises from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs, about 1 hour according to Direct Ferries' listing. It is a passenger ferry.
Island Queen from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs, about 35 minutes according to Direct Ferries' listing.

If you are coming from Boston without a car, compare the ferry fare with the cost of reaching the port and parking there. A cheaper crossing from a port further away can end up costing more once you add a bus or a day of parking.

Ferry to Martha's Vineyard best deals in 2026

The best ferry deals to Martha's Vineyard in 2026 usually come from leaving the car behind, traveling midweek and booking car space early.

Go as a foot passenger. At $22.00 round trip for an adult on the Woods Hole route, leaving the car behind saves the $336.00 round-trip car fare on a summer weekend. The Steamship Authority's site has an on-island transportation page to plan getting around without one.
Travel Monday to Thursday with a car. The 2026 fare table shows a car under 17 feet at $127.00 one-way Monday to Thursday in summer, against $168.00 Friday to Sunday.
Use the Steamship Authority's own savings. Its ways to save page lists discounted ticket books and multi-ride cards, plus discounted fares for active military and people with disabilities.
Compare private ferries on Direct Ferries. For Hy-Line or Island Queen, compare times and prices for your date in one place, then book through ShopBack US.

Cheapest month for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard: 2026 price data

Passenger fares on the Steamship Authority stay the same all year in 2026; only car and motorcycle fares change with the season. Here is how the 2026 fare table moves for a car under 17 feet, one-way, Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard:

Period in 2026	One-way car fare
January 5 to March 31	$73.50
April 1 to May 14	$115.50
May 15 to September 14, Monday to Thursday	$127.00
May 15 to September 14, Friday to Sunday	$168.00
September 15 to October 31	$127.00
November 1 to December 31	$79.00

So the cheapest months to take a car are January to March and November to December. Summer weekends cost more than double the winter fare.

How much is the ferry to Nantucket, and how do I book it?

The ferry to Nantucket from Hyannis costs $48.50 one-way for an adult on the Steamship Authority's 1-hour high-speed ferry, or $21.50 on its 2 hour 15 minute traditional ferry, according to its 2026 fares.

Steamship Authority, Hyannis to Nantucket (2026)	One-way	Round trip
High-speed adult	$48.50	$93.00
High-speed child 5 to 12	$24.75	$47.00
High-speed same-day round trip, adult, Monday to Thursday		$69.00
Traditional adult	$21.50	$43.00
Traditional child 5 to 12	$11.00	$22.00

Source: the Steamship Authority's fare information and ways to save pages, at the time of writing.

How to book it:

Steamship Authority. Book online, by phone or at a terminal. It recommends reservations for the seasonal high-speed ferry and suggests arriving 30 minutes before sailing.
Hy-Line Cruises. Runs high-speed ferries from Hyannis (about 1 hour) and from Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard (about 1 hour 10 minutes), according to Direct Ferries' listing.
Freedom Cruise Line. Sails from Harwich, about 1 hour 20 minutes, according to Direct Ferries' listing.

Direct Ferries lists the Hy-Line and Freedom Cruise Line routes, so you can compare times and fares for your date in one search. Before you pay, go through ShopBack US.

Ferry to Nantucket in 2026: best deals and cheapest month

For a day trip, the Steamship Authority's same-day round trip is the clearest saving: $69.00 for an adult Monday to Thursday, against $93.00 for a regular high-speed round trip. It is valid from March 30, 2026 to January 5, 2027 and must start in Hyannis, according to the Steamship Authority.

Other ways to keep the cost down:

Take the traditional ferry if time is not tight; at $43.00 round trip for an adult it costs less than half the high-speed fare.
Leave the car on the mainland. The 2026 fare table lists a car under 17 feet to Nantucket from $205.00 one-way in winter to $370.00 one-way on summer weekends.
Pick winter or late fall for a car. Car fares are lowest from January 5 to March 31 and from November 1 to December 31.

How do I take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria, and what does it cost?

You take the Victoria Clipper V, which Clipper Vacations describes as the only direct fast ferry between Seattle and Victoria, BC. It sails from the Seattle Clipper Terminal at Pier 69 and takes about 3 hours. Fares vary by date, class and how early you book, so check the live fare for your date on Clipper Vacations or Direct Ferries.

What Clipper Vacations lists at the time of writing:

Schedule. Year-round service with one round trip a day, apart from a winter dry dock period; spring and summer can add a second round trip on some dates.
Classes. Economy on the lower deck, Vista on the upper deck, and Comfort Class with leather seating, snacks, coffee and tea.
Check-in. Arrive at least one hour before departure; passport checks happen at the ticket counter.
ID. US and Canadian citizens can use a valid passport, a U.S. passport card, a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's license from eligible states and provinces, including Washington. Other travelers need a valid passport and may need a visa.
Packages. Ferry and hotel packages to Victoria, including overnights with The Butchart Gardens.

What drives the cost. The seat class, the day of the week, and whether you buy the ferry alone or as a package. If you are staying a night, compare a package with the ferry plus a hotel booked separately.

Seattle to Victoria ferry: best deals and cheapest time in 2026

The Seattle to Victoria ferry is usually cheapest when you book early, travel midweek, and stay flexible on the seat class. Direct Ferries' own route page says booking early is typically the most reliable way to secure lower fares and better availability. Off-season trips also avoid the busy summer schedule. Direct Ferries lists FRS Clipper on this route, so you can book through ShopBack US there, or compare against Clipper Vacations' own packages.

How do I book the ferry from Athens to Santorini, and how much is it?

Book the Athens to Santorini ferry online from Piraeus or Rafina, choosing between fast ferries (about 5 hours) and slower conventional ferries. Fares depend on the operator, the ship and the season, so compare live prices for your date.

According to Direct Ferries' route page at the time of writing:

Operators. Seven operators run the route year-round, including Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets (each up to 14 sailings a week), Golden Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, Cyclades Fast Ferries, Zante Ferries and Anek Lines.
Sailings. About 52 a week on average, with more in high season.
Crossing time. About 5 hours on average, from 4 hours 45 minutes up to 11 hours 50 minutes depending on the ship.
Tickets. E-tickets are available on this route, so you show your ticket on your phone at the port.
Busy periods. Piraeus to Santorini is one of its busiest routes, and sailings regularly sell out at busy periods.

How to book it: pick your port, compare fast against conventional ferries for your date, and book through ShopBack before you pay. For summer travel, book as early as your plans allow.

Direct Ferries vs Omio for Athens to Santorini: price comparison in 2026

Both sites let you book this crossing online; the better choice is the one with the lower total for the same sailing.

	Direct Ferries	Omio
What it sells	Ferry tickets; its site says 3,604 routes and 720 ports worldwide	Train, bus, flight and ferry tickets in one app, across 45+ countries per its Google Play listing
Best for	Comparing ferry operators on one route	Planning a trip that mixes ferries with trains or buses
What to compare	Same operator, ship, sailing time and seat type	Same operator, ship, sailing time and seat type

Compare the final price with booking fees on each site, then the price after ShopBack. The same method works for the Cape Cod ferries and Seattle to Victoria on Direct Ferries.

Book your ferry through ShopBack

Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Step by step:

Open ShopBack US (app, website or browser extension) and search for Direct Ferries or Omio.
Check the rate shown on that page.
Tap through, search your route and book.

Worked example. Say two adults book a round trip Nantucket ferry on Direct Ferries for $190. The trip costs $190 minus the Cashback, at the live rate shown on the Direct Ferries page on ShopBack.

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. For more, see how to earn on travel bookings.

Booking site codes. Any Direct Ferries codes come from Direct Ferries itself. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.
Operator discounts. Steamship Authority ticket books, same-day fares and Clipper packages are bought from the operators directly. Compare them with the Direct Ferries price after ShopBack and pick the lower total.

Mistakes that make a cheap ferry expensive

Turning up with a car on a summer weekend without a reservation.
Comparing a fast ferry with a slow one without counting the extra hours.
Forgetting parking at the mainland port.
Booking Seattle to Victoria without a valid border-crossing document.
Opening the booking site directly instead of through ShopBack.

Key takeaways

The ferry to Martha's Vineyard from Woods Hole is $11.00 one-way for an adult in 2026, per the Steamship Authority; cars cost $73.50 to $168.00 one-way depending on season and day.
Book ahead for cars and summer weekends; 2027 winter and spring reservations open November 3, 2026.
Nantucket's high-speed ferry is $48.50 one-way for an adult, or $69.00 for a Monday to Thursday same-day round trip.
The Victoria Clipper V is the only direct fast ferry from Seattle to Victoria, about 3 hours, with a passport or equivalent required.
Athens to Santorini takes about 5 hours on average; book early for summer and go through ShopBack US on Direct Ferries or Omio.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the ferry to Martha's Vineyard?

On the Steamship Authority's traditional ferry from Woods Hole, the 2026 fare table lists $11.00 one-way or $22.00 round trip for adults, $5.75 one-way for children 5 to 12, and free travel for children 4 and under. Cars cost more and change by season: a car under 17 feet is $73.50 one-way from January 5 to March 31 and $168.00 one-way on summer weekends.

Should I book the Martha's Vineyard ferry ahead?

Book ahead if you are taking a car or traveling on a summer weekend or holiday. The Steamship Authority says passenger reservations are not required on the Woods Hole route, but vessels sometimes reach passenger capacity on busy weekends and holidays, so arrive 30 minutes early. Car space is the tighter limit, and 2027 winter and spring reservations open on November 3, 2026.

How much is the ferry to Nantucket?

According to the Steamship Authority's 2026 fares, the high-speed ferry from Hyannis takes about 1 hour and costs $48.50 one-way or $93.00 round trip for adults, while the traditional ferry takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs $21.50 one-way or $43.00 round trip. A same-day round trip on the high-speed ferry, Monday to Thursday, is $69.00 for adults.

How do I book the ferry to Nantucket?

You can book the Steamship Authority online, by phone or at a terminal, and it recommends reservations on its high-speed ferry. Hy-Line Cruises runs high-speed ferries from Hyannis and Oak Bluffs, and Freedom Cruise Line sails from Harwich; Direct Ferries lists the Hy-Line and Freedom Cruise Line routes. Before you pay on Direct Ferries, go through ShopBack US so part of the fare comes back.

What is the cheapest month to take a car to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket?

The Steamship Authority's 2026 fare table shows car fares lowest from January 5 to March 31 and again from November 1 to December 31, and highest on Friday to Sunday from May 15 to September 14. Passenger fares on its routes stay the same all year, so for foot passengers the month matters less than the day and the space.

How do I take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria?

FRS Clipper runs the Victoria Clipper V, which Clipper Vacations describes as the only direct fast ferry between Seattle and Victoria, BC. It leaves the Seattle Clipper Terminal at Pier 69 and takes about 3 hours, year-round except for a winter dry dock. Book on Clipper Vacations or Direct Ferries, and arrive at least one hour before departure.

Do I need a passport for the Seattle to Victoria ferry?

You need a border-crossing document. Clipper Vacations lists a valid passport, a U.S. passport card, a NEXUS card or an enhanced driver's license from eligible states such as Washington as accepted for US and Canadian citizens. Other travelers need a valid passport and may need a visa. Passport checks happen at the ticket counter.

How do I book the ferry from Athens to Santorini?

Choose a port (Piraeus or Rafina), pick fast or conventional, and book online with e-tickets. Direct Ferries lists seven operators on the route, including Blue Star Ferries and SeaJets, and Omio also sells ferry tickets. Book early for summer, since Direct Ferries says Piraeus to Santorini sailings regularly sell out at busy periods, and go through ShopBack before you pay.

How long is the ferry from Athens to Santorini?

Direct Ferries puts the crossing at about 5 hours on average, ranging from 4 hours 45 minutes to 11 hours 50 minutes depending on the operator and ship. Fast ferries cost more and arrive sooner, while conventional ferries are slower and usually cheaper. Check the live fares for your date before deciding.

How does ShopBack lower the cost of a ferry booking?

Booking through ShopBack lowers the cost of the trip, and you still book on the site you chose. Open ShopBack US, tap Direct Ferries or Omio, then book, and part of what you paid comes back as cash. It works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. Check the live rate on the site's ShopBack page.

Can I use a promo code on Direct Ferries and still get Cashback?

Any Direct Ferries codes come from Direct Ferries itself. No code is needed for Cashback: go through ShopBack before you pay.

Book through ShopBack US: Direct Ferries · Omio

About this guide

Fares, schedules and booking rules come from the Steamship Authority's fare information, reservation opening dates and ways to save pages, Clipper Vacations' Seattle to Victoria ferry and travel information pages, Direct Ferries' route pages for Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Seattle to Victoria and Piraeus to Santorini and Omio's Google Play listing, at the time of writing in October 2026. Fares for private operators change daily, so we point to the live fare instead of quoting it.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations in this article are those of the author. Ferry fares, schedules, reservation rules, ID requirements and promo codes are set by ferry operators and booking sites and can change. Worked examples use illustrative prices. Rates on ShopBack vary by site and campaign; check the current rate on each booking site's ShopBack page before you book.

This article is for general information only and is not professional or financial advice.