Callejón de los Curas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Textor)
The Caribbean is strongly associated with big cruise ships, not island-to-island transportation by ferry or boat. Yet the options for travel by sea in the region are many. Following are a few sea transportation routes.
Barbuda Express operates a ferry connection between St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda. The ferry operates five times a week. One way tickets cost EC$110 (about $41). Same day roundtrip fares run EC$220 (about $82).
Bahamas Ferries operates a ferry service between Potters Cay, Nassau and Spanish Wells/Harbour Island, Governor's Harbour and Current on Eleuthera, Morgans Bluff and Fresh Creek on Andros, and Exuma's George Town.
The mail boats of the Bahamas are well known as a cheap (and slow) backpacker transportation secret. Visit the Mail Boat Schedule page on the Port Department section of the Government's Web site here.
There is healthy competition amongst the ferry companies sailing the waters between the United States and British Virgin Islands. A variety of ferry options extends to sea connections within the US Virgin Islands as well.
Smith's Ferry Service (340-775-7292) runs several routes. Its international routes include Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (USVI)-Road Town, Tortola (BVI), Charlotte Amalie-West End, Tortola (BVI), and Red Hook, St. Thomas (USVI)-West End. Smith's domestic route is a 90-minute ferry linking Charlotte Amale, St. Thomas (USVI) and Gallows Bay, St. Croix (USVI).
Native Son, Inc. (340-774-8685) operates ferry links between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (USVI) and Red Hook. St. Thomas (USVI) and Tortola (BVI).
Road Town Fast Ferry runs a ferry route between Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas, USVI) and Road Town (Tortola, BVI). There are three roundtrip journeys scheduled Monday through Saturday and one on Sunday.
Inter Island Boat Service (340-776-6597) operates a ferry service between St. John (USVI) and Tortola (BVI), Virgin Gorda (BVI), and Jost van Dyke (BVI).
Speedy's operates a ferry connection from Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas, USVI) to Virgin Gorda (BVI) and Road Town (BVI).
Varlack Ventures (340-776-6282) runs a quick ferry between Red Hook, St. Thomas (USVI) and Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI), as well as a Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas, USVI)-Cruz Bay route.
Water Island Ferry (340-690-4159) operates a ferry between Crown Bay, St. Thomas (USVI) and Water Island (USVI).
Two ferry companies currently run car ferries between Red Hook, St. Thomas (USVI) and Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI): Boyson's Inc. (340-776-6294) and Global Marine (340-779-1739).
Transportation Services STT (340-776-6282) operates a ferry between St. Thomas and Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Check out VInow's Ferry Schedule page for detailed information on ferry schedules.
L’Express des Iles, based in Fort-de-France, provides sea connections as well as holiday packages between Martinique, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, Dominica, and Saint Lucia.
Roundtrip fares on L’Express between the big islands—that is, between Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, and St. Lucia—run €100 for adults. Roundtrip journeys between Guadeloupe and both Marie-Galante and Les Saintes cost €40 for adults. There are good last-minute offers on occasion, as well as seasonal deals.
L'Express des Iles also arranges getaway packages that bundle transportation and accommodations costs. For tourists based in either Martinique or Guadeloupe, an overnight trip package to another island could prove to be a good, wallet-friendly way to explore the region.
Bedy Oceanline also runs a number of routes around the southern Caribbean, some of which connect St. Lucia to various points south: Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad.
The Puerto Rico Port Authority (800-981-2005) connects Fajardo on the east coast of Puerto Rico with Vieques and Culebra.
Transportation Services STT (340-776-6282) operates a ferry between Fajardo and St. Thomas.
The Dawn II ferries between Phillipsburg on St. Maarten and Saba's Fort Saba harbor, typically making three round-trip journeys a week. Check out information on the Dawn II here. Round trip journeys cost $90; same-day round trip journeys run $68.
The Great Bay Express, a ferry between Phillipsburg on St. Maarten and St. Barths typically makes three round-trip journeys a day. Same day round trip ferry service costs €56-€60 per adult; open-ended round trip journeys cost €90-€95.
The St. Martin-Anguilla ferry link connects Marigot on the French side of St. Martin with Blowing Point, Anguilla multiple times a day. There is also less frequent link between Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and Blowing Point, Anguilla. Check with tourist organizations in Anguilla and St. Martin for more information.
Bedy Oceanline connects St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, and Trinidad.
There are express and slow ferries linking Port of Spain with Tobago. For schedule information check out the web site of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago. Most days see between two and four round-trip journeys between the two island.