Revised fares for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry will officially go into effect Monday, June 1.

The adjustments, which were developed following a virtual public meeting held Feb. 9, are designed to ensure the continued operational excellence of the bi-state crossing while expanding benefits for families and streamlining the reservation process. The Delaware River and Bay Authority commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 26-18 at the April 21 board meeting.

“Our focus is to both reduce our operating deficit with modest fare changes but keep fares as affordable as possible – even in times of escalating fuel and operating costs – by offering discounts that encourage multiple trips, family bookings and reserved travel,” said Heath Gehrke, director of ferry operations. “Because traveling for a vacation or visiting family are the two top reasons why people use the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, we know affordable family travel is important to our customers’ decision-making process.”

A central highlight of the new schedule is the expansion of family-friendly pricing, specifically for increasing the period when children ages 6 to 13 travel for free. This free-travel window for children now extends from October through May, providing significant value for families traveling during the off-season and shoulder months.

The revised fare schedule also introduces a staircase-pricing model for vehicle bookings. Under this new system, base fares remain consistent for early bookings, but prices will step up incrementally as vessel capacity reaches 50%, 75% and 90% thresholds. Vehicle fares will also see a seasonal increase ranging from $2 to $6 depending on the time of year, and the authority has transitioned group and return-trip discounts to a fixed percentage of the base fare.

Other notable changes include a $2 increase to shuttle fares and a $2 adjustment to the nonrefundable reservation cancellation fee and the show-go handling fee for nonreserved vehicle travel. These modifications are projected to generate approximately $1.5 million in additional revenue annually to help offset the service’s operating deficit.