Seastreak’s Courageous to set sail for New England islands

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Have Memorial Day plans yet? Starting that holiday weekend, folks in the Highlands area will again have the option to board a Seastreak vessel and sail to popular summer spots in New England.

On April 20, the high-speed commuter ferry service provider announced not only that services would resume Memorial Day weekend to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, but also that passengers can ride the new Courageous, what the company says is the largest and fastest high-speed passenger catamaran operating in the country.

Measuring 157-feet-long, Courageous now outranks Seastreak’s Commodore as the largest vessel in this class. Brian Achille, Seastreak’s director of engineering, said Courageous has, among other features, insulated-glass windows “that will reduce the solar load of the cabin to provide a fog free experience.” It also features 360-degree open-air views, two fully stocked bars, dining options and specially designed engine and jet room noise insulation for a quieter ride.

While the catamaran has 750 seats on board, Seastreak is limiting the number of passengers at 500 “to facilitate a more luxurious travel experience.” In May 2021, the company issued a safety statement in light of COVID-19 that its vessels were “operating at reduced capacity to allow for more personal space to facilitate social distancing.” NJBIZ has reached out to the company to inquire about any COVID-safety policies still in place.

According to fare rates on its website, a round trip from Highlands to Martha’s Vineyard runs $240 for non-holidays and $310 for holidays, such as Memorial Day. To Nantucket, the rate is $260 on non-holiday and $330 on a holiday. The Seastreak Ferry Terminal at Highlands is located at 326 Shore Drive.

This season marks the 12th year that Seastreak provides service from New York City and Highlands to New England’s islands.

“Historically, families looking to escape the city for a weekend and young professionals searching for a convenient getaway have been most interested in this route,” James Barker, Seastreak’s vice president, said in a statement.

Built by Midship Marine shipyard in Harvey, La., Courageous arrived at its home port of Highlands in December 2021. Since then, it has been used for weekday commuter service to New York City. Courageous’ debut trip to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard will take place May 27, and service will continue into early September.