TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Early ferry on Oct. 2

My apologies as I know much has been posted about ferry schedules but I can't seem to find/decipher up to date accurate info. Smiths seems to have an 11:30 to STT but that is cutting it close to make a 3;00 pm flight. Neither Native Son nor RTTF seem to have service to STT on that date. Am I missing any others?

Check out https://www.aquaticrentalsvi.com/ferry-service-tortola-bvi-stt-virginislands. Their schedule shows daily 9:00 am departures from RT to Red Hook via a stop in Cruz Bay to clear in. I used them in June. For some reason they are not included in the multi-carrier published schedules. Could be because they’re the new kid on the block.

We took the 11 AM Aquatic Rentals ferry from Red Hook to Road Town in July.

What Tom said. Also, I just checked Smiths and Native Son.....Smith's has an 1130 on Oct 2nd which should be just right for your flight. Other options ar the many water taxi services which are way more convenient, but about twice the cost or more depending on the number of people in your party.

Thank you all! I think the Aquatic will be perfect. Wife doesn't like close connections on vacation travel so this makes her happy. Thanks again TTOL for wonderful info.

I would never EVER chance an 11/11.30 ferry with a 3 o'clock flight..Aquatic seems to be doing a great job and pushing the other ferry companies ( we needed that!)

I am with manpot. The 11:30 will leave about 11:45. You will hit the dock 12:30 to 12:45. You may or may not need to wait to dock depending on traffic. If you get right in they won’t open customs until all the bags are unloaded. Probably a average of 30 minutes to clear customs. 15 more minutes to the airport. It’s now 1:15 to 1:30 as you pull up to the airport. Most airlines shut off checked bags 90 minutes prior at STT. You are not going to make it even if you pay the established bribe to go to the head of the line. If you have no checked bags and check in online you will probably make it assuming everything goes ok. Rarely does everything go OK. Arriving at the STT airport after 12 noon is a soul killing experience!

Thank you guys for the real experienced opinion/info. We'll use Aquatic.

I stand corrected, Manpot and George. I don't know what I was thinking (insert crazy person icon here!). I have made that connection before without issue, but we usually travel during the week. STT can be a nightmare the weekends. Aquatic or the 730 ferry is the right call, or water taxi. Aquatic just runs to Red Hook, right?

That’s right, Aquatuc only goes to Red Hook, after stopping at Cruz Bay to clear in. Between that stop and the longer taxi ride, best case you’ll get to STT about 2+ hours after you depart RT.

Aquatic claims to arrive in Red Hook at 10:35 which should put us at airport by 11ish. That's 4 hours, think that's sufficient? What is taxi situation at Red Hook?

Taxis are lined up at Red Hook..no problem.20 min cab ride to the airport..If you are extra early stop at the Emerald Beach for breakfast right on the beach..less than a mile from the airport( right at the end of the runway)

Thanks Manpot, appreciate your info/advice.

Manpot or TomGarvey, Do you think the 9:00 Aquatic on Saturday Oct 22 of this year would leave us enough time for our flight at 1:12? We are not checking luggage.
Thanks in advance!

I wouldn’t risk it. All the variables would have to fall in your favor: the ferry being on time, Cruz Bay C&I not being busy, not much traffic from Red Hook to STT, airline staff not being strict about the required check-in time. The risks outweigh the potential benefit. I’d take the 7:30.

I think you will be Ok. You should get into Redhook by 10:30 and as mentioned it’s a 20 minute rode to the airport. With no luggage check in online and go straight to customs. Getting to the airport before about 11:45 is a vastly different experience verses arriving later. Even if you got to the airport as late as noon you should be ok.
G

I think everyone needs to check the ferry schedules. Big reduction of services started yesterday 9/14 and will last until 10/22. No more 9 AM or 2:30 pm Road Town to STT and no 11:30 or 2:30 Charlotte Amalie to Road Town.

Check my work, check the latest schedule. This is driven by hurricane season and passenger volume. Call ahead to be sure you can get where you want to go. Keep an eye on the weather.