Cross Sound Ferry
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersNew London, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Cross Sound Ferry firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cross Sound Ferry
- Legal name
- Cross Sound Ferry Services, Inc.
- Website
- https://longislandferry.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cross Sound Ferry industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ferry Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban/Commuter Ferry Operators (Harbor/Water Taxi) (TLAFALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- High-Speed Passenger Ferry Operators (TLAFALAC), Urban & Commuter Ferries (Scheduled Public Service) (THAIAJAA)
Keywords
Where Cross Sound Ferry is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New London
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cross Sound Ferry business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Vehicle and Driver Ferry Tickets: Primary revenue from vehicle ferry crossings between New London, CT and Orient Point, NY. Includes various vehicle categories: standard, large, XL autos; commercial vehicles charged per foot; motorcycles. Driver is included with vehicle ticket.
- Passenger Tickets: Revenue from walk-on passengers including adults and children under 12. Fares available as one-way or same-day round trip.
- Food and Beverage Service: Cross Sound Deli and bar service available onboard most ferries and at each terminal location.
- Captain's Card Preload Program: Loadable debit card with bonus value (5% for $200-$399, 10% for $400+). Earned value can be used for ferry travel purchases.
- Rewards Program Points: Points accumulated at $1 for every $20 spent, redeemable for future travel on passenger or vehicle tickets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Auto and Driver One-Way (sedans) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Large Auto and Driver One-Way (SUVs, Pickups) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | XL Auto and Driver One-Way (20'-23' long or over 7' tall) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Passenger One-Way |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Child Passenger (Under 12) One-Way |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial Vehicles per Foot |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Motorcycle and Driver |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Captain's Card Preload |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cross Sound Ferry product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cross Sound Ferry operates year-round vehicle and passenger ferry services between New London, CT and Orient Point, NY across Long Island Sound. The company runs a fleet of auto ferries with approximately 1 hour 20 minute crossings and high-speed passenger ferries (Sea Jet) with 45-minute crossings, supplemented by Block Island connections, Lighthouse Cruises, on-board dining, a loyalty rewards program, and the prepaid Captain's Card.
Product overview
Cross Sound Ferry Services operates a ferry transportation service between New London, CT and Orient Point, NY. The core offering consists of auto ferries (John H, Susan Anne, Mary Ellen, Cape Henlopen, Jennifer C, New London, Caribbean) with approximately 1 hour 20 minute crossing times, and high-speed passenger ferries (Sea Jet, Cecelia Ann) with 45-minute crossings. The company supplements its core ferry service with a Rewards Program offering up to 45% discounts and a Captain's Card loadable debit card with up to 10% bonus value. Additional services include Lighthouse Cruises, Block Island Connections via partner Block Island Express, and food service through the Cross Sound Deli. Gift cards are available for both ferry travel and lighthouse cruises.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 55% savings when combining Rewards discounts (up to 45%) with Captain's Card bonuses (up to 10%)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cross Sound Ferry
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cross Sound Ferry technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cross Sound Ferry partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Block Island ExpresscoreBlock Island Express connects with Cross Sound Ferry service from Long Island to New London, allowing passengers to transfer for trips to Block Island, RI. Combined ferry tickets available for this 'island hopper' route.
- AmtrakcoreCross Sound Ferry is recognized by Amtrak as an official intermodal passenger carrier for rail service. The New London terminal is adjacent to Amtrak's rail service at the Multi-Modal Transportation Center.
- Shore Line EastminorCommuter rail service running weekday rush hours between New London and New Haven, with connection available at the Cross Sound Ferry terminal.
- North FerryminorFerry service between Greenport and Shelter Island, connecting with Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal for extended routing options.
- South FerryminorFerry service between North Haven and Shelter Island, providing alternative routing connections via Cross Sound Ferry's Orient Point terminal.
- Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)minorTransit bus connects Orient Point ferry terminal to LIRR's Greenport station, approximately 9 miles away, with daily service to New York City.
- Suffolk County TransitminorBus service making frequent stops at Orient Point ferry terminal, connecting to Long Island Rail Road station in Greenport, NY.
- Lighthouse CruisesminorPartner cruise offering lighthouse viewing excursions from Orient Point, NY, promoted on Cross Sound Ferry's website and marketing materials.
- Water Street Parking GarageminorParking facility located directly across from New London ferry terminal. Cross Sound Ferry directs customers to this garage for overflow parking.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cross Sound Ferry competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Block Island Express: Operates ferry service connecting Long Island to Block Island, RI — Cross Sound Ferry's listed partner for the "island hopper" combined ticketing route. Operates a comparable passenger ferry business model targeting similar Long Island leisure-travel customers.
- North Ferry: Vehicle ferry service between Greenport and Shelter Island, NY, operating from Cross Sound's adjacent Orient Point terminal as a connecting route. Comparable regional vehicle ferry operator with similar customer demographics and geographic market.
- SeaStreak: High-speed passenger ferry operator running between New Jersey and Manhattan with seasonal service to the New York harbor islands and beach destinations. Directly comparable to Cross Sound's Sea Jet high-speed service in vessel type, speed, and customer use case (time-sensitive commuters and tourists).
- NY Waterway: Largest private commuter ferry operator in New York Harbor, running passenger-only routes across the Hudson River and to points in New Jersey and Manhattan. Comparable in commuter ferry business model, multi-vessel operations, and high-frequency scheduled service, though operating in a denser urban geography.
- South Ferry: Vehicle ferry service between North Haven and Shelter Island, NY, serving the same eastern Long Island geography as Cross Sound Ferry. Directly comparable small regional vehicle ferry with similar vehicle-class fare structure and short crossing distances.
- Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company: The other major vehicle-carrying ferry operator across Long Island Sound, running between Bridgeport, CT and Port Jefferson, NY. Operates a near-identical vehicle-and-passenger ferry model with similar crossing times and customer segments, making it the closest direct competitor to Cross Sound Ferry.
Broad incumbents
- Staten Island Ferry: Operated by the New York City Department of Transportation, this is one of the largest passenger-only ferry operations in the United States, carrying millions of passengers annually between Staten Island and Manhattan. Comparable as a high-volume scheduled passenger ferry operation, though publicly operated and free to riders.
- Steamship Authority (Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket): Largest ferry operator serving Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with vehicle, passenger, and freight service. Operates at a significantly larger scale than Cross Sound but in a directly comparable New England seasonal ferry business with similar customer mix of commuters, tourists, and commercial vehicle operators.
Regional players
- Casco Bay Lines: Year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service serving the Casco Bay islands from Portland, Maine. Operates a comparable regional ferry business model with seasonal and commuter ridership, a multi-vessel fleet, and tourism-oriented excursion services.
- Massachusetts Bay Lines: Boston-based passenger ferry and sightseeing operator offering commuter, intercity, and excursion services including whale watching and harbor cruises. Comparable in multi-product ferry business combining scheduled passenger service with leisure cruises.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cross Sound Ferry social profiles
Digital presenceCross Sound Ferry financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cross Sound Ferry leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cross Sound Ferry funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cross Sound Ferry M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cross Sound Ferry
What does Cross Sound Ferry do?
Cross Sound Ferry operates year-round vehicle and passenger ferry services between New London, CT and Orient Point, NY across Long Island Sound. The company runs a fleet of auto ferries with approximately 1 hour 20 minute crossings and high-speed passenger ferries (Sea Jet) with 45-minute crossings, supplemented by Block Island connections, Lighthouse Cruises, on-board dining, a loyalty rewards program, and the prepaid Captain's Card.
Is Cross Sound Ferry a public or private company?
Cross Sound Ferry is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Cross Sound Ferry founded?
Cross Sound Ferry was founded in 1975. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cross Sound Ferry based?
Cross Sound Ferry is headquartered in New London, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cross Sound Ferry make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Vehicle and Driver Ferry Tickets are the primary driver. The others are passenger Tickets, food and Beverage Service, captain's Card Preload Program and rewards Program Points.
Who are Cross Sound Ferry's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Block Island Express, North Ferry, SeaStreak, NY Waterway, South Ferry and Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. Broad incumbents are Staten Island Ferry and Steamship Authority (Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket). Regional players are Casco Bay Lines and Massachusetts Bay Lines.
Does Cross Sound Ferry have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cross Sound Ferry.
What industry is Cross Sound Ferry in?
Cross Sound Ferry's product category is Ferry Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFALAB, Urban/Commuter Ferry Operators (Harbor/Water Taxi), with a secondary code of TLAFALAC, High-Speed Passenger Ferry Operators. Its NAICS code is 483114 and its SIC code is 4400.