Caribbean Island Hopping 2026: Caribbean Ferry Routes, Schedules and Border Rules

You can island-hop by ferry on nine routes: Puerto Rico to Vieques and Culebra, St. Thomas to St. John and St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), St. Martin to Anguilla and St. Barthélemy, Guadeloupe to Saint Lucia through Dominica and Martinique, St. Kitts to Nevis, Grenada to Carriacou and Trinidad to Tobago. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Anguilla public ferry and FRS Express des Îles publish timetables; St. Barthélemy, Nevis, Grenada and the Trinidad–Tobago passenger ferries point to a booking system, an app or a schedule page. Routes that cross a border need travel documents, usually a passport, and some add a form or a fee.

Quick answer by situation

These picks are editorial suggestions, not official statements.

• A few days, one base, no border: St. Thomas to St. John, or Ceiba to Vieques or Culebra. The pages list no border step.
• With children: choose the same hops, which have no border and fewer documents to prepare.
• A second country: St. Thomas to Tortola, St. Martin to Anguilla or St. Barthélemy, or the FRS Express des Îles chain; each crosses a border.
• No small plane: St. Martin to St. Barthélemy, Grenada to Carriacou or St. Thomas to St. Croix, each with a ferry the pages describe.
• Seasickness: Red Hook to Cruz Bay or the Nevis water taxi, the shortest crossings the pages state among these routes.
• Day trip from St. Maarten: St. Barthélemy or Anguilla, which both run from St. Martin's ports.
• Beach gear or a car: Ceiba to Vieques or Culebra takes beach gear at a ticket per item but not rental cars.

How do the routes compare?

How do you get from Puerto Rico to Vieques and Culebra by ferry?

Puerto Rico Ferry sails from the Ceiba Terminal (Marina Dr., Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba, PR 00735) to the Vieques Terminal (Morropo Street), 1 hour away, and the Culebra Terminal (Pedro Marquez Street), 1 hour 30 minutes away (Routes and schedules page).

Timetable. The official itineraries for Vieques and Culebra cover August 1 to November 30, 2026 (both last updated June 3, 2026), with Monday–Friday and Saturday–Sunday tables; times can change after that period. Some listed trips are cargo-only, so check the Service column.

Tickets (route pages and FAQ). Arrive one hour before departure; boarding closes 10 minutes before, and tickets for that trip must be bought 15 minutes before. Advance purchase "is not necessary": non-residents can reserve a "limited number" of tickets online or, depending on capacity, buy at the window on the day; a transaction is limited to 5 tickets. All sales are final, but a ticket can be transferred twice, at least one hour before departure; cancelled trips can be rescheduled, with refunds for unforeseen circumstances such as force majeure. The pages state no passport rule for this route. The FAQ requires valid identification to claim priority boarding, and the route pages require photo identification to confirm island residency, with the ticket name matching the ID.

Fares (fares page, one way): adults 13–59 pay $2.00 Ceiba–Vieques and $2.25 Ceiba–Culebra; children 4–12 and adults 60–74 pay $1.00; babies 0–3 and seniors 75+ travel free. The fares page says tickets for infants and seniors over 75 must be bought at the port ticket window with photo ID. One small carry-on is free; extras such as beach coolers ($2.00) need tickets. Non-residents to Culebra also owe the municipality's non-resident taxes and fees (FAQ); the pages give no amount and do not say whether the $2.25 includes it.

Best for: beach days and short stays without border formalities. Not for: travelers who need flexible same-day rebooking or want a rental car.

How do you get between St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix?

St. John has no airport, so visitors who land on St. Thomas take a ferry, says the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA).

Timetables. VIPA's temporary off-season schedule runs from July 26, 2026 through October 31, 2026. For Transportation Services & Varlack Ventures, Red Hook to Cruz Bay has a first sailing at 5:30 am (6:30 am on weekends) and a last at 11:30 pm; Cruz Bay to Red Hook, 6:00 am and 11:00 pm. The Public Works page gives a different, undated timetable: ferries leave "every hour on the hour" from 5:30 am (not weekends) at Red Hook and 6:00 am at Cruz Bay, until 10:00 pm. VIPA lists downtown Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay at 10:00 am, 3:00 pm and 5:30 pm, and the return from Cruz Bay at 8:45 am, 11:15 am and 3:45 pm, both "subject to seasonal change".

St. Croix. The QE IV Ferry page lists Wednesday to Monday departures at 8:00 from Gallows Bay and 3:00 from the Blyden terminal, $85 each direction. VIPA lists Thursday to Monday, 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., and "$60 one way - $30 for children under two years"; the pages disagree, and QE IV's is the operator's own. The Coast Guard requires ID or birth papers for all passengers, including children.

Best for: travelers who land on St. Thomas and sleep on St. John, and planned St. Croix trips. Not for: tight same-day connections.

Can you take a ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola, and what do you need to carry?

Yes. BVI Tourism's ferry page names Road Town Fast Ferry, Native Son Ferry and Smith's Ferry Service. The companies alternate days at the same departure times; the dock tells you which sails. The page refers to a separate low-season schedule until 1 November 2026 but lists no times for it, and says to check with the service providers; the regular schedule resumes then:

The page also lists a Saturday Speedy's run, Spanish Town (Virgin Gorda) to Charlotte Amalie at 8:30 am and back at 4:00 pm, and says schedules are subject to change.

BVI online form. The BVI has used an online form (portal) instead of the paper one since 1 January 2025. The portal says it is available 72 hours before arrival; the Department of Immigration press release says you can finish it as late as arrival, before you seek entry; the ferry page says 36 hours and allows filling it in after you buy your ticket. The portal asks for a copy of your passport biodata page (PNG or JPEG), and you save or print the receipts to show on arrival. Smith's Ferry's Travel Policy page asks passengers to check in at least 45 minutes before departure.

Best for: adding the BVI to a St. Thomas or St. John stay, with passports, a form and separate fees. Not for: travelers without the right documents for both territories.

Is there a ferry from St. Martin to Anguilla?

In the sea section of the Visit Anguilla guide, the public ferry from Marigot to Blowing Point "operates eight (8) times daily", though the page lists nine times each way: from Blowing Point 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 11:00 am, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, 4:30, 5:15 pm; from Marigot 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 am, 12:00, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 5:15, 6:00 pm. One way costs US$30 for ages 12 and over and US$20 under 12; "Advanced reservations for the public ferry are not available." On the Dutch side, "a number of private companies" sail from the terminal across from Princess Juliana Airport. All passengers clear Customs and Immigration at Blowing Point.

Best for: a day trip or beach stay. Not for: travelers who need to reserve a seat ahead on the public ferry.

Is there a ferry from St. Martin to St. Barthélemy?

Saint Barth Tourism says ferries link Saint Martin and Sint Maarten to Gustavia "several times a day" and names Great Bay Express and Voyager 1 & 2. Great Bay Express (FAQ) has its St. Maarten office at Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg and its St. Barth office at the marina in Gustavia. Its FAQ says departure times are on its website and its booking system has the most up-to-date ones. Voyager runs between Marigot and Gustavia, as its At the port page describes. Its FAQ says schedules change by day and period; an online booking request shows the available times.

Best for: a day trip or short stay on St. Barthélemy. Not for: travelers without the right passport or visa for the French territory.

Can you ferry between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia?

Yes, with FRS Express des Îles. Its timetable pages name Bergevin Ferry Terminal in Pointe-à-Pitre, Ferry Terminal in Roseau, Inter-Islands Terminal in Fort-de-France and Ferry Terminal in Castries. The Guadeloupe page says schedules "may vary from 3 to 7 round trips per week": 3 in maintenance periods (June, September and January), 5 normally, 7 in school holidays, and they "may be modified without prior notice". Weekly patterns (arrival / departure at each stop):

Best for: several islands with one operator and a fixed weekly pattern. Not for: tight schedules, since times change by season.

How do you get from St. Kitts to Nevis by ferry?

The Nevis Tourism Authority's ferry page says passenger ferries link Basseterre Pier and Charlestown Pier in "just 25-45 minutes" and points to the SKN Transit app for real-time schedules. Its FAQ says all international visitors, including U.S. citizens, need a valid passport to enter Nevis.

Best for: a short crossing and a very short water taxi. Not for: travelers who need a printed timetable.

Is there a ferry from Grenada to Carriacou?

Osprey Lines runs fast ferries between Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Its Schedule & Fares page has sections for departures each way between Grenada and Carriacou, but no times or fares in its text. The Grenada Tourism Authority lists Osprey round trips from St. George's to Tyrell Bay Port in Carriacou Monday to Friday (9am and 5pm) and one way at 9am on Saturday, and describes no border step.

Best for: travelers already in Grenada who want a quiet island. Not for: anyone who needs a confirmed timetable.

Is there a ferry from Trinidad to Tobago?

Yes. TTIT sails between Port of Spain and Scarborough; its FAQs page names the "Ferry Terminals (POS & Scarborough)". That page lists the earliest passenger sailing from Scarborough at 6:30 a.m., and from Port of Spain at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with the last passenger vessels leaving both ports at 4:00 p.m. On Wednesdays it lists one passenger vessel, departing Scarborough at 6:30 a.m. and Port of Spain at 4:00 p.m. The cargo vessel Cabo Star also takes passengers (Vessels and Services): it leaves Port of Spain at 2:00 pm Monday to Friday and 12:30 pm on Sundays, and Scarborough at 11:00 pm, with no scheduled sailings on Saturdays and public holidays.

Fares (Adults and Children page, which writes "$" without naming a currency): adult economy, for ages 12 and over, $75.00 one way and $150.00 return.

Check-in (Checking In page): arrive two hours before departure; the counter closes 45 minutes before. Bring a valid ticket and original photo ID; regional and international passengers show a valid national passport.

Best for: travelers with the right photo ID. Not for: travelers who need to change an online ticket.

Which documents and fees apply on routes that cross a border?

What helps if you get seasick?

Voyager's On board page lists 10 tips: arrive early and stay calm; sit in the centre of the boat on the lower deck, where "maximum stability is to be found"; look at the horizon.

What should you check before you book?

• Dates: Puerto Rico's itineraries end November 30, 2026; VIPA's off-season schedule ends October 31, 2026; the BVI regular schedule starts 1 November 2026.
• Changes and refunds: Puerto Rico Ferry sales are final; Great Bay Express bookings are non-refundable credit valid for 1 year; TTIT online tickets cannot be changed and refunds carry a 25% service charge; FRS tickets carry no right of withdrawal.
• Bags: FRS's timetable and fare pages allow one checked bag up to 25 kg, with length + width + height no more than 250 cm, and one cabin bag up to 10 kg, with total dimensions no more than 150 cm. The Guadeloupe, Dominica and Martinique pages prohibit additional baggage; the Saint Lucia page requires prior approval for it.
• Weather and times: FRS and Great Bay Express say times can change in bad weather. FRS's Guadeloupe and Martinique pages say check-in opens 1h30 before departure, closes 30 minutes before, and boarding closes 15 minutes before. Its Saint Lucia page asks passengers to arrive at least 2h00 before international departures, with check-in closing approximately 45 minutes before and boarding approximately 30 minutes before. Its Dominica page lists check-in opening 2h00 before departure in Dominica, access closing 45 minutes before and check-in closing 30 minutes before.
• On the island: a rental car checklist helps if you will drive, and a travel eSIM comparison helps with data across several islands or countries.

Can you bring a car?

Not a rental on the Puerto Rico ferry: vehicles come aboard only if owned by a Vieques or Culebra resident, and no vehicle ticket can be bought for a rental car. On St. John, VIPA says three private companies run car ferries between Enighed Pond and Red Hook, boarding first come, first load "regardless of prior reservations". Voyager carries no motor vehicles, FRS carries them only between Guadeloupe and Martinique, and Nevis has the Sea Bridge and iConnect car ferries. TTIT lists car capacity on the T&T Spirit, Galleons Passage and Cabo Star, but its FAQ says a car sent without its driver goes only on the Cabo Star.

Is a cruise a better way to see several islands than ferries?

It depends: a cruise is one booking that visits several ports; ferries are booked one route at a time. See how Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian and Carnival compare on rules and gratuities. With children, see family cruises: kids clubs and age rules by cruise line.

FAQ

Do you need a passport to go from St. Thomas to Tortola?

Yes. BVI Tourism says travelers must present a passport to enter and depart the BVI.

What is the BVI online form and when can you fill it in?

It replaced the paper immigration and customs form on 1 January 2025. The portal says it is available 72 hours before arrival; the ferry page says 36 hours.

Can children travel alone on these ferries?

Not on the Puerto Rico ferry or TTIT: anyone under 18 needs an adult. Voyager allows minors alone from age 6 with prior agreement and a passport. FRS allows no unaccompanied minors on departures and arrivals in Dominica.

Is there a ferry between St. Thomas and St. Croix?

Yes, the QE IV Ferry, with one departure each way on the days it runs. Its page lists six days a week, VIPA's five, with different fares.

Need a hotel or flight quote?

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