Caribbean ferries

Introduction

The Caribbean islands are a popular place to travel to. Many North Americans and European go there, lots of times just to relax in the sun and maybe do a day trip or two. Of course, for the independent traveller there are lots of options of travelling around and seeing much more of the islands than beaches and beer. Most travellers fly into one island and usually fly out of the same island again back home. But there are several ways to combine many islands and thus create a fantastic trip. Unlike what many might think, there are not that many ferries between all the islands in the Caribbean and lots of travellers use airplanes to hop from one island to another. Several airlines offer the opportunity to buy airpasses which can be a good deal. But of course there are people who just don't like to fly all the time and would rather travel by boat between the islands. More so than in the Pacific, where distances between the islands are much bigger, there are a few options open for travellers to travel between islands and fly back home from a different island than the one on which they arrived. Of course, the occasional flight still is needed when you want to see lots of islands. A good mixture between flights and ferries would be the best way.

Carribean sea

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The following connections are all possible using regular public transport by ferries. If you have the time and luck, you might be able to find a yacht to go with or maybe some cargo transport. Those options are not listed, but for some countries this actually is the only option, so shopping around for a place could be interesting. Countries without international connections include Cuba, the Bahamas (there used to be a ferry to and from Florida though), Haiti, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, the ABC Islands Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire (although they used to have connections with each other in the past) and Saint Kitts and Nevis, among other smaller islands. Most other countries and islands have several international and/or domestic services. Although technically not considered part of the Caribbean in this travelguide, a few ferries in Mexico and Venezuela are mentioned, as well as a reference to Central America for more information about Caribbean islands of the coast of for example Honduras, Belize and Panama.
Note that schedules, services and operators might change over time. From north to south you have the following choice of international and domestic ferry services.

Bahamas

Bahamas Ferries has car and passenger services from the capital Nassau to destinations in Eleuthera, Exuma, Andros and Abaco. Fast daily ferry services travel between Nassau and North Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Governers Harbour. Other services include Cat Island - Nassau, Driggs Hill - Nassau,
Fresh Creek - Morgans Bluff, Fresh Creek - Nassau, George Town - Nassau, Sandy Point - Nassau and Spanish Wells - Nassau. It leaves Nassau at 8 am and arrives in Spanish Wells around 10am. There are watertaxis between Nassau and Paradise Island regularly making the crossings.

Jamaica

Because of the fact that Jamaica is not really close to most other Caribbean islands, international services are non-existent. But there are several options of taking a ferry between a few coastal towns/cities in the country. One option is to board a ferry from the capital Kingston to Port Royal. There is also a ferry between Port Antonio and Navy Island, only just over 5 minutes away from the mainland.

Haiti

There are several domestic ferries travelling between the mainland of Haiti and several islands off the coast. Services include those to and from the capital Port-au-Prince.

Caymans Islands

There is a ferry between North Sound and Rum Point on Grand Cayman which takes about 40 minutes each way. The ferry departs from the Hyatt Regency Canal at 10am, noon and 4pm on Mondays - Thursdays, on Friday to Sunday the last one leaves at 6pm. The return times from Rum Point are 11am, 3pm and and 6.30pm Mondays - Thursdays, on Friday to Sunday the last one is at 9.15pm.

Turks and Caicos Islands

There are several options regarding domestic ferry services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Dale Marie is a weekend ferry between Bottle Creek in North Caicos and Middle Caicos. It runs Saturdays from about 8 am through early afternoon. It is a 30 minute ride and carries 1-2 vehicles. Friday evenings and Sundays crossings are by appointment only. The Buccaneer is a ferry between Grand Turk and Salt Cay. It is passenger only and it takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Travelling is one Wednesdays and Fridays only and it departs Salt Cay at 7am and Grand Turk at 2.30pm.

Dominican Republic

There are several domestic services to take in the Dominican Republic. One of those is between Samaná and Sabana del Mar. Another option is to take one of several ferries in the southeastern part of the country, for example to Saona Island. More islands and national parks can be explored by ferry here.

Dominican Republic - Puerto Rico vv

Paradise Island , Dom Rep

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Ferries del Caribe offers three weekly ferries between Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and Mayagüez in Puerto Rico. From Santo Domingo they leave on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm arriving in Mayagüez at 8am the following morning. From Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, they leave on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm, and arrive in Santo Domingo at 8am the next morning. The journey takes about 12 hours in both directions.

Puerto Rico - United States Virgin Islands vv

Every two weeks leaving on a Sunday at 1pm, there is a fast ferry between Fajardo in Puerto Rico and St. John and St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. In the opposite direction, boats leave every two weeks on a Thursday at 5pm from St. John and 6 pm from St. Thomas. The trip takes about 2 hours.

United States Virgin Islands

st thomas

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Passenger ferries operate between St. Thomas (Red Hook & Charlotte Amalie) and St. John (Cruz Bay). Car ferry service is available between Redhook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. There are three independently run car ferries and you only pay for the car, no matter how many passengers there are.

The Water Island Ferry travels between Crown Bay, St. Thomas and Water Island, contact Water Island Ferry (340) 690-4159 for details on services.

There is also a ferry between Christiansted, St. Croix and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The ferry departs from the Marine Terminals in Gallows Bay on St. Croix and in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas.

United States Virgin Islands - British Virgin Islands vv

• There are about 4 operators which have ferry services between St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook) and Tortola (West End and Roadtown). From Road Town on the British Virgin Islands there are ferries about every 50 minutes to Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. From Red Hook to Road Town is about 35 minutes. Contact Caribbean Maritime Tortola Fast Ferry (340) 777-2800), Smith's Ferry (340) 775-7292 or Native Son Inc. (340) 774-8685 for details about schedules and prices.

• There are about 4 or 5 sailings in each direction between Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) and West End, Tortola (BVI).

• There are also two ferry operators offering a service between St. Thomas (Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie) and Virgin Gorda.

• There are 2 crossings a day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Red Hook, St.Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI) for Jost Van Dyke (BVI).

Contact Inter Island Boat Service (340) 776-6597 for these last three international connections by ferry.

British Virgin Islands

There are at least 6 operators between several destinations within the British Virgin Islands with many connections on a daily basis. Two of them have services between Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Other connections include Virgin Gorda to Beef Island vv, Tortola to Jost van Dyke vv, Beef Island to Marine Cay vv and Tortola to Peter Island vv. Check the schedule (also between BVI and the US Virgin Islands) at the BVI Welcome site.

Anguilla - Saint Martin vv

Great Beach

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In season, ferries operated by the Anguilla Ferry System run between the islands of Anguilla and Saint Martin. They leave daily between 7am and 7pm roughly every 20 minutes between Blowing Point (Anguilla) and Marigot on the French part of St. Maarten/St. Martin.

Saint Martin - Saint Barthélemy vv

There are possibilities to go by ferry from Saint Martin to Saint Barthélemy. The MV Voyager travels two times daily between Marigot to Gustavia, except on Wednesdays and Sundays, when it leaves from Oyster Pond on Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island). It takes about 75 minutes from Marigot, 45 minutes from Oyster Pond.

Sint Maarten - Saint Barthélemy vv

Between Oyster Pond on Sint Maarten (the Dutch southern half of the island shared with Saint Martin) and Gustavia on Saint Barthélemy with Rapid Explorer. Crossings are two times daily and the schedule can be found here.

The MV Voyager travels daily and on Wednesdays and Sundays twice daily (one in the morning and one in early evening) between Oyster Pound and Gustavia as well.

Another option is to take the high speed ferry The Edge that travels to Gustavia once a day from Tuesday till Saturday. It leaves from Pelican Marina in Dutch St. Maarten at 9am. This passage lasts around 45 minutes.

Sint Maarten - Saba vv

The MV Dawn II has sailings 3 times a week according to schedule between Philipsburg on Sint Maarten and Fort Bay on Saba, both leeward islands of the Netherlands Antilles. Crossings are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving Saba in the morning and returning from Sint Maarten in the late afternoon, taking about 2 hours each way. Sometimes there are cancelations, so check the latest schedule over here.

Another option is taking the Edge Ferry, departing Pelican Marina in St. Maarten at 9am on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, returning from Saba later that day. It takes about 90 minutes to cover the sea between the islands.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Nevis As Seen From Saint Kitts

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In Saint Kitts and Nevis six ferries operate between the islands of Saint Kitss and Nevis: the MV Caribe Queen, MV Carib Breeze and MV Carib Surf, the MV Mark Twain, the MV Geronimo and the MV Sea Hustler. The MV Mark Twain is currently inactive, but the other 5 vessels have a total of 15 sailings a day between both islands in either direction, between 6.30am (first sailing from Saint Kitts) to 7pm (last sailing from Saint Kitts). From Nevis, the first one leaves at 7am and the last at 6 pm. Crossings take about 45 minutes and provide an excellent way of travelling between the capital Basseterre on Saint Kitts and Charlestown, the 'capital' of Nevis.

Antigua and Barbuda

The Antigua to Barbuda Ferry takes 1hr 30mins and the ferry departs at 8.30am on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Saint John's, arriving at River Dock, Barbuda. The return service from Barbuda departs at 3.15pm on the same days. On Tuesdays and Fridays the service departs Antigua at 4.45pm and returns the following day from Barbuda at 6.30pm. Reservations can be made by phone (001 268 464 9453).

The islands of Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia are a perfect example of combining several different Caribbean islands without the need to fly. Although there might be more operators, an example is given below. Note that these are direct services and travelling from for example Saint Lucia to Dominica might involve a brief stop on Martinique. All crossings are made by fast and comfortable catamaran services.

Guadeloupe

Brudey Freres (french only) has daily services between the main island of Guadeloupe and several other islands. To Les Saintes, there are daily connections leaving Point-a-Pitre for Terre de Haut at 8am. In the opposite direction they leave Terre de Haut at 4pm.

There are two crossings daily (one in the morning and one in the late afternoon) as well between Terre de Haut and Trois Rivières.
Other connections include the ferry from Point-a-Pitre to Grand Bourg, which travels 3 times on weekdays, one of which is via Saint Louis. During weekends there are less services.

Guadeloupe - Dominica vv

L'Express des Iles operates 3 weekly services between the islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe. They leave Roseau, the capital of Dominica on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm (Sat. 1pm) and take about 2.5 hours. In the opposite direction, they leave the capital Point-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe at Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 8am (Sundays 10am) and take under 2 hours. Brudey Freres (french only) has services as well between the two islands.

Dominica - Martinique vv

L'Express des Iles has 3 weekly services between Dominica and Martinique at 10.15am Wednesdays and Fridays and 12.15pm on Sundays, travelling between the capitals Roseau and Fort-de-France. From Martinique they leave on Mondays at 1pm and Saturdays at 11.30 am. It takes about 1,5 hours in both directions. Brudey Freres (french only) has services as well between the two islands.

Martinique - Saint Lucia vv

Soufriere, St Lucia

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Wednesdays and Fridays at 1.30pm and Sundays at 3.30pm, L'Express des Iles travels from Fort-de-France to Castries on Saint Lucia. In the opposite direction, ferries leave 5 times a week. Both crossings take about 80 minutes. Brudey Freres (french only) has services as well between the two islands.

Guadeloupe - Saint Lucia vv

Brudey Freres (french only) has 2 sailings a week between Guadeloupe and Saint Lucia on Fridays and Sundays. Although most ferries stop on at Martinique along the way (see above), there are direct services in high season.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

There is an Inter Island ferry between several of the main islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Four ferries operate between the islands of Saint Vincent, Bequie, Canouan, Mayreau and Union Island. The exact schedule can be found on this page.

Admiralty Transport (phone 784 458 3348) and Bequia Express (phone 784 458 3472) have 4 boats together, travelling between the island of Bequia and Kingstown on Saint Vincent. There are 7 sailings on weekdays, 5 on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays.
The MV Jasper leaves Union Island for Carriacou at 6am on Mondays and Thursdays. It leaves Carriacou on the same day at noon. In addition various fishing boats leave Union Islands at 7:30 and will drop passengers in Carriacou for a price similar to the ferry service.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Grenada vv

From Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines there are ferries to and from the island of Carriacou, Grenada with Osprey Lines. You can find their schedule over here.

Grenada

Ospreylines has ferry services connecting several islands in Grenada, including the main island, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Services between Grenada and Carriacou and Carriacou and Petit Martinique usually are twice a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.

Trinidad and Tobago

Palm tree at pigeon Point beach, Tobago

© All Rights Reserved GregW

The Trinidad and Tobago Port Authority operates daily car ferries between the capital Port of Spain on Trinidad and the capital of Tobago, Scarborough. The T&T Express & T&T Spirit are fast ferries while the Panorama & Warrior Spirit are conventional ferries. The difference means the choice between 2,5 hours or 5,5 hours of travelling. You can find their schedule over here. Tickets can be bought at the ferry terminal.

Trinidad and Tobago - Venezuela vv

There is supposed to be a weekly car ferry travelling between La Guiria in Venezuela and Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago but check the port authorities if this option is still available for travellers. The ferry arrives late in Trinidad and onward transport to Port of Spain can be hard to find.

Venezuela

There are express ferries from Isla Margarita 4 times daily to Puerto La Cruz on the mainland of Venezuela. There are at least two daily slow ferries as well between the two places. Also, there are ferries to and from Isla Coche from Monday to Friday two times a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. There used to be ferries from Isla Margarita to La Guaira for connections to Caracas, but these were suspended in 2007. Check Conferry for details on schedules and prices.

Mexico

There are two companies offering ferries between Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel of the coast of Yucatan. Crossings are about 15 times a day, with very early (starting at 5am) and late (up to midnight) sailings being a possibility to do some long daytrips.

Central America

In Central America, there are several possibilities of travelling between the mainland and the islands of the coast in the Caribbean sea. Although not mentioned in dept here, you have the possibility for example of travelling to the Bocas del Toro of the coast of Panama and to Roatan island of the coast of Honduras. Many other options are available, but check the Central America guide and the individual countries for details.

Suspended Ferry Services

Throughout the Caribbean, there have been several ferry service, both domestic as international, which unfortunately are not available anymore to travellers. Mentioned earlier, there had been ferries between Florida and the Bahamas, as well as ferries between Isla Margarita and the mainland near Caracas. Other former services include the ferry between Antigua and Montserrat, which is still out of order these days. Also, there are no ferries whatsoever between the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. Not between the three of them and not between one of the islands and other islands or the mainland of South America. There used to be several connections between the three islands and between Aruba and Venezuela. Also, there have been discussions and rumors about new international ferry services between Barbados and several islands in the West Indies, even up north to Guadeloupe, stopping along the way at other islands like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Martinique and Dominica. Unfortunately, still in early 2008 there are no ferries from Barbados.