The Rockaway Rocket ferry returned to the city Saturday, offering express service to the beach. This year, the route starts at Long Island City, Queens then stops at Greenpoint, Brooklyn before heading to the Rockaways.

“I’m excited to use it,” Maria Garcia, a Long Island City resident, said.

“It’s just more options for people to go to,” David Koi, another LIC resident, said.

What You Need To Know

  • New Yorkers in LIC and Greenpoint can take the Rockaway Rocket ferry, on weekends and holidays by reservation, from now until Aug. 11

  • The express ferry service to Rockaway Beach costs $10 to reserve a spot

  • It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to travel from LIC to Rockaway

The route operates by reservation on weekends and holidays through Aug. 11. It costs $10 to ride.

“Sometimes you get stuck on the subway or sometimes you’re in a hurry. That’s very convenient because you go fast and you can bring all your stuff, your bicycle,” Garcia said.

“I literally just wouldn’t have gone to the beach before, so it’s nice to be able to get to one now. That’s kinda the big thing — I don’t have a car. I think most people don’t,” Koi said.

The travel time from LIC to Rockaway by ferry is around an hour and 15 minutes. There are departures to Rockaway at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., and return trips at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“We love the ferry, we love the waterway, we love the East River. Last year, we went to Rockaway Beach, it was a couple of stops and a whole big ordeal. And we live right here in Long Island City. When I saw this two weeks ago, I said we gotta do this,” Joel Levy, who was one of the first beach-goers in line for the ferry, said.

This comes as NYC Ferry announced upcoming fare changes. Starting on Sept. 9, a single trip ticket is going up 50 cents to $4.50. A ten-trip bundle will cost $29 dollars, up from $27.50.