Sample Schedules: School Groups

Making a Schedule

Please reflect on how much time you will spend at Ellis Island, being mindful that you will need to factor in transit time. Consider the following as you plan your day.

Transit	Description
Travel time from school to the boat	Ellis Island can only be reached by ferries provided by Statue Cruises. You can board the ferries in Battery Park, NY or Liberty State Park, NJ. Check to see how long it will take for your bus to arrive to either of these destinations.
Booking tickets	There is no fee to visit Ellis Island; however, Statue Cruises charges a nominal fee for round trip ferry tickets. Your ticket includes visits to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. To avoid ticket lines, and to receive a school discount, purchase tickets online.
Boat lines	Please note that boat schedules represent departure times. To avoid long lines, arrive early.
Security clearance	All visitors are required to go through a security check similar to airport security.
Boat ride	The duration of the boat ride to Ellis Island depends on the point of departure. The ferry from Battery Park, NY stops at Liberty Island first and then continues to Ellis Island. The ferry from New Jersey stops at Ellis Island first, then goes on to Liberty Island.

 

Use the following template to help plan your visit to Ellis Island. If a trip to Liberty Island is also part of your plans, modify the schedule accordingly.

Sample Schedule for New York Boats (Ellis Island Only)

Activity	Duration	Real Time
Bus ride from school to boat	55 minutes	9:00am-9:55am
Security screening	30 minutes	9:55am-10:25am
Boat ride to Ellis Island	45 minutes	10:25am-11:10am
Orientation/queuing for film/bathroom break	20 minutes	11:10am -11:30am
Film: Island of Hope, Island of Tears	35 minutes	11:30am-12:05pm
Bag lunch	30 minutes	12:05pm-12:35pm
Self-guided activities	40 minutes	12:35pm- 1:15pm
Gallery walk (exploring the Ellis Island exhibits)	15 minutes	1:15pm-1:30pm
Gift shop/bathroom break (Optional)	15 minutes	1:30pm-1:45pm
Boat ride to NY	15 minutes	1:45pm-2:00pm
Bus ride back to school	55 minutes	2:00pm-2:55pm

 

Sample Schedule for New Jersey Boats (Ellis Island Only)

Activity	Duration	Real Time
Bus ride from school to boat	55 minutes	9:00am-9:55am
Security screening	30 minutes	9:55am-10:25am
Boat ride to Ellis Island	15 minutes	10:25am-10:40am
Self-guided activities	40 minutes	10:40am-11:20am
Bathroom break	10 minutes	11:20am-11:30am
Film: Island of Hope, Island of Tears	35 minutes	11:30am-12:05pm
Bag lunch	30 minutes	12:05pm-12:35pm
Gift shop/bathroom break (Optional)	15 minutes	12:35pm-12:50pm
Boat ride to NJ	45 minutes	12:50pm-1:35pm
Bus ride back to school	55 minutes	1:35pm-2:30pm