Direction: St. Thomas to St. John
# 1: Choose a Departure Time
There are two ferry routes that connect St. Thomas and St. John. The only one that works for cruise ship passengers however departs from Red Hook, St. Thomas. The Red Hook-St. John ferry has hourly departures from early morning to midnight. Reservations are not required. Ferry Schedule/Rates
# 2: Get to Red Hook
There are two cruise ship docking locations on St. Thomas: West Indian Company Dock in Havensight, St. Thomas; and Crown Bay Center in Crown Bay, St. Thomas. Sometimes ships anchor in the harbor and passengers and tendered in to the Charlotte Amalie waterfront. Regardless of where you arrive in St. Thomas there will be taxis waiting to offer tours, beach trips and transportation.
Tell the taxi you want to go to Red Hook Ferry Dock to catch the St. John ferry. It’s a good idea to get to the ferry at least 10-15 minutes before departure. VInow Editor’s Tip: At the cruise ship docks, the taxi driver may not leave right away. They often try to fill their vehicle with people going to the same destination. Taxi fares are per person here in the USVI, its therefore most profitable for the taxi to have a full vehicle. You can request a private taxi; however, the rate is a lot more. St. Thomas Taxi Rates
# 3: Arrive and Buy Your Ticket
The ferry from Red Hook to St. John departs from the Red Hook Ferry Terminal. The proper name for the terminal is: Urman Victor Frederiks Marine Terminal, but that name is seldomly used. At Red Hook Ferry Terminal there are restrooms, visitor information booth, a bar, waiting area and ticket counters. Purchase your ticket at the counter. Payment is by cash or credit cards. When they are very busy, they prefer cash payments. If internet service is slow or down, they will not accept credit card. Ferry Schedule/Rates
# 4: Board the Ferry
Hand your ticket to the ferry attendant, get on the ferry and enjoy the ride. The ferry boats generally have enclosed seating on the main deck, and open-air seating on the top deck. From Red Hook to St. John the ferry ride is about 15 minutes and arrives at the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock. It’s a scenic ride.
# 5: Arrive in Cruz Bay, St. John
There is a taxi stand right at the end of the ferry dock, and taxi drivers will approach those coming off the ferry with calls of “going to the beach” or “island tour”. Grab a taxi and head to your destination. You can rent a car for the day; car rental agencies are in walking distance of the ferry dock. Or you can explore Cruz Bay on foot, stop by the National Park Visitor Center and then hike to the beach right from Cruz Bay. Enjoy your visit! See St. John Taxi Rates. See St. John Car Rentals.
Direction: St. John to St. Thomas (Destination: Cruise Ship)
# 1: Choose a Departure Time
The ferry from Cruz Bay, St. John to Red Hook, St. Thomas has hourly departures throughout the day and evening. Reservations are not required. When choosing a departure time consider how long it will take you to get to Cruz Bay Ferry Dock from wherever you spent your day on St. John; the ferry ride; and the taxi ride from Red Hook back to the ship. Be aware of traffic in the afternoon on St. Thomas, particularly when there are multiple ships in port. Ferry Schedule/Rates | Cruise Ship Schedule
# 2: Get to Ferry
Head back to Cruz Bay. Again, be aware of time. It’s a good idea to get to the ferry at least 10-15 minutes before departure. St. John Taxi Rates
# 3: Arrive and Buy Your Tickets
The ferry from St. John to Red Hook, St. Thomas departs from the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock. The proper name for the dock is: Loredon L. Boynes, Sr. Dock, but that name is seldomly used. At Cruz Bay Ferry Dock there is a covered waiting area with benches, visitor booklets and a ticket counter. Purchase your ticket at the counter. If you bought your ticket already, skip the ticket counter and grab a seat in the waiting area. If the gate is already open, and attendant is already allowing people to board, then get in the line to board. Payment is by cash or credit cards. When they are very busy, they prefer cash payments. If internet service is slow or down, they will not accept credit card. Ferry Schedule/Rates
# 4: Board the Ferry
Hand your ticket to the ferry attendant, get on the ferry and enjoy the ride. The ferry boats generally have enclosed seating on the main deck, and open-air seating on the top deck. From Cruz Bay Ferry Dock to Red Hook, St. Thomas the ferry ride is about 15 minutes and arrives at the Red Hook Ferry Terminal.
# 5: Arrive in Red Hook, St. Thomas
At Red Hook Ferry Terminal there is a taxi stand right outside the entrance, let the taxi dispatcher know you are heading back to the cruise ship, and specify which cruise ship docking location. Safe travels, thank you for visiting. St. Thomas Taxi Rates
