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Shortly before we visited New York in April 2019 photographs kept popping up on Instagram of the Vessel in Hudsons Yard. It was brand new, it only opened in early March and we were heading there a the end of March for a week. I really wanted to get tickets and go and climb it but would I be able to.

So here are the answers to things I didn’t know about the Vessel and what we found out.

What is the Vessel in Hudsons Yard?

The Vessel, is a 150-foot-tall, shiny sculptural bauble designed by Thomas Heatherwick. The piece is made from 154 interconnected staircases, and is intended to be used by the public—for climbing, running (though probably not too fast), and, most likely, for providing the backdrop for selfies and Instagram photos.

Rumoured to have cost 150 million this megaproject is the centrepiece of Hudsons Yard and is a fitting end to a walk along The High Line. On day 2 of our 7 day family holiday in New York we had breakfast at Bubby’s (a recommended place for breakfast) which is right at the beginning of the High Line which you can then walk along towards Hudsons Yard where the brand new Vessel structure is. It’s a perfect way to spend the morning and you can walk off all the pancakes you’ll eat at Bubbys.

How much does it cost to climb the Vessel in Hudsons Yard?

It’s free to climb the Vessel in Hudsons Yard, New York.

Why do you need a ticket to climb the Vessel in Hudsons Yard?

Access to Vessel needs to be managed to a degree to make sure that the sculpture does not exceed its stated capacity, and to help control crowds in the busy opening weeks and months. Those wishing to climb the beehive-esque structure simply need a free ticket to do so. 

How do you get a ticket to access the Vessel in Hudsons Yard?

You can book tickets up to two weeks ahead of time—new tickets for the next two weeks are made available at 8:30 a.m. every day—and there will also be some available for same-day climbs (those can be booked every day at 9:30 a.m. by speaking with on-site helpers, known as “Vessel Ambassadors”).

I made sure I was online at 8.30am (Eastern Time) when the system opened two weeks ahead of the day I wanted tickets for. I then had to stay in an online queue and when I got through (it took about an hour although I could do other things online/elsewhere whilst I waited) you could then choose a time slot.

How long do you get in the Vessel in Hudsons Yard, New York?

You can be in there as long as you like (well until it closes) but you have to enter during the 1hr time slot you book via the online system.

When is the Vessel open?

The piece will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can sign up for Vesseltickets on the Hudson Yards website.

Is there a lift at the Vessel?

Ye there’s also an elevator to make it accessible to those in wheelchairs or with other mobility challenges but we did see people who really shouldn’t have been using it queueing up despite the staff trying really hard to save the lift for those who really did. I do appreciate some disabilities are not obvious though.

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