cmlf

What cmlf does

Cape May-Lewes Ferry (CMLF) is a year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service that operates a 17-mile crossing across Delaware Bay, connecting Cape May, New Jersey and Lewes, Delaware in approximately 80–85 minutes. Founded in 1964 and operated since then by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) — a bi-state government authority chartered by Delaware and New Jersey — the service runs three vessels (MV Delaware, MV New Jersey, MV Cape Henlopen) and serves both foot passengers and vehicle transport customers, including RVs, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial vehicles. The company has cumulatively carried more than 50 million passengers and 17 million vehicles across the bay.

The business operates a multi-stream revenue model: passenger ticket fares, differentiated vehicle-size pricing, premium special-event cruises (July 4th fireworks, Rock the Boat live music, Santa Cruise, brewery and zoo excursions), onboard and terminal food and beverage (including craft beer and the Stowaways and Grain on the Rocks venues), retail merchandise through the Ferry Shop, gift certificates, and a Frequent Traveler Book subscription program. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the proprietary booking.cmlf.com platform, Eventbrite for event cruises, and walk-up terminal box office; there is no third-party reseller channel. Supporting digital infrastructure includes GTFS schedule data published for developers, a Ferry Tracker real-time position service, and live webcam feeds from both terminals.

CMLF's strategic posture is defined by its chartered monopoly on the route, a 60-year operating track record, a 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award, and a Marine Master Plan launched with KPFF and Elliott Bay Design Group in mid-2023 to design the next-generation ferry fleet over a 40-year horizon. The company is pursuing modest experiential-revenue expansion through event cruises, bundle partnerships with destination operators (Morey's Piers, Cape Water Tours), and a seasonal Cape May ground shuttle, rather than through geographic or fleet-count expansion. As a government authority, it receives operating subsidies and does not have venture or private-equity ownership.

Name

cmlf

Legal name

Cape May-Lewes Ferry

Website

https://cmlf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cape May-Lewes Ferry is a government-operated passenger and vehicle ferry service, founded in 1964, running three vessels across the 17-mile Delaware Bay crossing between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE for leisure travelers and vehicle transport customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger and Vehicle Ferry Transportation

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tourist & Scenic Passenger Ferries (Non-Cruise) (THAIAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tourist & Scenic Ferry Services (THAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Passenger ferry service
• Vehicle ferry transport
• Maritime transportation
• Ferry excursions cruises
• Waterway transit

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape May

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ferry Tickets: Revenue from passenger fares including adults, children, seniors, AAA members, first responders, and military service members. Round-trip and one-way tickets available.
2. Vehicle Transport: Fees for transporting vehicles including standard vehicles, RVs, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial vehicles across Delaware Bay
3. Special Event Cruises: Premium ticket sales for themed events including fireworks cruises, Rock the Boat live music cruises, Santa cruises, and holiday excursions. Priced at $60-65 for adults and $40 for children.
4. Food and Beverage: Onboard dining including snack bars, local craft beer, and beverages. Snack bar facilities available on vessels.
5. Retail Merchandise: The Ferry Shop sells merchandise, souvenirs, and gift items at terminals and onboard vessels. MV New Jersey has the largest cafe and Ferry Store.
6. Loyalty Program: Frequent Traveler Book program offering discounted multi-trip fares for repeat customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service across the 17-mile Delaware Bay crossing between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE using three vessels (MV Delaware, MV New Jersey, MV Cape Henlopen), with crossings completed in 80–85 minutes. Beyond basic transportation, it sells themed event cruises (fireworks, live music, Santa, brewery excursions), onboard dining and retail, a Frequent Traveler loyalty book, gift certificates, and real-time tracking and webcam services. The service is operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA).

Product overview

The Cape May-Lewes Ferry operates as a year-round ferry service connecting Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE across the Delaware Bay (17 miles, approximately 80-85 minutes). The core offering is the passenger and vehicle ferry service operated by three vessels: MV Delaware, MV New Jersey, and MV Cape Henlopen. Beyond basic ferry transportation, the company offers a portfolio of experiential cruise products including Rock the Boat live music cruises, fireworks cruises (July 3rd and 4th), Santa Cruise, brewery excursions, concert series, and zoo excursions. Supporting services include a Frequent Traveler Book loyalty program, the Ferry Shop retail store, gift certificates, live ferry webcams, ferry tracking, ground transportation shuttle services, and a golf ferry package. The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) is undertaking a Marine Master Plan for fleet modernization, with planning partners KPFF and Elliott Bay Design Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cape May - Lewes Ferry Service Year-round passenger and vehicle ferry service sailing the 17-mile Delaware Bay crossing between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE, completed in approximately 80–85 minutes. Serves foot passengers, cyclists, motorcycles, RVs, standard vehicles, buses, and commercial trucks.
• Rock the Boat Cruises Live music cruise events featuring band performances on the ferry combined with Delaware Bay scenic views.
• July 4th Fireworks Cruise - Cape May Special event cruise departing Cape May Terminal on July 4th to view Lewes, DE fireworks show, featuring music, food, drinks and live band.
• July 3rd Fireworks Cruise - Lewes Special event cruise departing Lewes Terminal on July 3rd featuring a live rock band, music, food, and drinks.
• Santa Cruise Holiday ferry ride with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus featuring festive activities, face painting, and holiday entertainment for families.
• Brewery Shuttle Excursions Shuttle excursions to Cape May breweries combining ferry travel with local craft beer tasting experiences.
• Wednesday Night Concert Series - Cape May Weekly summer concert series held at the Cape May Ferry terminal green with live music performances.
• Sunday Jamz Cruises Live music cruise with summer sailing and Delaware Bay views, featuring performances and scenic bay experience.
• Cape May Shuttle Service Seasonal trolley shuttle service providing ground transportation at the Cape May ferry terminal during summer months.
• Cape May Zoo Excursion Excursion combining ferry travel to Cape May County Zoo with bundled admission, providing a packaged transportation and attraction experience.
• Golf Ferry Package Package combining ferry travel with golf at Big Little 9 at Morey's Pier in Cape May, including ferry passenger discounts.
• Frequent Traveler Book Pre-purchased multi-trip ticket book offering discounted fares for repeat ferry travelers under the loyalty program.
• The Ferry Shop Onboard and terminal retail store selling souvenirs, gifts, and ferry-branded merchandise.
• Gift Certificates Gift of Sailing certificates available for purchase as gift items redeemable for ferry travel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves approximately 85 miles of driving compared to I-95 route around the bay
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KPFFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2023Engineering consulting firm engaged for the Marine Master Plan to design the next generation ferry fleet. KPFF supports evaluation of vessel capacity, loading requirements, and technical specifications for new ferry designs.
• Elliott Bay Design GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2023Marine design firm partnered with DRBA for the Marine Master Plan. Conducted vessel profile design, car deck mock-ups, and preliminary exterior design concepts for new ferry vessels.
• Morey's PiersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering golf ferry packages combining ferry travel with Big Little 9 golf at Morey's Pier in Cape May. Includes special ferry passenger discounts.
• The Lynch Who Stole Christmas from the GrYnchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToy drive partnership for the annual Santa Cruise event. Participants bringing unwrapped toy donations receive 50% off one adult Santa Cruise ticket.
• Cape Water ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLewes Maritime Day partnership offering special canal cruises with educational narration about local maritime history, U.S. Lighthouse Service, and Delaware Bay River Pilots.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Spirit of Ethan Allen III: Lake Champlain (Vermont) sightseeing and event cruise operator. Comparable to CMLF's scenic-plus-event product positioning (dinner cruises, brunches, events) on an inland/coastal waterway.

Direct peers

• Staten Island Ferry: Operates free passenger ferry service across New York Harbor between Staten Island and Manhattan. Like CMLF, it is a public-sector passenger ferry with year-round scheduled service, on-board amenities, and a single-route monopoly in its corridor.
• Block Island Ferry: Operates passenger and vehicle ferry routes from Rhode Island mainland to Block Island. Comparable as a small, regional leisure-and-commuter ferry with seasonal peak demand and bundled tourism experiences.
• Casco Bay Lines: Year-round passenger ferry serving the Casco Bay islands from Portland, Maine. Comparable in being a regional, scheduled passenger ferry carrying both walk-on passengers and vehicles/cargo, and in offering scenic, leisure-oriented crossings.
• Shearwater Excursions: Operates seasonal passenger ferry service between Cape May, NJ and Lewes, DE during summer months. Directly comparable as a secondary operator on the same corridor, competing for the same leisure traveler segment as CMLF.

Broad incumbents

• Washington State Ferries: Largest ferry operator in the United States, run by a state DOT across Puget Sound. Comparable as a government-operated passenger and vehicle ferry network with year-round scheduled service, though at significantly greater scale than CMLF.
• Hornblower Cruises: Operates sightseeing, dinner, and event cruises in multiple U.S. cities. Comparable to CMLF's experiential/event cruise layer (fireworks, concerts, holiday cruises), though focused on tour/excursion rather than scheduled transit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@cmlferry
• TikToktiktok.com/@cmlferry
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/capemaylewesferry

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about cmlf