The Boston Provincetown Ferry

The Boston Provincetown ferry is a terrific Cape Cod Travel option if you don't want to deal with the hassles of driving and can enjoy your stay without the use of a car. In Truth, Provincetown is a place where you can easily enjoy a vacation without a car, so the Boston to Provincetown ferry really is something you should consider.

While there are several ways to get to Cape Cod by Ferry, one company that takes you directly from Boston to Provincetown is Boston Harbor Cruises. The service leaves from Long Wharf in Boston, just a short walk from Faneuil Hall, and takes you to MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown. The trip lasts about 90 minutes.

The Boston Provincetown Ferry Docks at MacMillan Pier in P-Town

The service is seasonal starting up in mid-May Thursday-Sunday only, expanding to a full daily schedule around the first week of June, and continuing through the peak season until the middle of October.

The Fast Ferry Salacia is one of the largest and fastest catamarans in the country, and can carry up to 600 passengers, but no cars (though you can take a bike aboard for an additional $6).

Reservations are not required but we strongly recommend them, particularly during the peak tourist season. You might also want to consider purchasing tickets for both the outward and the return leg of your journey right from the outset. That, of course, is assuming you know exactly when you'll be returning, which isn't always the case.

Tickets that are purchased in advance and then unused will not be refunded, just exchanged for other tickets, subject to availability. And while you can certainly book tickets online or by telephone, you can only exchange those tickets if you show up in person at either the Boston Harbor Cruise ticket office or The Whale Watch Store in Provincetown.

The ferry itself is really quite impressive. The high-speed catamaran is the largest and fastest passenger catamaran of her kind in the country, and can travel at speeds up to 45 miles per hour, which is faster than most speedboats.

Passengers can either choose to sit inside with either cushioned airline or booth style seating, air-conditioning, free onboard WIFI, satellite TV, full cash bar and food or they can sit outside on the deck and take in the view and the sun.

Do remember, though, that it's a good idea to take a light sweater or jacket, as well as sunscreen and sunglasses. With ocean breeze and bright sunshine you can get quite chilly and sunburned both at the same time.

Fares and Schedules

In the early part of the season, (mid-May though early June), the service runs one trip a day, four days a week (Thurs-Sun), leaving Boston at 9am and returning from Provincetown at 4:00pm. The exception to this is the four-day Memorial Day Weekend (Thurs-Sun) when they run a three-times-a-day summer schedule.

From the second week in June through Labor Day, the services runs twice a day Monday through Wednesday, and three times a day from Thursday through Sunday. After Labor Day, things quiet down a little and the service reverts to a lighter schedule. Check the Boston Harbor Cruise Schedule for more complete information.

Other Ferries to Provincetown

The Bay State Cruise Company Offers Another Boston Provincetown Ferry Option

There is one other company that offers service directly from Boston into Provincetown, and that is the Bay State Cruise Company. Fares are the same as Boston Harbor Crusies, and the schedule is pretty much the same, as well.

Their first boat leaves Boston a little earlier, but their last leaves P-Town a little earlier, too, so you don't actually gain anything in terms of "hours on the ground".

A third option is Capt. John Boats, which services visitors from the South Shore leaving from the State Pier in Plymouth harbor. This service runs from mid-June through Labor Day and is a once daily trip, leaving Plymouth at 10:00am and departing P-Town at 4:30. It's a good option if you're only planning a day trip.

The obvious drawback to all of these services is their inability to transport cars. While Provincetown is certainly a place where it's quite possible to enjoy a short vacation without the use of a car (and you can certainly always rent one when you arrive) on-Cape transportation is still something you will have to consider if you're planning to travel on the Boston Provincetown ferry.

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