Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for the most common FerryFriend questions—subscriptions, tickets, schedules, and features.
Still have questions?
If you couldn't find what you're looking for, reach out at help@ferryfriend.com.
This is usually a problem syncing with the subscription server. Try restarting your phone — if that doesn't fix it, email us at help@ferryfriend.com and we'll figure it out.
Follow Apple's Family Sharing guide to set it up. Once configured, your FerryFriend subscription will share automatically within a few hours. Note: Family Sharing is Apple-only and doesn't work across iOS and Android.
Apple only allows certain app categories on CarPlay, and FerryFriend doesn't fit any of them. Even though it helps you plan trips, Apple requires navigation apps to provide live, turn-by-turn directions. I'd love to add CarPlay if Apple ever expands what's allowed.
Apple limits widgets to updating every 15–60 minutes. Since ferry delays and loading status change by the minute, a widget would often show outdated info. I'd rather you open the app and get accurate data than glance at a widget that might be wrong.
Not always — predictions are experimental, and ferries can be unpredictable. Our algorithm does its best, but it can miss the mark. For the full picture, cross-check with the vessel map and alerts.
If a route is missing, it usually means the agency that runs it isn't enabled in your settings. To fix this:
- Open FerryFriend and tap the gear icon in the top right of the home screen.
- Scroll down to Agencies.
- Make sure all the agencies you want are turned on (Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Transit, King County Water Taxi).
Once the right agencies are enabled, the schedules for their routes should appear.
No, FerryFriend is not affiliated with Washington State Ferries, Kitsap Transit, King County Water Taxi, or any other ferry agency. We are a completely independent app built by ferry riders, for ferry riders. We use publicly available data and APIs to provide schedule information, but we have no official relationship with any of the agencies whose routes we display.
FerryFriend does a lot of work to double-check and validate the data provided by WSF. While some supplemental information may occasionally differ, the core schedule data is exactly the same as what you'll see from WSF on their website or mobile app. If you ever notice a significant discrepancy, please let us know at help@ferryfriend.com.
We use our own proprietary algorithm to generate delay predictions. First, we determine the current status of the entire fleet based on real-time vessel positions and historical patterns. From there, we simulate how the rest of the schedule day will play out.
It's important to note that we can't foresee new delays — we wish we could! But we are able to predict how existing delays will likely ripple through and affect the remaining sailings throughout the day.
A FerryFriend subscription gives you access to favorite routes on the home screen and delay predictions. The rest of the app — including full schedules, vessel tracking, alerts, cameras, and ticket management — is completely free without a subscription. We're always building new features, and some may become part of the subscription in the future.