The Block Island Ferry is returning to Fall River: Here's what you need to know

The summer run of the high speed ferry from the State Pier, 1 Water St., to Old Harbor, Block Island, sets off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. It will stop in Newport an hour later and dock in Block Island two hours and 15 minutes after leaving Fall River.

FALL RIVER – When you put a seashell to your ear at this time of year, you don’t hear the sound of waves.

You hear it whisper: Block Island.

Good news. Block Island will be a lot closer beginning on Saturday.

The summer run of the high speed ferry from the State Pier, 1 Water St., to Old Harbor, Block Island, sets off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. It will stop in Newport an hour later and dock in Block Island two hours and 15 minutes after leaving Fall River.

The boat leaves Block Island at 5:10 p.m., stopping in Newport and returning to Fall River by 7:30 p.m.

What you need to know:

- You can get off the boat in Newport and spend the day there. The boat arrives in Newport at Perrotti Park, 39 Americas Cup Ave, at 9:30 a.m. and leaves for Fall River at 6:30 p.m.

- Fares are $30 each way for adults to Block Island. The Newport trip is $15 each way. Children, age 5 to 11, are charged $7 each way to Newport, $15 to Block Island. Bicycles are $3 each way.

- Parking is available at the State Pier in a gated lot with security. The price is $10 a day. Diane Butler, manager of the pier, said the lot can accommodate 50 cars, which has been sufficient so far.

- The trip is made on the 90-foot twin hulled Islander, which is powered by four 1,000 horsepower water jets. It is capable of speeds of up to 30 knots, about 35 miles an hour. The boat holds up to 300 passengers. The cabin has both heat and air conditioning and airline style seats.

- Pets are welcome either on a leash or in carriers. Leashed dogs must stay outside on the deck.

- The journey is one of the best parts of the trip, according to Megan Moran of Interstate Navigation, the company that operates the Block Island Ferry.

“People really enjoy the ride down the Bay,” she said. “That is a real selling point of the Fall River run, seeing the Rhode Island coastline.”

- If you are on Block Island on a Wednesday, you can see the future up close and in action. Interstate Navigation is offering a tour of the wind farm located a few miles south of the island. It will leave at 3:45 p.m. every Wednesday and return one hour later. The cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 5 to 11.

For more information, go to www.blockislandferry.com.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.