OCRACOKE, N.C. (WITN) -The North Carolina Ferry Division says ferry routes between Cedar Island and Ocracoke and between Swan Quarter and Ocracoke will soon increase with Memorial Day approaching.

The Ferry Division says starting Thursday it will add between six and eight departures each day for the Ocracoke Express.

This will be the sixth season of service for the passenger ferry.

The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry carries up to 129 passengers directly between Hatteras and Ocracoke Village on a 70-minute ride across Pamlico Sound.

Schedule services follow through Sept. 9:

• Cedar Island-Ocracoke: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Cedar Island: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• Swan Quarter-Ocracoke: 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
• Ocracoke-Swan Quarter: 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.

The ferry departures and returns on Tuesdays through Fridays, making eight trips and then Saturdays through Mondays with six crossings.

Also, the Hatteras-Ocracoke vehicle ferry route will continue running 52 scheduled departures each day between the two islands.

The Ferry Division says reservations can be made three months in advance and that’s highly recommended during the summer season.

To make a reservation online you can access it through here or by phone at 1-800-BY-FERRY.

No reservations are accepted on the Hatteras vehicle ferry.