Steamship Authority Announces Headstart and Reservation Opening Dates for Summer 2023
FALMOUTH (January 9, 2023) – The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority is pleased to announce its Headstart and Reservation Opening Dates for the 2023 summer season.
HEADSTART RESERVATIONS OPENING: JANUARY 10, 2023
Starting at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, Headstart customers (who must be in our Excursion and Preferred programs to participate) may make reservations online and via U.S. mail for travel from May 18, 2023, through October 23, 2023.
New this year: Eligible customers may make up to 10 (up from five) one-way or round-trip reservations for travel during the summer schedule. Up to five of those reservations can be made directly into another person’s name for personal use. Three of those five reservations can be requested as a transferable reservation, which can be transferred to another individual at a later date.
For more information and to download the 2023 Headstart Reservation Application, please visit www.steamshipauthority.com/about/forms and scroll down to the Reservation Forms section.
Island Preferred or Excursion customers who have an account ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8) must update their account information to keep receiving the benefits of the program, including participation in Headstart. The 2023 applications are available online at www.steamshipauthority.com/about/forms.
The Headstart reservation period runs through January 16, 2023.
2023 SUMMER RESERVATION OPENING DATES
There will be two general online openings – one for Nantucket and one for Martha’s Vineyard. The Authority will have extra technical support on site and the Reservation Office will have extended hours should a customer need assistance with their login password or PIN. The Authority will also continue to use a virtual waiting room that allows customers to see their “place” in line and the approximate wait time until they can make a transaction, eliminating the need for refreshing the website.
New this year: In response to feedback from customers in 2022, the Authority will clear the virtual waiting room at 5 a.m. on each of the general openings. This means customers who join the virtual queue ahead of the opening will not receive an advantageous place in line.
Nantucket General Public Internet and Postal Mail Opening: January 17, 2023
Reservations for travel from May 18, 2023, through October 23, 2023, can be made starting at 5 a.m. EST on January 17, 2023. Reservations submitted via postal mail (up to five one-way or round-trip reservations will be accepted per mailing) will be processed as received beginning on this date.
The Reservation Office will have extended hours to provide additional support to our customers on the following dates: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST January 17, 2023, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. January 18-23, 2023.
Martha’s Vineyard General Public Internet and Postal Mail Opening: January 24, 2023
Reservations for travel from May 18, 2023, through October 23, 2023, can be made starting at 5 a.m. EST on January 24, 2023. Reservations submitted via postal mail (up to five one-way or round-trip reservations will be accepted per mailing) will be processed as received beginning on this date.
The Reservation Office will have extended hours to provide additional support to our customers on the following dates: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST January 24, 2023, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. January 25-30, 2023.
Telephone and In-Person Opening: January 31, 2023
Reservations for travel from May 18, 2023, through October 23, 2023, can be made by telephone and in-person, as well as online and by postal mail, starting at 7:30 a.m. EST January 31, 2023. Up to five transactions (one-way or round-trip) will be accepted per telephone call. The Reservation Office may be reached at (508) 477-8600.
Since 1960, the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority has served as the transportation lifeline to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard year round. The Steamship Authority is the largest ferry service to the islands and offers the most frequent daily departures for passengers, automobiles, groups and trucks. In 2021, more than 2.7 million passengers and more than 700,000 vehicles were transported to and from the Islands. Our U.S. Coast Guard-certified crews are committed to the highest level of safety at sea while our vessels offer comfort and convenience with spacious seating, free Wi-Fi and TV on board.
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