Cross Sound Ferry @ Orient Point · Thom C · CC BY 2.0 · cropped
Cross Sound Ferry canceled 15 scheduled sailings on Thursday, September 24, between New London, Connecticut, and Orient Point, New York, as a nor’easter tracks toward southern New England for the weekend. The company posted departure cancellations covering September 24 through September 26 on its official booking site, and CT Insider reported the full Thursday cancellation list with sailing times for both directions.
Any traveler holding a Thursday reservation must rebook to a running sailing or change plans, because the canceled boats will not operate. Visitors who find themselves with extra time in the departure city can use things to do in New London while they wait for service updates.
According to the ferry operator’s current departure status notice, the cancellation window runs September 24 to September 26. The detailed Thursday sailing list was published by CT Insider on the morning of September 24, with the National Weather Service cited for the gale warning and small craft advisory behind the decision.
- What changed: Cross Sound Ferry canceled 15 Thursday, September 24 sailings on the New London to Orient Point route.
- Window: The operator’s own notice lists departure cancellations from September 24 through September 26.
- Why: A weekend nor’easter is tracking farther west, with a National Weather Service gale warning on Long Island Sound on Thursday.
- Action: Thursday ticket holders should rebook through the operator and recheck sailing status before leaving for the terminal.
Canceled Departures From New London on Thursday
Seven Thursday departures from New London were canceled: 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. The cuts span the morning commute window, the midday crossings, and the evening boats, so travelers cannot simply shift a few hours in either direction and expect a normal schedule. Anyone booked on one of these seven sailings needs a new reservation on a boat that is still shown as operating.
New London is the Connecticut-side terminal for the route, and the canceled evening pair at 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. removes the last practical Thursday options for day trippers returning from Long Island. Travelers with vehicles should pay particular attention, because car space on the remaining running sailings is limited and rebooking earlier in the day is safer than waiting. Confirm the sailing shows as bookable before driving to the terminal.
Canceled Departures From Orient Point on Thursday
Eight Thursday departures from Orient Point were canceled: 8:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. The morning cluster removes three boats before 10:00 a.m., which hits travelers connecting from eastern Long Island to Connecticut and onward to New England destinations. The 8:00 p.m. cancellation also ends Thursday service from the New York side earlier than usual.
Orient Point passengers connecting to trains, buses, or flights on the Connecticut side face the tightest timing problem, since a missed morning sailing cannot be recovered the same day. Build a backup road route around Long Island Sound into the plan now rather than after arriving at a dark terminal. Keep the operator’s status page open through the day, because additional Thursday sailings could be added or removed as conditions change.
Storm Forecast Behind the Cancellations
The cancellations come ahead of a nor’easter expected to reach southern New England over the weekend, with the storm tracking farther west than earlier forecasts. Thursday itself was expected to stay relatively calm, but forecasters warned that a strong high pressure system arriving Friday would bring the worst shoreline conditions through much of the weekend. Friday gusts could reach 35 mph, with the shoreline portion of Connecticut taking the brunt.
The National Weather Service issued a gale warning for the Sound up to the New Haven coast on Thursday, in effect until 6:00 p.m., warning of waves up to 14 feet and gusts to 45 knots that could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. From the New Haven coast through Stamford, a small craft advisory runs until 8:00 a.m. Friday, with waves near 7 feet and gusts to 45 knots. Those marine warnings are the direct reason a car ferry cannot safely hold its Thursday schedule.
What Thursday Ticket Holders Should Do
Start with the operator’s departure status page, which carries the September 24 to September 26 cancellation banner and links to schedule and change or cancel options. Rebook onto a sailing that is still listed as operating, and complete the change before traveling, since terminal staff will be handling other disrupted passengers. The company lists (860) 443-5281 and (631) 323-2525 for voice help alongside online booking.
Do not assume the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry is a same-day substitute without checking: as of the morning report, that operator showed no Thursday cancellations on its website, but it was unclear whether it planned delays or cancellations as the weather develops. Treat every Long Island Sound crossing as subject to change through the weekend, and keep a road alternative ready. A separate regional signal worth watching is the Block Island Ferry halt to its Wednesday boats, a different operator and route showing the same storm system disrupting service a day earlier.
Weekend Service Remains Uncertain
It was not immediately clear whether trips are canceled for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, even though the operator’s banner window extends through September 26. That uncertainty matters most for weekend travelers, who should check sailing status the night before and again on the morning of travel rather than relying on the regular timetable. The storm’s westward shift means forecasts for the Sound can still change.
Friday is the first pressure test, with 35 mph gusts forecast and the small craft advisory running into Friday morning. Saturday and Sunday depend on how fast the nor’easter clears the coast. Travelers with fixed weekend commitments on either side of the Sound should decide now what they will do if Saturday boats are cut: travel a day early while boats still run, postpone to next week, or commit to the long drive around the western end of the Sound.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Hold a Thursday Cross Sound Ferry ticket | Rebook to a sailing still listed as operating on September 24, or move the trip to a later date. |
| Must cross the Sound on Thursday | Check the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson schedule directly, then keep a road route as backup. |
| Plan a Friday crossing | Recheck operator status Thursday night, with 35 mph gusts forecast and advisories into Friday morning. |
| Plan a weekend crossing | Watch the September 24 to September 26 operator banner and confirm Saturday and Sunday boats before leaving. |
Thursday, September 24 is the rebook gate. Fifteen sailings are already canceled, so confirm a running boat or change the date before going to New London or Orient Point.
Friday morning is the weather gate. The small craft advisory runs until 8:00 a.m. Friday with 35 mph gusts possible, so expect further cuts or delays.
September 26 is the operator window edge. The company flags cancellations through Saturday, so weekend travelers should verify each sailing individually.
Which Cross Sound Ferry sailings are canceled on Thursday?
Seven departures from New London and eight from Orient Point are canceled on September 24, covering morning, midday, and evening boats in both directions.
Why did Cross Sound Ferry cancel Thursday sailings?
The company canceled ahead of a weekend nor’easter, with a National Weather Service gale warning on the Sound until 6:00 p.m. Thursday and waves forecast up to 14 feet.
Are Friday and weekend ferries canceled too?
That was not confirmed as of the morning report, though the operator’s notice window runs September 24 through September 26, so check status before traveling.
Is the Bridgeport and Port Jefferson Ferry running?
It showed no Thursday cancellations on its website in the morning report, but possible delays or cancellations were unclear, so verify directly before relying on it.
How do I rebook a canceled Cross Sound Ferry ticket?
Use the change or cancel option on the operator’s booking site or call (860) 443-5281 or (631) 323-2525, and rebook only onto a sailing shown as operating.
