The direct Mersey Ferry crossing between Seacombe and Liverpool Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal at Pier Head takes about 10 minutes, but it only operates during weekday morning and evening periods.
Between those times, Mersey Ferries operates the 50-minute River Explorer Cruise instead. It has a different timetable, different fares and different ticket rules.
Times, fares and planned service changes below were checked against Mersey Ferries and Merseytravel on 1 September 2026.
Commuter ferry times
Morning commuter ferries: every 20 minutes, with Seacombe departures from 07:20 to 09:40.
Evening commuter ferries: Pier Head departures every 20 minutes from 17:00 to 18:40.
Journey time: about 10 minutes.
Adult fare: £3.10 single or £4.20 return.
Child fare, ages 5 to 18: £1.60 single or £2.10 return.
6 Journey Flexi: £11.50.
10 Journey Flexi: £16.50.
Monthly commuter ticket: £68.
Quarterly commuter ticket: £171.
The direct commuter service runs Monday to Friday only and does not operate on bank holidays.
There is no direct commuter ferry through the middle of the day. The River Explorer Cruise operates instead.
A commuter ticket cannot be used on the River Explorer Cruise.
A River Explorer ticket can be used on the commuter service.
Flexi commuter tickets have no set period in which the journeys must be used, but they are individual tickets and cannot be shared.
Ferry terminals accept contactless payments only.
Woodside Ferry Terminal remains closed, so the Wirral terminal is Seacombe in Wallasey.
Mersey Ferries currently lists two important forthcoming commuter changes: no commuter service at all on Tuesday 22 September, and no evening commuter service on Thursday 1 October 2026.
Mersey Ferry commuter timetable
The direct cross-river service operates in two weekday windows.
The 18:40 departure from Pier Head terminates at Seacombe.
There is no commuter service on bank holidays.
Planned ferry timetable changes
Do not assume the normal timetable will operate every weekday.
As of 1 September 2026, Mersey Ferries has already published these exceptions:
Tuesday 22 September: no morning or evening commuter ferries.
Tuesday 22 September: all River Explorer Cruises are also cancelled.
Saturday 26 September: the 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00 River Explorer Cruises will not operate.
Thursday 1 October: no evening commuter ferry service.
These are scheduled changes. Weather, high tides and other operating conditions can also cause disruption at shorter notice.
Commuter ferry and River Explorer Cruise are not the same service
This is the distinction most likely to catch people out.
Direct cross-river commuter ferry
About 10 minutes.
Runs on weekday mornings and evenings.
No recorded sightseeing commentary.
Adult single: £3.10.
Adult return: £4.20.
Designed primarily as a direct crossing between Seacombe and Pier Head.
River Explorer Cruise
About 50 minutes for the full cruise.
Recorded commentary.
Adult ticket: £14.
Child aged 5 to 15: £9.
Concession: £12.50.
Family tickets are also available.
On weekdays, River Explorer sailings currently leave Pier Head on the hour from 10:00 to 16:00, with Seacombe departures at 20 minutes past the hour from 10:20 to 16:20. Weekend operating hours vary through the year.
You can use the River Explorer to travel from one side of the Mersey to the other, but it should not be confused with the direct 10-minute commuter service.
Mersey Ferry commuter fares
Current direct cross-river prices are:
Direct cross-river Mersey Ferry commuter fares
Ticket
Price
Adult single
£3.10
Adult return
£4.20
Child single, ages 5 to 18
£1.60
Child return, ages 5 to 18
£2.10
6 Journey Flexi
£11.50
10 Journey Flexi
£16.50
Monthly
£68
Quarterly, 3 months
£171
These prices apply to the direct cross-river commuter service, not the River Explorer Cruise.
How long are commuter ferry tickets valid?
This depends on the ticket.
Normal commuter tickets
Mersey Ferries' terms state that a commuter ticket is valid for the date shown on the ticket.
More importantly, a commuter ticket cannot be used on the River Explorer Cruise or another Mersey Ferries service.
That means buying a cheap commuter ticket does not give you access to the daytime sightseeing cruise.
6 and 10 Journey Flexi tickets
The Flexi tickets work differently.
The £11.50 ticket gives you six single journeys, while the £16.50 ticket gives you ten.
Mersey Ferries states that:
there is no set period in which the journeys have to be used
each journey is recorded as a scan at the gate
the ticket is for one individual
everyone travelling needs their own ticket
Flexi tickets are only valid on the direct cross-river commuter service
they can be bought online or at the ferry terminals
This makes the Flexi tickets particularly relevant for people commuting a few days a week rather than travelling every weekday.
Can a River Explorer ticket be used on the commuter ferry?
The reverse does not apply. A commuter ticket cannot be used for the River Explorer Cruise.
Online River Explorer tickets are currently flexible and valid for 12 months from purchase. Tickets bought directly at a ferry terminal are for use on the day of purchase.
That distinction is useful if your plans change or you arrive at the waterfront at a different time from the one you expected.
Can you use a Saveaway on the ferry?
Yes, but the rules are more specific than simply saying "Merseytravel tickets are accepted".
Saveaway is an off-peak ticket. On Mondays to Fridays it cannot be used for journeys beginning between 06:31 and 09:29. It can therefore be used after 09:30, subject to the normal ferry service being available.
Merseytravel also states that passengers using a Saveaway on Mersey Ferries need to obtain a ferry boarding pass.
A Saveaway does not automatically include the full River Explorer Cruise. Merseytravel says an additional supplement can be bought if you want to stay aboard for the continuous sightseeing cruise.
Can you use a Trio ticket?
Yes, if the ticket covers the correct zones.
Merseytravel states that a Trio containing C1 and B1 can be used for cross-river journeys on the Mersey Ferry.
Trio tickets cover buses, trains and direct ferry crossings and can be particularly useful if the ferry is only one part of a longer commute.
A standard Railpass or Solo ticket does not cover the ferry.
Can concessionary passes be used?
Merseyside concessionary passes can cover single river crossings, but the type of pass matters.
On weekdays they are normally valid before 06:30 and after 09:30. As the normal morning commuter ferry starts after 07:00, that means the weekday morning peak restriction matters.
A Disabled Person's Travel Pass issued to a Merseyside resident can be used for single ferry crossings at any time within Merseyside.
If you are relying on a concessionary or Merseytravel ticket rather than buying a ferry ticket, check its current conditions before travelling.
How to check whether the ferry is running
The published timetable is only the starting point.
The commuter area is in the rear car park and is signposted.
There is also a separate pay-and-display car park next to Seacombe Ferry Terminal. Charges apply between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, including bank holidays.
Do not assume that buying a normal single or return ferry ticket gives you free parking.
Seacombe Ferry Terminal Victoria Place Seacombe Wallasey Wirral CH44 6QY
Seacombe is in Wallasey rather than central Birkenhead.
That matters if your destination is Hamilton Square or the centre of Birkenhead. The ferry will leave you further north and you will need another bus, bike or other connection.
No reopening date is currently given on the Mersey Ferries terminal information page.
Taking a bike on the Mersey Ferry
Mersey Ferries provides space for bicycles on the lower deck of the direct cross-river service.
That can make the route useful for journeys combining cycling with the ferry, particularly from Wallasey and surrounding parts of Wirral into Liverpool city centre.
They are not permitted on longer cruises including Manchester Ship Canal, Liverpool Bay and evening cruises.
Accessibility
Mersey Ferries provides accessible facilities, but boarding conditions can vary because the linkspan between the terminal and landing stage changes angle with the river level.
Anyone for whom a steep boarding slope could present a problem should check directly with Mersey Ferries before travelling.
Is the ferry practical for commuting?
The ferry makes most sense when your journey starts reasonably close to Seacombe, Wallasey or surrounding areas and finishes around the Pier Head or western side of Liverpool city centre.
The crossing itself takes about 10 minutes.
The main limitation is not journey time. It is the timetable.
There is no direct commuter service through the middle of the day, at weekends or on bank holidays. If you finish work outside the evening operating window, the ferry may not be an option for the return journey.
For people working hybrid schedules, the Flexi tickets remove another problem because the journeys do not have to be used within a fixed period.
Before you travel
Check four things:
Which service you need. The 10-minute commuter ferry and 50-minute River Explorer Cruise are different services.
Whether your ticket is valid. Commuter tickets cannot be used on the River Explorer.
Whether the normal timetable is operating. Planned changes and short-notice disruption both occur.
Which Wirral terminal you need. The current cross-river terminal is Seacombe. Woodside remains closed.
For an important journey, check the official Mersey Ferries timetable and Merseytravel travel updates shortly before leaving.
What time is the Mersey Ferry from Seacombe to Pier Head?
Weekday morning sailings leave Seacombe every 20 minutes from 07:20 to 09:40. The direct crossing takes about 10 minutes and does not run on bank holidays.
What time is the last Mersey Ferry from Pier Head to Seacombe?
The last weekday evening sailing leaves Pier Head at 18:40 and terminates at Seacombe.
How much is the Mersey Ferry commuter service?
An adult single is £3.10 and a return is £4.20. Children aged 5 to 18 pay £1.60 single or £2.10 return.
Does the direct Mersey Ferry run during the day?
No. The direct commuter ferry runs during weekday morning and evening windows. The 50-minute River Explorer Cruise operates between those periods at different fares.
Can a commuter ticket be used on the River Explorer Cruise?
No. A commuter ticket is valid only for the direct cross-river service. A River Explorer ticket can also be used on the commuter service.
Do Mersey Ferry Flexi tickets expire?
Mersey Ferries says the journeys on 6 and 10 Journey Flexi tickets do not have to be used within a set period. Each traveller needs their own ticket.
Can you use a Saveaway or Trio ticket on the ferry?
An All Areas Saveaway can cover a direct cross-river journey after the weekday morning peak. A Trio covering zones C1 and B1 can also cover the crossing. A ferry boarding pass is required.
Is Woodside Ferry Terminal open?
No. Woodside remains closed for major refurbishment, so the Wirral terminal for the service is Seacombe in Wallasey.
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