The Steamship Authority will open up its summer vehicle reservations to Islanders next week ahead of when the general public gets a crack at booking trips in early February. 

Starting Jan. 14, excursion and preferred customers will be able to make up to 10 summer vehicle reservations through the Head Start program.

“The program allows island residents more assistance in traveling back and forth to the mainland for their daily living needs during the summer season, when vehicle reservations are more difficult to obtain,” the SSA wrote in a statement Wednesday.  

Head Start will be open through Jan. 27, for reservations between May 13 and Oct. 21.

For tourists, the general opening day will be at 8 a.m. on Feb. 4. Opening day has been plagued in the past, with thousands of people rushing to the Steamship website in search of vehicle reservations. 

The reservation and website have been overloaded, causing slowdowns and crashes. After issues with the Head Start opening last year, general reservations were delayed until mid-February.

The boat line will have extra technical support available for the opening day this year. As it has in years past, the Steamship Authority will use a virtual waiting room that will allow customers to see their “place” in line and the approximate wait time to make a transaction.