Ferry customers whose vehicles are enrolled in the Steamship Authority’s 2024 Excursion and Preferred programs may make summer travel reservations beginning at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, when the boat line opens its Headstart program for the Martha’s Vineyard route.

This year introduces a new rule limiting the first two days of Headstart bookings to non-transferable reservations, meaning customers will be able to book only for their own accounts.

From Jan. 18 through Jan. 22, Excursion and Preferred customers may also make reservations for other people’s travel.

The Headstart program allows eligible customers to make up to 10 one-way or round-trip reservations for travel between May 15 and Oct. 20.

Up to five of the 10 reservations can be made in the name of other people, and three of the five can be booked as transferable reservations, allowing them to be reassigned to other individuals, according to the Steamship Authority website.

Headstart reservations may be made online or by U.S. mail through Jan. 22. 

General public reservations on the Martha’s Vineyard route will be available by internet only beginning at 5 a.m. Jan. 30.

To provide support for online customers, reservation agents will be available by phone from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6, according to the website.

Telephone, internet and mail reservations begin Feb. 6. at 7:30 a.m., with a limit of five transactions per phone call or mailed request.

More information and a link to the Headstart application are posted at steamshipauthority.com/reservations/reservation_opening_dates.