To keep the South Street Seaport Museum and our work accessible to all, admission tickets are Pay What You Wish during all regular open hours. Visitors are invited to decide what valuation is right for them—the full ticket price, free in-person admission, or any amount in between.
Pay What You Wish tickets are available to each location at the Seaport Museum including the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, the 1908 lightship Ambrose, all exhibitions currently on view, and the forthcoming exhibition Maritime City. To learn more about admission to these historic ships and engaging exhibitions visit the South Street Seaport Museum Admission webpage.
What is included with my ticket?
Pay What You Wish admission tickets include same-day entry to exhibitions on view in the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street.
Who is eligible for Pay What You Wish tickets?
Everyone!
Can I reserve Pay What You Wish tickets online in advance?
For ease of checkout, online Pay What You Wish admission tickets are priced at varying levels:
- Full-price admission: $18 per Adult, $15 for Seniors and Students, $5 per Child
- Halfprice admission: $9 per Adult, $8 for Seniors and Students
- One Dollar admission: $1 per Adult, Senior, Student, and/or Child
The check-in location for your admission ticket is indicated on the Admission Webpage and in your confirmation email from tickets@seany.org. You do not need to print your tickets. At check in, Museum staff will ask for the last name or order number used for your online purchase, quickly locate the tickets in our system, and check in your group. Tickets are valid for the date and time listed in your confirmation email.
By purchasing tickets online in advance of your visit, you agree to pay at least $1 as your admission price. Free admission is available for same-day visits at all locations throughout the Museum campus.
Can I get Pay What You Wish tickets on the same day I visit the Museum?Admission tickets may be obtained for Pay What You Wish pricing at any location throughout the Museum campus during regular open hours. Pay What You Wish payment options include:
- In-person registration can be free for all guests
- You can choose to pay any amount you like
- You can pay full admission of $18 per adult, $15 per senior and students with valid school ID; and $5 per child.
Some visitors take advantage of free admission, while others give $5, and some pay the full ticket price.
Can I visit the Seaport Museum for free?
Yes! Free same-day admission is available in-person at all locations throughout the Seaport Museum campus. Everyone is welcome to take advantage of free admission.
Free admission is also available to active Seaport Museum members, IDNYC card holders, and Cool Culture pass holders.
I’m a member. What do Pay What You Wish tickets mean to me?
Seaport Museum members enjoy free admission tickets both in-person and online. As a member, you’re welcome to visit as many times as you’d like, free!
To take advantage of your member benefits online, simply enter the email address associated with your membership when prompted at checkout. You will then receive a verification email to validate your membership. A link in the verification email will take you back to your online reservation where you will see the ticket price for each item in your cart adjust accordingly.
To claim free admission tickets in-person, visit any location throughout the Museum campus, and tell the Museum staff member the last name associated with your membership. They will quickly locate your membership in our system, apply all applicable member benefits to tickets in your order, and check in your group.
Are children required to have tickets to enter? What if my child doesn’t have a ticket?
Yes, knowing the number of children and infants that visit the Museum helps us provide the most engaging and age appropriate programming for our audience. Pay What You Wish tickets are available for children of all ages online and in-person.
Is there a maximum number of Pay What You Wish tickets that I can reserve?
No! You are invited to take advantage of Pay What You Wish ticketing as many times as you wish throughout the year. Additionally, there is no limit to the amount of guests you can add to a single Pay What You Wish ticket order. The more, the merrier!
The Museum offers in-person group field trips for K-12 students. Advance reservations are required and must be made by emailing education@seany.org. Tickets for school groups should not be reserved through the website or in-person the day of the field trip. Learn more about our educational offerings on the Learn Webpage.
Do I need to print my tickets before coming to the Museum?
As a way to protect natural resources and mitigate litter, the Seaport Museum does not offer printed tickets or printed receipts. All receipts are emailed to the registrant. If you do not wish to share an email address, the Museum will not be able to provide a receipt, but all tickets can be looked up in our system using your last name or order number.
What time should I be at the Museum? What happens when I arrive?
You may enter the Museum on the day and time indicated on your confirmation email. Timed tickets must be used between the time shown on your confirmation email or the 30 minutes that follow.
The check-in location for your admission ticket is indicated on the Admission Webpage and in your confirmation email from tickets@seany.org. You do not need to print your tickets. At check in, Museum staff will ask for the last name or order number used for your online purchase, quickly locate the tickets in our system, and check in your group. Tickets are valid for the date and time listed in your confirmation email.
If you wish to get your admission tickets in-person, visit any location throughout the Museum campus during regular open hours and our Museum staff will assist you.
Are Pay What You Wish tickets a donation to the Museum?
The amount paid for Seaport Museum admission tickets is not a donation and not tax deductible.
Is there a Pay What You Wish option that includes all locations at the Seaport Museum?
No. Due to the varying start times and durations of Ambrose tours, Maritime City admission, and Wavertree admission, tickets for each Seaport Museum location must be added to your cart separately. This lets you customize your visit and ensures the best experience based on your interests.
Is there a Pay What You Wish option for all events and programs at the Seaport Museum?
No. Ticketed public programs and tickets for sailing are offered at a set ticket price. Check the details of each program and event to learn more.
Are there fees on a Pay What You Wish ticket?
Yes. While the Seaport Museum does not charge any fees, both our credit card and ticketing processors do. These fees go directly to our processing partners; we do not set the amount of these fees or keep any of these funds.
Why are tickets offered in just a few pricing increments online?
The ticketing platform does not currently support the ability for Museum guests to write-in any amount you’d like for a ticket. To pay an amount other than what’s on your checkout screen, check in at any location throughout the Museum campus on the day of your visit. Free general admission is also available for same-day visits when you check in.
Is my Pay What You Wish ticket refundable?
No. All admission, program, and sailing tickets at the Seaport Museum are non-refundable.
Can I convert my Pay What You Wish tickets to a Museum membership?
Yes! Stop by any of our check-in tables throughout the campus to speak to a Museum staff member about converting your ticket to a Museum membership.
You may also email membership@seany.org after your visit.
I’m getting an error message on the ticketing site. What should I do?
If you’re getting an error when reserving a ticket, please email us at tickets@seany.org. If you’re getting an error verifying your existing membership, purchasing a new membership, or renewing a membership, please email us at membership@seany.org.
I booked my Pay What You Wish tickets online but don’t see my confirmation email. How do I get that email?
If you booked your Pay What You Wish tickets online but haven’t received your confirmation email, it may have been automatically filtered into your spam or junk folder by your email provider. Please check those folders for an email from tickets@seany.org, and if you still don’t see it, feel free to reach out to us at tickets@seany.org for further assistance.
If you still have questions not answered here, please email us at tickets@seany.org.