Maybe great minds think alike. Or, perhaps imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery. Either way it seems there’s a growing trend among top tourist attractions—the use of technology to cut down on wait times to get in.
Just yesterday I told blogged about the Colosseum’s efforts to shorten the time tourists have to stand in line to experience one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The ancient Roman arena has catapulted itself into the 21st Century by allowing visitors to purchase tickets in advance and bypass the mile-long lines that can form during the height of tourist season.
Now, it looks like Lady Liberty is going high tech as well. According to the National Park Service, a new online ticketing system will soon be available to visitors who want to see the Statute of Liberty in all her glory. If you have children; are accompanying seniors; or simply don’t have the patience to wait for more than an hour in line to buy a ticket to board the ferries that travel to Liberty and Ellis islands than logging on the Internet is the way to go.
The Statute of Liberty’s website already allows you to book online reservations, but the new system will help out even more. Whereas now you must pick up your tickets in Battery Park and wait on a first-come-first-served basis for security screening and a spot on a ferry, the new system will allow you to make reservations for specific departure slots, print tickets at home and bypass long lines.
In addition, tickets for the ferries will soon be available at self-serve kiosks in Times Square and other tourist spots around the city. But, that’s not all… other improvements are on the way as well, including the addition of educational signs and activities, which will help pass the time for individuals who don’t take advantage of the new online system.
The boats will also be getting much-needed makeovers. Visitors will soon be able to watch flat-screen monitors offering information in a variety of languages. Also, free podcasts on topics such as the Italian immigrant experience will be available for downloading ahead of time. Harbor ferries will also be retrofitted with engines that consume less gas and produce less exhaust. And onboard snack bars are also going “green” by offering organic food options.
The changes come courtesy of a 10-year-deal a new ferry company signed with the National Park Service earlier this week.
Related Articles:
Another Reason NOT To Drive In New York City