DRWSP Information | Frequently Asked Questions

An invitation card is a Department-issued credential authorizing the holder to secure a reservation at the Newtown Love Hotel. Each card contains an embedded reference code which provides access to the reservation system when presented to a compatible mobile device.

Invitations are issued at the Department's discretion and are not available through public application. Cards are distributed via the program's existing invitation-holders.

Yes. Following the completion of an appointment, an invitation may be passed to another party at the discretion of the original invitation-holder. Each invitation is valid for one reservation at a time.

Lost cards cannot be reissued. Inquiries regarding lost invitations may be directed to Deputy Commissioner Milton J. Rivera, Office of Recreational Permitting, at miltonjrivera@drwsp.nyc.

Appointments are fifty (50) minutes in duration. Invitation-holders should plan to set aside approximately eighty (80) minutes total to accommodate vessel transit, facility intake, and egress.

Reservations for the upcoming operational week (Thursday through Sunday) open shortly after 3:00 AM Eastern Time on the preceding Monday.

The Department schedules four (4) appointments per evening, beginning at 7:00 PM and concluding at approximately 11:50 PM.

Reservations may be cancelled at any time prior to the scheduled appointment via the reservation confirmation page. Cancelled invitations are returned to active status. The Department does not currently offer rescheduling; cancellation followed by a new reservation is required.

No. Each appointment accommodates two (2) persons: the invitation-holder and one accompanying party member.

The Newtown Love Hotel is located in Hunters Point, Queens, New York. Specific pick-up coordinates are provided to invitation-holders upon confirmation of their reservation.

Invitation-holders proceed to a designated pick-up coordinate, where a Department-contracted vessel operator will transport them to the facility. Vessel transit is approximately five (5) minutes each direction.

Access to the facility requires boarding a small vessel and ascending a fixed ladder. Invitation-holders with mobility considerations are encouraged to inquire with the Department prior to securing a reservation.

Invitation-holders are received by Department staff at the pick-up coordinate, where intake documentation is reviewed and signed. Vessel transit follows. Upon arrival at the facility, invitation-holders ascend to a private chamber accommodating two (2) persons. The chamber is unattended for the duration of the appointment.

Invitation-holders should bring their invitation card, a valid photo identification confirming age (eighteen years or older), and any personal effects they wish to carry. The Department recommends comfortable clothing appropriate for boarding a vessel and climbing a ladder.

The facility does not include on-site restroom facilities. Invitation-holders are advised to make use of available restrooms prior to vessel departure.

The Department requests that invitation-holders refrain from recording, photographing, or broadcasting from inside the facility. The integrity of the program depends on the discretion of its participants.

Light beverages are permitted. The Department asks that no glassware be brought aboard the vessel. The facility itself does not include food service.

Alcohol is not provided by the Department. Invitation-holders may bring personal beverages at their discretion, subject to the conditions above.

The Department reserves the right to delay or cancel appointments due to weather, water conditions, or vessel availability. Invitation-holders will be notified by email at the contact address on file. Cancelled appointments do not consume the invitation; the card is returned to active status for rescheduling.

Invitation-holders may signal the vessel operator at any time during their appointment. The operator will return to facilitate egress within approximately three (3) minutes.

The Newtown Love Hotel is administered by the Department of Rail and Waterway Special Projects, Office of Recreational Permitting, as a pilot program in partnership with affiliated artists and designers.

Inquiries may be directed to Deputy Commissioner Milton J. Rivera, Office of Recreational Permitting, at miltonjrivera@drwsp.nyc. The Department endeavors to respond to inquiries within seven (7) business days.

The Newtown Love Hotel operates as a private invitation-only program. The Department does not currently accept public applications.