Ferry from and to St Thomas USVI

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Arrivals from St Thomas
Several ferry companies offer service between St Thomas and Tortola (Road Town) or Tortola (West End). You can depart from St Thomas Charlotte Amalie or St Thomas Red Hook. 
If you are flying into St Thomas (STT), it will be quicker to take a taxi from the airport to the ferry dock at Charlotte Amalie (10 mins). The journey to Red Hook usually takes 25 mins but can take considerably longer during rush hour.

It's important to note that only a few ferries departing from St. Thomas stop at Tortola West End. This is because the West End ferry dock is still under construction. Pelican Peak Villa is located in West End, so it's suggested that you take a ferry to Tortola West End. However, if you take a ferry to Road Town, it's only an extra 15 minutes of travel time to reach Pelican Peak.

Ferry schedules are determined by the BVI Ports Authority & are generally posted about a month in advance. It is advisable to book your place on a ferry, especially on weekends! The journey takes about 45 minutes on a ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola West End and about 60 minutes from St Thomas to Road Town. 

Arrivals after 3 pm
Arrival after 3 pm will probably result in the need to take a water taxi, which is much more expensive (about $800 for six persons plus a $30 PP custom fee). (please note, private water taxis only run while customs and immigration in the BVI remain open). Alternatively, make arrangements to stay overnight on St Thomas and then catch the ferry across the next day.

 

Water Taxi
We have four water taxi options available that we can recommend. Firstly, we suggest the St. Thomas Water Taxi: http://stthomaswatertaxi.com/. Another reliable option is the Island Time Water Taxi: http://islandtimewatertaxi.com. For a more premium and on-demand service, we would like to recommend The Last Mile Water Taxi, a company that offers flexible transportation options. They can, for example, arrange transportation from the baggage claim area at the STT airport. You can find more information on their website: https://www.sttwatertaxis.com/. Alternatively, there is the Dolphin Shuttle, but we do not have any feedback or reviews about this company. You can visit their website for further details: http://www.dolphinshuttle.com.


The following companies operate between St Thomas and Tortola
Unfortunately, there isn't a single website that compares all ferry companies, their routes, and schedules. You'll need to check each company's website to find the schedule for your preferred route, and make sure to verify the day of travel. Keep in mind that some ferries only operate on specific days of the week. It's recommended to review the available times and choose the most suitable option.

- Road Town Fast Ferry:
Phone number: +1(284)-494-2323, +1(284) 340-3976 or +1(340) 777-2800

- Native Son Ferry:
Phone numbers: +1(284) 494-5674, +1(284) 495-4617, +1(340) 774-8685 or +1(340) 774-8687

- Smiths Ferry:
Phone numbers: +1(340) 775-7292, +1(340) 774-5532, +1(284) 494-4454, or +1(284) 495-4495

- Aquaticrentals:
Phone numbers: +1(284) 494-1625, +1(284)441-2782 or +1(340) 715-2782

On the whole, the ferry times are reliable. However, contacting the ferry company a day before your intended travel dates is advisable, as schedules can change at short notice.

Your return:
No ferry service is currently departing from West End. You need to travel using the Road Town - St Thomas ferry. The car rental people often allow people to leave the vehicle in the parking area near the Road Town Ferry Dock & leave the keys unlocked & placed under the mat of the driver's seat.