Press Release: 5/15/2026
DCR, Boston Harbor Now, NPS and Boston Harbor City Cruises Announce the Return of Ferry Service to Georges Island for 2026 Season
Free ferry service to Georges Island will be available Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from Boston and Hingham
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
5/14/2026
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), in partnership with Boston Harbor Now, the National Park Service (NPS), and Boston Harbor City Cruises, today announced that ferry service and public access to Georges Island will resume for the 2026 season beginning Friday, May 15, following extensive repairs to the water main that supports the island. Additionally, Free Ferry weekend will return May 30-31, with complimentary ferry service offered between Boston and Georges Island.
While the island was closed to visitors last season, DCR undertook an infrastructure project to repair and replace segments of the island’s water line, which connects the property to the mainland and supports critical visitor services.
Spring ferry service from Boston to Georges Island will begin on Friday, May 15. Operations will expand for the summer season on Monday, June 15, with additional service to Peddocks Island and options to depart to both islands from both Boston and Hingham. Ferry service to Spectacle Island will be unavailable at the start of the season due to ongoing repairs. However, Spectacle Island will remain open while the repairs are underway and will be accessible via mooring, kayak, and dinghy (via the beach).
“Georges Island is one of the most treasured destinations in Boston Harbor, offering visitors a unique mix of history, recreation, natural beauty and sweeping views of the Harbor,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “We know how much the island was missed last season, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back. We’re grateful to our partners at Boston Harbor Now, the National Park Service and the Boston Harbor City Cruises for helping expand access to these beautiful places with programs like Free Ferry Weekend that give more people and families the chance to explore and feel connected to the Islands.”
“Every spring, the return of ferry service to the Boston Harbor Islands signals the start of a new season of connection to our harbor,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “We’re especially excited to welcome visitors back to Georges Island and invite people to experience its extraordinary history, open spaces, and unmatched views of Boston Harbor.”
Free Ferry Weekend
Also returning this year is Boston Harbor’s annual Free Ferry Weekend, taking place May 30-31. In partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises, free service will be offered from Boston to Georges Island. Tickets will be available Long Wharf North on a first-come-first-serve basis, with a limit of four tickets per adult.
Over the past two decades, Free Ferry Weekend has introduced more people to the Boston Harbor Islands by removing one of the biggest barriers to access: transportation. This year’s event also coincides with Boston Harbor Now’s 10th anniversary and its continuing efforts to expand access to the waterfront and Islands.
Once on Georges Island, visitors can enjoy walking trails, scenic overlooks of Boston’s skyline and harbor, the new pavilion, and the historic Civil War-era Fort Warren. Additionally, a food concession partner is preparing to open at Georges Island in the coming weeks, pending permitting.
Free Ferry Weekend offers something for everyone, from a free family outing to a scenic day outdoors to a new way to experience Boston from the Harbor. For more information about Free Ferry Weekend, visit bostonharborislands.org.
About the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees nearly half a million acres of land, making up one of the largest and most diverse state park systems in the country. Our work focuses on nurturing the vital connection between people and the environment by protecting, promoting, and enhancing our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all. DCR infrastructure connects people to and through the beautiful landscapes and accessible recreational facilities we care for – strengthening our communities and driving our economy. Our staff strive to build a healthier, more resilient Massachusetts where all residents and visitors can relax, reflect, and feel a sense of belonging in our open spaces and public lands. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr or contact us at mass.parks@mass.gov.
About Boston Harbor Now
Boston Harbor Now works in partnership with public agencies, communities, and private and nonprofit partners to ensure a vibrant, accessible, and resilient Boston Harbor, waterfront, and islands. From ferries and festivals to climate planning and park access, Boston Harbor Now connects people to the Harbor and works to protect it for future generations.
About the National Parks of Boston
The National Parks of Boston is a collection of three National Park Service sites – Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Established by individual legislation and for designated purposes, the three units have come together under a unified organizational umbrella to collaborate in ways that celebrate our cultural heritage, reconnect people to history and nature, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities on land and on the water. For more information, visit: www.nps.gov/bost, www.nps.gov/boaf, and www.bostonharborislands.org.
About Boston Harbor City Cruises, a part of City Experiences
City Experiences represents Hornblower Group’s expansive portfolio of water and land-based experience companies and includes two sub-brands: City Cruises and City Ferry. City Cruises companies operate dining, sightseeing, and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S.,
Canada, and the UK. City Cruises companies also operate cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission and currently hold service contracts to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island, and Niagara Falls. City Ferry companies offer specialized knowledge and expertise required to transport passengers, vehicles, and other cargo safely across inland and coastal waterways, serving as operator of NYC Ferry and Puerto Rico ferry system, among others. City Experiences’ portfolio of companies also offers a range of land-based experiences including shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, and multi-port packages, with companies including Cruising Excursions, ShoreTrips, and Walks products. For more information visit cityexperiences.com. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), in partnership with Boston Harbor Now, the National Park Service (NPS), and Boston Harbor City Cruises, today announced that ferry service and public access to Georges Island will resume for the 2026 season beginning Friday, May 15, following extensive repairs to the water main that supports the island. Additionally, Free Ferry weekend will return May 30-31, with complimentary ferry service offered between Boston and Georges Island.
While the island was closed to visitors last season, DCR undertook an infrastructure project to repair and replace segments of the island’s water line, which connects the property to the mainland and supports critical visitor services.
Spring ferry service from Boston to Georges Island will begin on Friday, May 15. Operations will expand for the summer season on Monday, June 15, with additional service to Peddocks Island and options to depart to both islands from both Boston and Hingham. Ferry service to Spectacle Island will be unavailable at the start of the season due to ongoing repairs. However, Spectacle Island will remain open while the repairs are underway and will be accessible via mooring, kayak, and dinghy (via the beach).
“Georges Island is one of the most treasured destinations in Boston Harbor, offering visitors a unique mix of history, recreation, natural beauty and sweeping views of the Harbor,” said DCR Commissioner Nicole LaChapelle. “We know how much the island was missed last season, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back. We’re grateful to our partners at Boston Harbor Now, the National Park Service and the Boston Harbor City Cruises for helping expand access to these beautiful places with programs like Free Ferry Weekend that give more people and families the chance to explore and feel connected to the Islands.”
“Every spring, the return of ferry service to the Boston Harbor Islands signals the start of a new season of connection to our harbor,” said Kathy Abbott, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Now. “We’re especially excited to welcome visitors back to Georges Island and invite people to experience its extraordinary history, open spaces, and unmatched views of Boston Harbor.”
Free Ferry Weekend
Also returning this year is Boston Harbor’s annual Free Ferry Weekend, taking place May 30-31. In partnership with Boston Harbor City Cruises, free service will be offered from Boston to Georges Island. Tickets will be available Long Wharf North on a first-come-first-serve basis, with a limit of four tickets per adult.
Over the past two decades, Free Ferry Weekend has introduced more people to the Boston Harbor Islands by removing one of the biggest barriers to access: transportation. This year’s event also coincides with Boston Harbor Now’s 10th anniversary and its continuing efforts to expand access to the waterfront and Islands.
Once on Georges Island, visitors can enjoy walking trails, scenic overlooks of Boston’s skyline and harbor, the new pavilion, and the historic Civil War-era Fort Warren. Additionally, a food concession partner is preparing to open at Georges Island in the coming weeks, pending permitting.
Free Ferry Weekend offers something for everyone, from a free family outing to a scenic day outdoors to a new way to experience Boston from the Harbor. For more information about Free Ferry Weekend, visit bostonharborislands.org.
About the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) oversees nearly half a million acres of land, making up one of the largest and most diverse state park systems in the country. Our work focuses on nurturing the vital connection between people and the environment by protecting, promoting, and enhancing our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the well-being of all. DCR infrastructure connects people to and through the beautiful landscapes and accessible recreational facilities we care for – strengthening our communities and driving our economy. Our staff strive to build a healthier, more resilient Massachusetts where all residents and visitors can relax, reflect, and feel a sense of belonging in our open spaces and public lands. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr or contact us at mass.parks@mass.gov.
About Boston Harbor Now
Boston Harbor Now works in partnership with public agencies, communities, and private and nonprofit partners to ensure a vibrant, accessible, and resilient Boston Harbor, waterfront, and islands. From ferries and festivals to climate planning and park access, Boston Harbor Now connects people to the Harbor and works to protect it for future generations.
About the National Parks of Boston
The National Parks of Boston is a collection of three National Park Service sites – Boston National Historical Park, Boston African American National Historic Site, and Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Established by individual legislation and for designated purposes, the three units have come together under a unified organizational umbrella to collaborate in ways that celebrate our cultural heritage, reconnect people to history and nature, and provide outdoor recreation opportunities on land and on the water. For more information, visit: National Park Service Boston, National Park Service Boston African American, and Boston Harbor Islands.
About Boston Harbor City Cruises, a part of City Experiences
City Experiences represents Hornblower Group’s expansive portfolio of water and land-based experience companies and includes two sub-brands: City Cruises and City Ferry. City Cruises companies operate dining, sightseeing, and private events across 22 destinations in the U.S.,
Canada, and the UK. City Cruises companies also operate cruises on behalf of the National Park Service and the Niagara Parks Commission and currently hold service contracts to provide ferry service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, Alcatraz Island, and Niagara Falls. City Ferry companies offer specialized knowledge and expertise required to transport passengers, vehicles, and other cargo safely across inland and coastal waterways, serving as operator of NYC Ferry and Puerto Rico ferry system, among others. City Experiences’ portfolio of companies also offers a range of land-based experiences including shore excursions, partner-offered experiences, and multi-port packages, with companies including Cruising Excursions, ShoreTrips, and Walks products. For more information visit cityexperiences.com.