Staten Island Ferry will offer beer and liquor again, ending a seven-year period without alcohol.

The Booze Cruise is Making a Comeback

Alcoholic beverages will return to the Staten Island Ferry this week after a seven-year hiatus, as announced by city officials on Monday.

The ferry fleet’s MV SSG Michael H. Ollis kiosk will start selling beer, hard seltzers, and canned cocktails beginning Friday. In the following weeks, this service will also be offered on two additional ships, Sandy Ground and Dorothy Day, according to the Department of Transportation.

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn remarked, “The Staten Island Ferry is already one of the best and most scenic rides in the world, and now it’s even better.”

Users of the ferry can expect to enjoy coffee as well, whether they’re commuting or taking in the skyline. Liquor sales had been halted in 2019 due to contract expirations, and efforts to resume them were delayed by the pandemic.

While snack and coffee concessions were restored about a year ago, the operators had to wait for a permit to sell alcohol, a DOT spokesperson noted. Concessions with Dunkin also faced restrictions but are expected to resume on some ships next year.

Come Friday, the approximately 45,000 daily commuters will have the opportunity to celebrate the weekend again. City Councilman Frank Morano captured the sentiment perfectly, saying, “There’s nothing better than that first Friday night beer on the way home after a long week. It doesn’t just taste like beer; it tastes like the weekend.”