Island-hopping between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands is possible by ferry. The most popular route is between the islands of St. Thomas (USVI) and Tortola (BVI). There are two ferry landings on St. Thomas where service to Tortola is offered. They are in Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook. There are two ferry landings in Tortola, in Road Town and West End. There are three ferry routes between the two islands. The first route is between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Road Town, Tortola. The second is between Red Hook, St. Thomas and West End, Tortola. And the final route is between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Road Town, Tortola. Information is available below about ferry service between Tortola and St. Thomas including schedules, travel times, ferry rates, and port fees.
Route: Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas) - Road Town (Tortola)
Operated by: Native Son Ferry, Smith’s Ferry, and Road Town Fast Ferry
Telephone: (340) 774-8685, (340) 775-7292, (340) 777-2800
Docking Location St. Thomas: Blyden Ferry Terminal, Charlotte Amalie
Docking Location Tortola: Road Town Jetty
Travel Time: The ferry between Tortola and St. Thomas takes 1 (one) hour, this includes time for boarding, customs, and sailing.
Note: The Charlotte Amalie to Road Town ferry schedule is run jointly by three ferry operators. They rotate times between them therefore all four departure times are available every day, but not by each operator.
| Charlotte Amalie → Road Town |
|---|
| Daily |
| 9:00 AM |
| 2:00 PM |
| 4:00 PM |
| 5:30 PM |
| Road Town → Charlotte Amalie |
|---|
| Daily |
| 7:30 AM |
| 10:00 AM |
| 11:30 AM |
| 3:15 PM |
Native Son Ferry: CHARLOTTE AMALIE – ROAD TOWN FERRY RATES
- Adult (Ages 13-61) One-way
- Adult (Ages 13-61) Round Trip
- Child (3-12) One-way
- Child (3-12) Round Trip
- Infant (Ages 2 and under) One-way
- Infant (Ages 2 and under) Round Trip
- Senior (Age 62+) One-way
- Senior (Age 62+) Round Trip
- Luggage:One free personal item, per person such as a backpack or over the shoulder bag is free. Any additional items (50 lbs max per item) will cost $10 each.
Smith’s Ferry: CHARLOTTE AMALIE – ROAD TOWN FERRY RATES
- Adult One-way
- Adult Round Trip
- Child One-way
- Child Round Trip
- Infant One-way
- Infant Round Trip
- Senior (Age 62+) One-way
- Senior (Age 62+) Round Trip
- Luggage:It is $10 for the first 3 bags, and $10 thereafter for each additional bag over 3 bags. Surf boards and other bulky items are charged at a fee dependent on the size and weight.
Road Town Fast Ferry: CHARLOTTE AMALIE – ROAD TOWN FERRY RATES
- Adult One-way
- Adult Round Trip
- Child One-way
- Child Round Trip
- Infant One-way
- Infant Round Trip
- Senior (Age 62+) One-way
- Senior (Age 62+) Round Trip
ROUTE: RED HOOK (ST. THOMAS) – WEST END (TORTOLA)
Operated by: Native Son Ferry
Telephone: (340) 774-8685
Docking Location St. Thomas: Red Hook Ferry Dock
Docking Location Tortola: West End Ferry Terminal
Travel Time: The ferry between St. Thomas and Tortola takes 1 (one) hour, this includes time for boarding, customs, and sailing.
Suggested Check in Time: Check-in is recommended at least 45 minutes prior to departure time.
Note: The Red Hook, St. Thomas to West End, Tortola ferry travels from St. Thomas directly to Tortola, it does not stop in St. John. The ferry from Tortola to St. Thomas, however, must stop in St. John to clear customs. If St. John is your destination, after clearing customs, you may disembark in St. John. The ferry, after clearing customs on St. John, continues to St. Thomas.
| Red Hook → West End |
|---|
| Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 7:45 AM |
| 3:15 PM |
| West End → Cruz Bay & Red Hook |
|---|
| Friday, Saturday, Sunday |
| 8:30 AM |
| 4:00 PM |
RED HOOK – WEST END FERRY RATES
- Adult (13-61) One-way
- Adult (13-61) Round Trip
- Child (3-12) One-way
- Child (3-12) Round Trip
- Infants (Ages 2 and under) One-way
- Infants (Ages 2 and under) Round Trip
- Senior (Age 62+) One-Way
- Senior (Age 62+) Round Trip
- Luggage:One free personal item, per person such as a backpack or over the shoulder bag is free. Any additional items (50 lbs max per item) will cost $10 each.
ROUTE: RED HOOK (ST. THOMAS) – ROAD TOWN (TORTOLA)
Operated by: Aquatic Rentals Limited (Sea Express I and II)
Telephone: (340) 715-2782
Docking Location St. Thomas: Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal (AKA: Red Hook Ferry Terminal)
Docking Location Tortola: Road Town Jetty
Travel Time: The ferry between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Road Town, Tortola takes about 45 minutes. On the Road Town to Cruz Bay and on to Red Hook route it is also 45 minutes of travel time plus additional time for clearing customs in Cruz Bay, St. John.
Suggested Check in Time: Check-in time and reservation confirmation is 45 minutes minimum prior to departure time.
Note: The Red Hook, St. Thomas to Road Town, Tortola ferry travels from St. Thomas directly to Tortola, it does not stop in St. John. The ferry from Tortola to St. Thomas, however, must stop in St. John to clear customs. If St. John is your destination, after clearing customs, you may disembark in St. John. The ferry, after clearing customs on St. John, continues to St. Thomas.
| Red Hook → Road Town |
|---|
| Monday – Sunday |
| 5:00 PM |
| Road Town → Cruz Bay / Red Hook |
|---|
| Monday – Sunday |
| 8:30 AM |
RED HOOK – ROAD TOWN FERRY RATES
- Adults (12+) One-way
- Adults (12+) Round Trip
- Senior (65+) One Way
- Senior (65+) Round Trip
- Child (3-11) One-way
- Child (3-11) Round Trip
- Infants (0-2) One-way
- Infants (0-2) Round Trip
- Luggage:Carry-on (Handbag & Backpack) - No charge (one per passenger/must fit on lap). Checked Baggage (under 30lbs) is $10.00. Checked Baggage (30-50lbs) is $20.00. Checked Baggage Oversize (over 50lbs) is $50.00 (starting price). Baggage more than 50lbs and/or oversize will be subject to additional fees. All baggage/luggage must be checked in at the ticket booth/counter.
ROUTE: RED HOOK (ST. THOMAS) – WEST END (TORTOLA)
Operated by: Aquatic Rentals Limited (Sea Express I and II)
Telephone: (340) 715-2782
St. Thomas Ferry Landing: Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal (AKA: Red Hook Ferry Terminal)
Tortola Ferry Landing: West End Ferry Terminal
Travel Time: The ferry takes around 30 minutes between Red Hook, St. Thomas and West End, Tortola. On the West End to Cruz Bay and on to Red Hook route it is also 30 minutes of travel time plus additional time for clearing customs in Cruz Bay, St. John.
Suggested Check in Time: Check-in time and reservation confirmation is 45 minutes minimum prior to departure time.
Note: The Red Hook, St. Thomas to West End, Tortola ferry travels from St. Thomas directly to Tortola, it does not stop in St. John. The ferry from Tortola to St. Thomas, however, must stop in St. John to clear customs. If St. John is your destination, after clearing customs, you may disembark in St. John. The ferry, after clearing customs on St. John, continues to St. Thomas.
| Red Hook → West End |
|---|
| Monday – Sunday |
| 10:30 AM |
| 2:30 PM |
| 5:00 PM |
Monday – Sunday
| West End → Cruz Bay / Red Hook |
|---|
| 9:00 AM |
| 11:30 AM |
| 3:30 PM |
RED HOOK – West End FERRY RATES
- Adults (12+) One-way
- Adults (12+) Roundtrip
- Senior (65+) One Way
- Senior (65+) Roundtrip
- Child (3-11) One-way
- Child (3-11) Roundtrip
- Infants (0-2) One-way
- Infants (0-2) Roundtrip
- Luggage:Carry-on (Handbag & Backpack) - No charge (one per passenger/must fit on lap). Checked Baggage (under 30lbs) is $10.00. Checked Baggage (30-50lbs) is $20.00. Checked Baggage Oversize (over 50lbs) is $50.00 (starting price). Baggage more than 50lbs and/or oversize will be subject to additional fees. All baggage/luggage must be checked in at the ticket booth/counter.
Travel between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands is international; you will be required to clear customs and immigration on both sides of the trip, and there are port fees and departure taxes.
Port Fees and Taxes: Port fees, security fees, and departure taxes are generally not included in the cost of your ferry tickets. Port fees are currently $10 from St. Thomas to Tortola. Fees from Tortola to St. Thomas are $15 for BVI residents and $20 for non-residents. BVI Environmental Fee is $10.00. The ferry operators do not have any control over these fees; they are subject to change by their respective governmental authorities. When purchasing ferry tickets, take note of which port fees and government taxes, if any, are included in your ticket purchase.
Travel Update (COVID): COVID-related testing for entering the British Virgin Islands (BVI), and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) is no longer required. More information can be found on the pages related to protocols and screening below. Masks may be required for entering the customs and immigration facilities.
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