A friend booked this for our group of 10, and honestly, I had never even heard of Governors Island before this trip. We got to the Battery Maritime Building at Slip 7 just before 10 a.m., and the line for the ferry was already long. FYI: if you have a reservation at QC Spa, the ferry is free. Boats run every 30 minutes, and the ride itself is only about 7 minutes (great news for people like me who get seasick—it’s literally just across the water). They don’t require prepayment when you make the reservation, which was nice—you pay at the front desk upon arrival. We opted for the 5-hour pass ($124). Check-In & Lockers Check-in was a bit of a drag. Like other reviewers mentioned, the staff didn’t really explain anything about the amenities. We were basically pointed to our lockers and left to figure things out. At first, we were told the 2nd floor was women’s lockers, then directed to the 3rd floor “for men.” Turns out the 3rd floor has both men’s and women’s lockers. Confusing! The lockers themselves are a little tricky. Pro tip: Type in your 5-digit code + press V to set it. To lock, hold the door closed while entering your code + press V again. Don’t let go until you hear the click. Each guest receives a tote bag with a robe, two towels, jelly flip-flops (not comfy at all), and a wristband. What they don’t tell you is that you need to add your credit card during check-in to use the wristband for purchases. Otherwise, you’ll have to carry your card or phone around for food and drinks. Pools, Loungers & Wellness Rooms By the time we got outside, most of the daybeds were already claimed. Lounge chairs were available but not the most comfortable. Still, we scored front-row seats with a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. The outdoor heated pools with bubbling jets were the highlight of the day where we spent most of our time there. Inside, there are supposedly about 20 themed wellness rooms, but again, no one explained this at check-in and there’s no map. We only found out because friends stumbled upon them. Some we tried: Dry sauna Ice room Water bed room Vichy shower Cold water bucket “challenge” Foot bath (never quite figured out how it worked—lots of guests looked equally frustrated, and honestly, I think ours wasn’t working at all). Would’ve been so much better with clear instructions or staff guidance, instead of wasting time experimenting. Food & Drinks Cocktail game was strong. I stuck to Aperol and Limoncello spritzes, both solid. There are water stations everywhere, which is great. Food-wise, I had the tuna wrap with chips (just okay), and for dessert, the chocolate whiskey ice cream (yes, it has booze, but not overpowering, it was actually good!). We skipped the buffet since we weren’t that hungry, and based on other reviews, sounds like we didn’t miss much. Overall Experience Despite the hiccups with staff communication, locker confusion, and lack of guidance for the wellness rooms, it was still a fun experience with friends. The view from the pools alone makes it worth trying at least once. Next time, I’d probably try the sunset pass, since I’ve heard it’s a vibe and would give me time to explore the island during the day. Bonus: they gave us a floral gift card with $40 off a future fall or winter visit, which is a nice touch.