Steamship Authority will hold ferry fares firm next year

Making a getaway to the islands won’t cost any more next year than it did this year. Despite the rising cost of fuel, the Steamship Authority will not raise ferry prices, officials said.

The Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority’s budget was approved earlier this week, said Wayne Lamson, general manager of the authority. The authority was able to keep the ticket prices unchanged due to some freight service cuts and the consistency of ridership over the past 10 years, he said.

“There are days when we need every vessel every trip running for the full operating day and there are other days we don’t,’’ he said. “This means not making more trips a day than are necessary.’’

No passenger service is being cut.

Currently, a one-way ticket to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket costs $7.50 or $17, respectively. To transport a car to Martha’s Vineyard costs $67.50 and up, depending on size, and to Nantucket costs $200 and up, Lamson said.

Those ticket prices do not include a 50-cent embarkation fee charged by the islands.

It hasn’t always been so expensive to get on and off the island.

Ten years ago, it cost $5.50 and $13 for a one-way ticket to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, respectively. For cars, the cost was $55, and $165, Lamson said.

“The increase in the cost of service is attributable to the projected cost of fuel,’’ Lamson said. “We do hedge and try to protect against big spikes in fuel prices.’’