Steamship Authority to Offer Free Veterans Day Fares
The Steamship Authority will offer free passenger tickets to eligible veterans on all its vessels on Veterans Day, November 11.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military Jobs
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The Steamship Authority approved a new veterans discount program in August that will be available to honorably discharged veterans in its port communities. On Veterans Day, November 11, veterans with a valid military ID showing active duty, honorable discharge, or retired status can ride free on all SSA vessels.
Why it matters
The program is meant to thank men and women who have served the country, and it extends a discount structure already used for senior citizens. Eligible veterans in Massachusetts port communities gain access to reduced regular fares year-round in addition to the Veterans Day offer.
Veterans receive 50 percent off regular ferry passenger tickets and 25 percent off high-speed Hyannis-Nantucket tickets, matching senior citizen rates. The program covers five SSA port communities, and the stub does not report expected enrollment or revenue effects.
The players
Steamship Authority
The Steamship Authority is the public agency operating the ferry service linking Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket with the mainland.
The details
Eligible veterans can show a valid military ID with active duty, honorable discharge, or retired status to receive free passenger tickets on Veterans Day. A Real ID showing veteran status can also serve as identification, though the free fare does not extend to accompanying passengers or vehicle reservations.
Timeline
August: SSA board approves the new veterans discount program.
November 11: Veterans Day free fares and the new veterans discount rate take effect.
Market Landscape
The veterans program mirrors the senior citizen discount already in place, extending the same 50 percent and 25 percent reductions to a new eligible group. It positions the Steamship Authority's fare structure as a tiered system of targeted discounts rather than a single uniform rate.
Eligible veterans in Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Barnstable, Falmouth, and New Bedford can get half-off regular ferry fares and 25 percent off the Hyannis-Nantucket high-speed ferry. Veterans with a valid military ID showing active duty, honorable discharge, or retired status can ride free on Veterans Day.
The takeaway
Veterans planning travel to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, or other SSA destinations can save on regular fares year-round and ride free on Veterans Day with proper identification. Carrying a valid military ID or a Real ID showing veteran status is the key step before boarding.
What happens next
Veterans Day free fares take effect on November 11, when eligible veterans can board SSA vessels at no charge with a valid military ID.
Further reading
Explore more Military Jobs coverage for context on programs supporting veterans.
More information
Find full veterans discount and free fare details on the Steamship Authority veterans page.
Live Poll
Should ferry operators offer discounted fares to veterans in your community?
