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Contact: Dinah Schuster
(215) 629-3218
The RiverLink Ferry returns for the summer of 2000 to transport visitors across the Delaware River.
Philadelphia, PA, April 2000 – Looking for an affordable and enjoyable way to cross the Delaware River. Starting on April 1, 2000, the RiverLink Ferry sails again, carrying passengers between Camden and Philadelphia.
For the past three years, the RiverLink has remained committed to offering ferry riders the highest standards of customer service excellence, and the effort is paying off. In 1999 more than 300,000 people rode the ferry, continuing to build upon the success of previous seasons.
When concert time comes around again at the E-Centre in Camden, the RiverLink Ferry will offer express concert service beginning May 24. This service runs all season long when special events and concerts draw a large number of passengers. The highest rider totals for a 1999 E-Centre concert were the 3,200 people who used the express ferry for the N’Sync show.
The 2000 ferry season will also include the best vantage point from which to view the majestic tall ships that will include Philadelphia in their tour of the eastern seaboard during Operation Sail Philadelphia 2000 from June 23 to June 27. OpSail will feature the barketine Gazela Philadelphia, a Class A tall ship, which is the world’s oldest and largest wooden square rigged ship still sailing today. Other ships featured are the Kruzenshtern, Dar Mlodziezy, Amerigo Vespucci, Sagres II, Brig Niagra, Spirit of Massachusetts, A.J. Meerwald, Zenobe Gramme, Pochina, Bat’ Kivshehyna, Black Pearl, Pride of Many, Abalo, Brig Fomidable, and Ebb Tide. The RiverLink Ferry will allow passengers to view vessels on both the Philadelphia and Camden ports. OpSail is a free event to the public, though normal RiverLink charges apply.
Background
Penn’s Landing Corporation purchased the vessel in December 1996 to save it from the ferry graveyard. The bleak ridership numbers of previous years were quickly reversed due to comprehensive marketing and publicity plans that let the public know that the RiverLink was ready to transport them to fun.
Once aboard, passengers got a preview of upcoming events on the new video system. The audio system carries 20-minute narrated descriptions of some very scenic and famous waterfront landmarks.
Most recently, the Delaware River Port Authority purchased the RiverLink Ferry. DRPA also owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross bridges, the PATCO High-Speed Line and the AmeriPort Intermodal Rail Center. It manages the International Cruise Terminal.
Operational Information
The RiverLink Ferry is in service seven days a week from April 1, 2000 through November 29, 2000. Hours of operation are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; with later hours when riverfront events and concerts take place. RiverLink departs every hour on the hour from the Penn’s Landing dock and every hour on the half-hour from the New Jersey dock. On the evenings of Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre concerts, RiverLink will provide express service two hours before and after show time. In December, the ferry operates every weekend including holiday week (Christmas to New Year’s Eve.) Prices for round-trip tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $3 for children (ages 2 – 12) and groups of 15 or more. Ample parking is available on both sides of the river. Also, free shuttle service will be provided from the Philadelphia terminal to selected events on Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing. Call 215.922.2FUN for details.
For more information, please call (215) 925-RINK or check out the website at www.drpa.org.
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