Block Island Ferry

There’s some good news to share for those looking to avoid bridge traffic and beach traffic this summer, the Newport to Providence Ferry is slated to return on July 1st.

As What’sUpNewp first reported, The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) on Friday, April 8th seeking an operator to run service between Newport and Providence.

The Providence Journal has reported that Seastreak has won the contract and will use a “149-passenger catamaran that was previously used on a Providence-to-Newport ferry route for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority between 2003 and 2008”

The Newport to Providence Ferry will run 3 round-trips on weekdays and four round-trips on weekends and holidays, from July 1st through September 5th. The fare will be $10 each way for adults and half price for seniors, children and disabled riders.

For the full schedule and more information, visit Between Providence & Newport, RI.

In addition to their New York operations, Seastreak operate a seasonal ferry service (May through October) between New Bedford, Massachusetts and the port of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. The Martha’s Vineyard division operates daily service utilizing two high-speed catamaran ferries with capacity of up to 149 passengers.

Ryan Belmore

Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp.  He has been involved with What’sUpNewp since shortly after its launch in 2012, proudly leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and an honorable mention in the Common Good Awards in 2021.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Potter League For Animals. He previously served on the boards of Fort Adams Trust, Lucy's Hearth, and the Arts & Cultural Alliance for Newport County.

In 2020, he was named Member of the Year by LION and won the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County's Dominque Award.

He is a member of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, he spent 39 years living in Rhode Island before recently moving to Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two rescue dogs. He still considers Rhode Island home, and visits at least once a month.