New Cape May – Lewes Ferry Tour Packages Introduce Visitors to Victorian Cape May with Savings

CAPE MAY — The Cape May–Lewes Ferry (CMLF) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC) are working together to sponsor two new package tours from the Ferry Terminal into the town of Cape May, N.J. this summer. Package tours now include a box lunch from the Carriage House Café & Tearoom and feature two tour options — both of which include time for shopping.

While Cape May and its shoreline provides an exciting vista for ferry riders as they approach the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay, these excursions will allow visitors to see and learn about the historically beautiful town of Cape May up close, on foot and via trolley with informative guides along the way.  These two unique, special guided trolley tour packages showcase some of the most popular attractions of Victorian Cape May.

Ferry travelers can leave their cars behind during these roundtrip excursions that depart at 8:45 a.m. from Lewes, Del. for a leisurely 17-mile, 85-minute cruise across the Delaware Bay to Cape May, N.J., a National Historic Landmark City. When the boat docks at the Cape May Ferry Terminal, guests will be transported into historic Cape May via a MAC trolley.

Guests can choose from these two Cape May tour package experiences:

Offered on Mondays, June 27, July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 15, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29 is the Welcome to Cape May Ferry and Tour Package. Guests will board a MAC trolley at the Cape May Ferry Terminal and learn about Cape May from a knowledgeable guide during a Welcome to Cape May Trolley Tour that travels through town. Guests will visit the fully restored 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and can climb 199 steps to the top for a breathtaking view of the Jersey Cape, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, enjoy wildlife habitat along the Nature Trails, orwalkalong the beautiful shoreline of Cape May Point State Park. Then, guests board the trolley and travel to Sunset Beach to shop, view the sunken concrete ship, the USS Atlantus, play a round of mini-golf or visit the World War II Lookout Tower and learnthe pivotal role Cape May played during World War II. Included is a Box Lunch prepared by the Carriage House Café and Tearoom.

Offered on Wednesdays, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27, Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 is the Historic Cape May Ferry and Tour Package. Guests will board a MAC trolley at the Cape May Ferry Terminal and learn about the architecture and history of Cape May, the nation’s first seaside resort, in an entertaining and informative trolley tour from a knowledgeable guide. Afterwards, guests will enjoy a tour of Cape May’s Victorian House Museum, the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, with the new theme for 2016: What the Heck Is That Thing? which highlights unusual Victorian household objects. After the tour, guests will visit the Carroll Gallery Exhibit, “Tommy’s Folly: The 200th Anniversary of Congress Hall Hotel,” featuring the history of one of America’s most illustrious hotels. Visitors will be transported via trolley downtown to explore Cape May’s Victorian charm on foot. Visitors can walk the Promenade overlooking Cape May’s pristine beaches, or visit the shops of the Washington Street Mall.  Included is a Box Lunch prepared by the Carriage House Café and Tearoom.

The trolley transports guests back to the Cape May Ferry Terminal in time for the 2:30 p.m. return trip crossing to Lewes, Del.

Tickets for both packages are $45 for adults, $32 for children ages 3-13 and free for children under 3. Each package includes a round-trip ferry ride, transportation via trolley, tours and a box lunch. Visitors arrive back to Lewes, Del. at 3:55 p.m.

“The Lighthouse tour is new.  Passengers have long viewed the Cape May Lighthouse from the Ferry decks, but without a car could not get there,” noted Rhona Bronson, Director of Marketing for the Ferry. “It’s an iconic part of Cape May and this new tour brings visitors directly to lighthouse where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.”   The tour includes the option to climb the lighthouse and brings passengers to Sunset Beach for a close up view of the famous sunken concrete ship and the World War II Lookout Tower.

Reservations are required and are made for either tour directly with Ferry Guest Services at 800-643-3779.  “This is another new plus service,” Bronson added.  “One call provides the reservation for both the MAC and Ferry travel and ensures your party are all on the same trolley.” 

Better yet, for passengers who still want to do the standard MAC tours, they still can.  Ferry shuttle service to downtown Cape May takes them directly to the Washington Street Mall where they can sign up for any of the existing MAC tours.  These tours, however, are no longer sold as a package and can be bought a la carte as desired.

“Working with MAC is very important for us here at the Ferry,” said Michael Porch, Marketing Manager of the Ferry. “We are proud to partner with different tourism organizations and working with MAC showcases their talents by reaching out to a larger audience. It’s a great way for

our passengers to experience the town of Cape May in its different forms. They always really enjoy it!”

“We’re excited to pair with CMLF for another great summer,” said Mary E. Stewart, Chief Outreach Officer. “We are always looking to bring more visitors to Cape May each year. A large part of MAC’s mission, along with preservation and interpretation, is promoting the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. This wonderful partnership we have with CMLF is a great way to achieve that. We welcome more visitors from across the bay to spend time here and really learn about our historic attractions and enjoy our tours.”

For more information on the Welcome to Cape May Ferry and Tour Package or the Historic Cape May Ferry and Tour Package and to make reservations, please call (800) 643-3779 or (800) 64-FERRY or visit www.capemaylewesferry.com.

The Cape May – Lewes Ferry (CMLF) is owned and operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962.  The CMLF is open year-round and has carried more than forty million passengers since its inception on July 1, 1964. In 2015, the ferry service, which connects Victorian Cape May, New Jersey, and historic Lewes, Delaware, transported approximately 275,000 vehicles and nearly 1 million passengers.  For schedule, rates and other program information, please visit the ferry’s website at www.CMLF.com, or call toll free, 800-643-3779.

The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508 or visit www.capemaychamber.com. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com.