TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Anguilla Ferry

We are looking into taking a ferry to Anguilla. We took one years(8?) ago and the fumes from the engine made us sick. Has anyone taking it lately?? And is the one from Marigot the only ferry that makes the trip?

There are ferries from the Simpson Bay area. They are very convenient if staying on that area but are roughly double the price of the public ferry from Marigot.

I have taken many of the public ferries and MOST do not have the issue with fumes but I have also been on one that did. It is kind of the "luck of the draw" but I would also like to think that if it has been 8 years for you, the fleet might be more updated by now.

I have not been on the public ferry in at least 10 years, but I know many use it, and I have not heard of fumes. I do know if you sit outside up top, you will not get the fumes.
Public ferry is 20.00 each way plus 5.00 SXM and 5.00 AXA departure taxes 25.00 each way total.
GB Express is 65.00 each way - 5.00 departure tax in AXA, don't know about SXM.
We like to fly - Anguilla Air Services, 100.00 pp each way - 8m minutes up and down.
Be sure to bring your passport.
Safe travels,
Ellen

GB Express is $65pp each way if overnighting or $120 round trip if booked that way. Departure tax is is included when leaving SXM but return from AXA is now $13pp when returning to the Dutch side.

They also will do a special day-tripper rate that is a little less but you have to ask for it and I was quoted about double what the public ferry currently is. While we really like GB Express, their rates are getting pretty steep.

GB Express

That IS high, many swear by the public ferry, they say it is just as fast and less than half the price, plus it leaves on time, unlike the shuttles who wait for people. I did not know the AXA day trip departure tax had increased, thanks for the info.
Ellen

We have always been pleased with GB Express but when it is double the public ferry, one has to take that into consideration.

The tax going back to Dutch St. Maarten was $13 from what I recall 2 years ago as there is an additional $5 for some reason.

The public ferry tax going back to French St. Martin is now $8 I believe as there is the $5 tax and a $3 security fee.

"Ferry Departure Tax and Immigration Departure tax applies to all tourists 12 years and older departing Anguilla through the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal.

Day Trippers/Residents of Anguilla & St. Martin/St. Maarten US $5 or EC $13 and security fee of $3 or EC$8 per person Each person regardless of age is subjected to the security fee of $3 or EC$8 per person"

We've taken both, public from Marigot and GB from the airport.
On the public, if you have any issues with fumes etc, if you have to sit inside, sit on the port side [left facing forward] by a window - the starboard side ports are normally closed due to spray, port side are open
I think if I was staying the Maho area, I might go with a private ferry, overall more $'s, but cheaper cab fare and you get a "free" trip thru the lagoon.
J&B

How long has the $3 security fee been added? I could swear we didn't pay it in July when we departed from Marigot and took the public ferry.

Now that GB Express keeps going up, we've returned to using the public ferry....just as easy for us. You do need to factor in the cost of the cab ride to Marigot though, as you DO NOT want to leave your rental car parked there....of course we were staying a few days.

And the Anguilla departure fee if you have overnighted and aren't a day tripper is $20. Never made sense to me why it was more! I mean, come on...our staying adds money to the economy! Lodging, meals, rental car. Don't penalize us.

The $3 security fee was in place two years ago from what I recall but it is when departing FROM Anguilla, not Marigot. What I quoted in my earlier post was dealing with departing Anguilla.

We just do the day trip so the cab ride does not come into play and leaving the rental for the day has never been a problem.