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Ferry Tickets #118679
01/25/2017 08:07 AM
01/25/2017 08:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 145
psod Offline OP
Traveler
psod  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 145
taking the high speed ferry from St.Thomas to Tortola,,first thing on Friday Feb 3,, just curious if we should buy our tickets ahead of time or that morning,, not sure how busy it will be,,,

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Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: psod] #118680
01/25/2017 08:22 AM
01/25/2017 08:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
N
NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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N
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
The ferry schedule is unreliable so the common wisdom is to wait until you get to the terminal and buy tickets for the next departing ferry. Don't give your bags to the porters outside as they are shills for the individual ferry companies. Carry your bags inside and go to the counter to find out which ferry leaves next. Also, don't buy a round trip ticket. Do the same drill when departing Tortola.

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: NCSailor] #118681
01/25/2017 09:21 AM
01/25/2017 09:21 AM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 430
South Carolina
Riverfrontbrewer Offline
Traveler
Riverfrontbrewer  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 430
South Carolina
And pay with cash

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: Riverfrontbrewer] #118682
01/25/2017 09:23 AM
01/25/2017 09:23 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
Manpot Offline
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Manpot  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 17,029
Tortola/ Sonoma, California
All of the above is great info..and they all claim to be " Fast Ferry"..

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: Manpot] #118683
01/25/2017 07:58 PM
01/25/2017 07:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14
capecod mass
C
capecodfishman Offline
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capecodfishman  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14
capecod mass
and when i was there on Jan 3 the 130 left CA after the 2 pm <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: capecodfishman] #118684
01/29/2017 04:13 AM
01/29/2017 04:13 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
beerMe Offline
Traveler
beerMe  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 414
Memphis, TN
Buying ahead or round trip just locks you into their schedule. Go with the next boat leaving - in both directions. There won't be much of a line, or any, when you're buying the tickets.


Life involves risks, take some prudent ones (NOT with the BVI ferries)!
Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: beerMe] #118685
01/29/2017 08:29 AM
01/29/2017 08:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
Traveler
warren460  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
Occasionally there may be a line. I have seen this for example when the mit crowd comes and goes. But even then, arrive at ferry early to get tickets. Don't buy in advance.

Those that boat their tickets in advance were denied boarding as they still filled the boat with new ticket sales to that MIT crowd. I don't think they got refunds and were not put on another companies boat. So the reward if you buy in advance? Perhaps less than nothing.

Last edited by warren460; 01/29/2017 08:32 AM.
Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: warren460] #118686
01/29/2017 10:10 AM
01/29/2017 10:10 AM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
S
steve74 Offline
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steve74  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 239
Last year, we had to catch the 10:00 am fast ferry out of Road Town for our return to St. Thomas. We were at the ticket counter at 9:30 am, and after we bought ours, they told the people behind us the boat was full. This was June 25th on a Saturday.

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: steve74] #118687
01/29/2017 11:12 AM
01/29/2017 11:12 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,994
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Online content
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,994
GA/NC
Quote
steve74 said:
Last year, we had to catch the 10:00 am fast ferry out of Road Town for our return to St. Thomas. We were at the ticket counter at 9:30 am, and after we bought ours, they told the people behind us the boat was full. This was June 25th on a Saturday.


Key word here is on a Saturday. The morning roadtown ferries tend to be very full Saturday morning and very full returning Saturday afternoon with shoppers. I now try and avoid Saturday's.
G

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: GeorgeC1] #118688
01/31/2017 04:44 PM
01/31/2017 04:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2
R
Racerlinn Offline
Member
Racerlinn  Offline
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R
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 2
We are planning on the first morning ferry on Saturday Feb 11th from Charlotte Amalie. Anyone able to confirm which, if any, of the Ferry's go to West End / Soper's Hole first? This is where our boat is. We do not want to go thru Road Town. It's been a few years since our last trip, and on that one we made the last boat of the day and had no choice but to go to Road Town, which sucked.

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: Racerlinn] #118689
01/31/2017 04:56 PM
01/31/2017 04:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
D
Donald Offline
Traveler
Donald  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
I would also suggest if you're going to Roadtown wait for a ferry that is going direct to Roadtown even if the next departing boat is stopping at West End. I jumped on Smiths last year and it was two hours to R/t. We were 30 min late leaving STT, a stop in WE and then we had to wait in R/T while the ferry that left Charlotte Amalie AFTER we did unloaded their passengers -- there wasn't enough room for both boats at the dock. Some mighty upset ferry riders that day! And I'll echo the above comments re: your luggage. Hold onto it. Sometimes it gets piled on the deck and collects a lot of spray on a rough crossing leaving everything soaked. It can also take awhile to collect checked bags at R/T Customs.

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: Donald] #118690
01/31/2017 07:11 PM
01/31/2017 07:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 24
Slidell, LA
C
CaptRobear Offline
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CaptRobear  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 24
Slidell, LA
Yeah, pretty much that same scenario happened to us in June 2016.

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: Donald] #118691
01/31/2017 10:55 PM
01/31/2017 10:55 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
RickinAtlanta Online content
Traveler
RickinAtlanta  Online Content
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,609
Woodstock, GA
Quote
Donald said:
I would also suggest if you're going to Roadtown wait for a ferry that is going direct to Roadtown even if the next departing boat is stopping at West End. I jumped on Smiths last year and it was two hours to R/t. We were 30 min late leaving STT, a stop in WE and then we had to wait in R/T while the ferry that left Charlotte Amalie AFTER we did unloaded their passengers -- there wasn't enough room for both boats at the dock. Some mighty upset ferry riders that day! And I'll echo the above comments re: your luggage. Hold onto it. Sometimes it gets piled on the deck and collects a lot of spray on a rough crossing leaving everything soaked. It can also take awhile to collect checked bags at R/T Customs.


You typically cannot take any luggage on with you except for a small carryon. Imagine the cramming if everyone tried to carryon garment bags??

Re: Ferry Tickets [Re: RickinAtlanta] #118692
02/01/2017 10:10 AM
02/01/2017 10:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
D
Donald Offline
Traveler
Donald  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 37
Good point Rick. I should have mentioned I always travel carry-on and pack fairly light. Soft sided luggage is also preferred for sailboats which can be (depending on the size) easier to carry.


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