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- I took a round-trip ferry ride between Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port Jefferson, New York.
- The boat had plenty of seating, a small café stocked with treats, and a comfy lounge area.
- I enjoyed spending the day in Port Jefferson and thought it was the perfect day-trip destination.
I grew up in Connecticut and fondly remember taking a ferry from Bridgeport to visit a friend in Port Jefferson, New York, about 20 years ago.
We walked around the charming village, browsed the cute shops, and marveled at the historic homes. Although I had a great time that day, I hadn’t been to Port Jefferson — or on the ship — since.
So, I decided to spend a recent sunny-weathered Sunday riding the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson ferry. The ride, which was an hour and 15 minutes each way, was definitely worth the $39 round-trip ticket price.
Here’s what my experience was like.
I waited inside the ferry terminal before boarding the ship.
Although tickets are available for purchase at the terminal, I bought my round-trip ticket online ahead of time.
On the day of my departure, I arrived at the Bridgeport ferry terminal early and killed some time in the indoor office. Once it was time to line up outside, I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker.
The boarding process was quick and easy.
When I headed out to board the ship, I was excited to find that I would be riding the Long Island, which is the newest addition to the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Steamboat Company fleet.
I was impressed by the amount of seating options available both inside the ferry and out on the deck.
I grabbed a snack at the café.
The boat had a small café that sold things like candy bars, drinks, snacks, bagged pastries, and hot food items.
Although I brought my water bottle and a snack with me, I treated myself to $6 French toast sticks, which were warm and tasty.
The outdoor area was beautiful, but the wind made it difficult to enjoy.
I ventured onto the top deck to explore the outdoor seating area, but unfortunately, the wind was too strong during my trip to really enjoy this part of the boat. So, I spent most of my time inside.
The water also got choppy at times, so I remained in my seat and enjoyed the views of the water out my window.
I enjoyed looking out the windows of the lounge.
The ship also had a lounge with a bar, TVs, and front-of-ship windows. It wasn’t crowded at all when I was on board, so I decided to watch our arrival into Port Jefferson from the large windows.
I spent a few hours walking around Port Jefferson.
When I got off the boat, I explored the streets of Port Jefferson. I noticed cute little shops, small parks, and restaurants serving everything from casual bites to fancy surf-and-turf meals.
I also wandered through a farmers market in Harborfront Park and took photos along the water. As I walked, I gazed at docked sailboats, a large statue, and an oversize Adirondack chair.
After picking up a chai tea from Local’s Cafe, I browsed the small businesses selling everything from house plants to gourmet foods.
I stopped for lunch and some treats before getting back on the boat.
I stopped at Dortoni Bakery, a local favorite that sells Italian pastries, breads, cakes, and cookies, before deciding on the latter.
I also grabbed lunch at Slurp Ramen before walking off my delicious meal and doing some more window shopping around town.
By mid-afternoon, my feet and wallet felt done for the day, so I walked back to the marina for my return ferry.
Overall, taking the ferry was the perfect day trip.
I really enjoyed my ferry trip to Port Jefferson, and I would definitely consider taking the ride again with a friend. Still, in my opinion, it’s the perfect summer day trip, whether you go alone or with others.
The ride was comfortable and quiet, and I loved strolling around the beautiful village.
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