New Penang Ferry (now RM2) from Butterworth Penang Sentral to Georgetown Penang Island Ferry Review
The new Penang Ferry now charges RM2 per passenger for each journey between Butterworth Penang Sentral Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) and Georgetown Penang Island Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU). Nevertheless, this is still quite reasonable for the comfort of the new ferries and higher frequency at most times of the day. Crossing over to Penang Island for the night after a very long 2 days of train rides and trainspotting, I headed over to Butterworth Penang Sentral Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH) quickly after arriving from my KTM Komuter Northern Sector 2918up train from Ipoh to catch the departing 9pm ferry.
Butterworth Penang Sentral Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH)
The next ferry was at 9pm, which only gave me about 20 minutes to connect from my arriving train to the ferry. It was imperative that I caught the 9pm ferry as the Penang Ferry operates at hourly intervals after 9pm, which means that if I had missed the 9pm ferry, the next one will only be at 10pm.
There was a queue at the information counter to buy tickets, though I’m not sure why as the new Penang Ferry does not accept cash, but takes Touch ‘n Go cards directly at the gate. It’s bad for tourists, but luckily I have a Touch ‘n Go card on hand already.
In the interest of time, I wasn’t going to do research on any alternatives to buy tickets from the information counter, as my 9pm ferry was departing very soon.
New Penang Ferry by Touch ‘n Go Card
I tapped my Touch ‘n Go card directly at the gate, and I am through. No queuing needed.
RM2 will be deducted from the Touch ‘n Go card directly at the gate.
The waiting area at Butterworth Penang Sentral Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (PSAH).
A line had already formed in front of the boarding gate, which opened a few seconds after I had got in line. Phew.
Heading down the pier to board the Penang Ferry.
New Penang Ferry
Boarding the new Penang Ferry.
As compared with my previous journey on the first day of operations, motorcycles and bicycles now board the Penang Ferry first, and foot passengers follow after.
The Penang Ferry wasn’t too crowded at this time of the night, and I could get a seat easily.
The legroom available on board the new Penang Ferry.
A safety instruction card is pasted on the seat back in front.
Safety and information videos are played on loop on the TV screens around the new Penang Ferry.
It was an uneventful sailing across the Penang Strait. There were not much views at night time too, especially with the windows reflecting back to the interior.
Docking at Georgetown Penang Island Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU).
Georgetown Penang Island Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU)
Motorcycles and bicycles disembark first, followed by foot passengers.
Walking out of Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (PRTU).
Taking the sheltered walkway to the bus terminal.
Rapid Penang Jetty Bus Terminals A and B are outside after the sheltered walkway.
As there was a ridiculous fare surge from Jetty on both Grab and airasia ride for a short hop to the KOMTAR area, I simply waited an extra 10 minutes at Jetty A for the Rapid Penang CAT Bus to get to KOMTAR for free, where my hotel was nearby.