Will the Statue of Liberty's Crown access be open in 2013? I have searched their site and other sites but all I can find is that the crown will be open from October 28 and December 31, 2012. I can't find anywhere if it will be open in 2013. Our trip is Feb. 10 and we would like to climb to the crown this time (only visited last time). Thanks.

I would assume it will be open in 2013- since it had been closed for about a year in order to renovate. But until you see it on the National Park Service website you won;t know for sure.

The crown reopens on October 28, 2012. Make a reservation: http://www.nps.gov/stli/faqs.htm

HTtY

I wasn't able to make a reservation because the calendar is only open through December. I found it odd that it stated, will open from October 28 - December 31, 2012. Nowhere did it indicate if it would be open in 2013.

I assume that if the crown "reopens" on 10/28/2012 it will remain open on visiting days. Perhaps they only make reservations two months in advance. Why not call for clarification: 1.201.604.2800

HTtY

We have tickets and are going in Dec.
Can't wait.

The climb to the crown (and the view from it) is a truly memorable experience--a great American experience.

HTtY

I'm following this thread with interest because we are going to be in NY over Christmas this year. We are staying at the Affinia Dumont (34th & Lexington) and I'm wondering what time I should book our SOL reservation for. How long is it likely to take us to get to Battery Park to catch the boat? And how much of the day should I set aside for the visit (just to the SOL, without spending time on Ellis Island).

Our tickets are for 11:00.
We plan on a half hour subway ride from midtown.
The first ferry leaves at 9:30.

However we plan to go to Ellis Island after SOL.

You need to allow more time than that. The ferry has airline type security - so you should arrive at the ferry 45 minutes before departure - even with tickets - since boarding can take quite a while. And 30 minutes from midtown is doable but doesn;t leave yuo any spare time.

Also, remember that you can't take any large backpacks or similar on board for security reasons - just purses and small day packs - and they will likely be searched.

Thanks nyt.
We will leave around 8 and have breakfast somewhere down there.

BTW, what's up with comment removal?

The ticket time is the ferry time, yes? So if I book the 2pm ticket I will need to be at the ferry terminal by 1.15? And can I take my dslr camera bag? It's the size of a medium back pack.

And in case anyone else is looking to book in December.....there are very few spots left!

Anne, I think the ticket time is the time for Crown tour?
Anyone else know for sure?

We climbed to the Crown in October 2011, shortly before it closed for renovations. Since I lived to tell about, here is my report of that morning with photos.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/..._Me_Death.html

Wow!
That was wonderful maitai!
An AMAZING report.
No wonder I don't like to write TRs.
You raised the bar WAY too high! ;-)

maitaitom, I am exhausted from reading about your 'Crown 'day! It's a fabulous trip report & I'll be pinching lots of ideas from it for our upcoming trip. Is it possible I've read your wife's version somewhere online?
Can you tell me for sure if my 2pm booking is for the ferry or the crown and if it's for the crown, what time should we aim to catch the ferry?

Anne: There's no way for us to know if you booked Crown Access, but if your tickets indicates "Crown Access" then you have booked it. But I"m not seeing any availability for Crown access in late December, so my guess is you have not booked that, just the ferry.

The ticket tells you the time of the ferry, not the time of the Crown Access. So if you have a 2pm ticket, it's for the 2pm ferry. You still arrive about an hour before the ferry to pick up your timed tickets and to go through security; realize that you're going to have to stand in another long line to get up to the Crown, so this is not going to be a quick process.

Allow at least 30 minutes to get downtown from 33rd/Park 6 train, but it may take less time; you must change to the 4 train and get off at Bowling Green (change at 14th St./Union Square); the 6 train only goes as far as Brooklyn Bridge.

Doug, thanks for the clarification!
I was under the impression that there was "timed" entry into the Crown.

I am suprised to see that they don't have timed entrance ito the Crown though.

There actually is timed entry to the crown, but entry is controlled by the time of the ferry. Since Liberty Island is the first ferry stop, they know how many people on each ferry have Crown access. But there are still back-ups for security, and it can take quite a while to get into the Crown after you get off the ferry.

Unless the procedure has changed, of course, since the crown is reopening. But that's the way it was the last time I did this, and I had to wait in line for quite a while (over 30 minutes) just to get entry to the stairs.