Ferry question - round trip or one way ticket?

Do you buy round trip ferry ticket or one-way to give flexibility on return trip?

I've done both curious what others do.

Thanks!

Most say buy a one way ticket for flexibility.

Buy a one way for the first departing boat...then the same on the way back. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> We used Island Magic and Smith Ferry a week ago. We pre bought our tickets and transfers and saved a good chunk of money. We were supposed to be on the 3:15 ferry to Roadtown, but were assured if our flight was delayed they would put us on the 4:15 or a competitors ferry. The flight was delayed and we caught the 4:15. No problem. Had tickets for the 2:30 ferry back to St. Thomas, and got back to TMM early. We went to the ferry and hopped on the 11:30. No problem. Maybe we were lucky. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

I always get on the next available ferry and always buy a one way ticket. However on my last trip I was returning with one of the guys on our charter who had bought a return ticket. When we got to R/t Ferry terminal the company's next ferry was cancelled and the next available one was too late to catch his flight. The company gave him (or else the competitor honoured) his ticket for the next ferry. I don't know if that is new but I had never seen that before.

One point I would make when getting on "the next ferry" would be to go direct to your destination instead of a stop. I go to Roadtown so I skip the West End stop. It adds 20 minutes and on one occasion, they removed the wrong bags and had to turn around before we got out of Soper's. On another time the ferry was full from Roadtown back to Charlotte Amalie and they couldn't take all the passengers who were trying to get on at West End.

D

One way, for sure.

One way only choice.

Thank you! We'll go with one-way for flexbility.

Anyone ever had a bad one way experience? I am a bit of a planner and double checker when it comes to travel plans and just "showing up" in the interest of flexibility makes me a little uneasy

Show up early. Buying a round trip tickets has no advantages. If the boat fills with one ways and you show up late, you miss the boat.

If you return is cancelled, you lose.

Reservations mean little.

So even if you have pre-purchased a round trip ticket, people who buy same day one way tickets who arrive earlier can fill the boat and your pre-purchased ticket is useless?

That has been my experience. The customers were outraged and the ferry company was annoyed with the pushy customers.

You're not in Kansas (or South Carolina) anymore <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Friends do not let friends ride the ferry on vacation. If I want adventure and hardship on holiday? I will head to Pamplona to sleep on the ground at night and run with the bulls in the daylight. The VI ferries are akin to taking the public bus to your local airport at home. Two differences the ferries charge far more and are less hospitable starting at the ticket counter and dock.

If you have to take the ferry, one way only. If you can find any other way to get to Tortola (eg flying, water taxi, etc) then do that.

What's your suggestion? Water taxis are pretty expensive for just two people. And already have the boat reserved out of road town, so can't change that at this point.

While it is popular to bash the ferries, and there are occasionally good reasons to do so, in over a dozen round trips between STT and Tortola we have never missed a ferry trip we wanted to take. They don't always / almost never run on time, but there has always been a ferry from either Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook going to either West End or Road Town. Hence the reason for a flexible approach.

I think StormJib usually swims it <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />, but for the rest of us, as most of the other posters have said, buy a one-way ticket on the first ferry that will get you where you want to go. It is still the least expensive way, for most folks, to get from STT to Tortola and back. We make voice or text taxi arrangements on STT with Kevin Campbell, (340)643-0025, a week or so in advance of arrival. He and his co-drivers seem to know, on an hourly basis, which ferry is leaving next, and from where it is departing.

Agree with aarpskier. We use the ferry regularly. It is not quite as bad as some people are saying.

Nonetheless, I would never buy a round trip ticket. Go to the terminal and buy a one-way ticket on the next ferry leaving for the destination you want. Then relax. You're on island time.

We bought round trip tickets a couple trips back. The return ferry was cancelled. We had to taxi from Road Town to West End at break neck speed to catch the next ferry in order to get to our flights. They honored our ferry tickets in West End but the taxi ride was out of our pockets.

Golden rule for us..never ever buy round trip tix..

as a visitor - Never buy round trip

as for stressing out over the ferry service - Manpot may correct me/remind me otherwise... but.....

In over 10 years.... I've never missed a boat due to it being oversold
I've never had a visitor miss a boat due to being oversold
I've heard of it... but never experienced it
Maybe, possibly.. it could happen, perhaps in March or thereabouts
Then again... I've heard a lot of "stuff" on island over the years.. a good deal being hand-me-down, fourth-hand, or invented nonsense from bored people

The reason for not buying round trip... ferries often get cancelled - due to mechanical breakdowns
But, the competitor (usually) picks up the slack and (often) honours the tickets from "the other guy"... especially if there was a breakdown

As for the ferries... in my view, and the view of my visitors - arriving by ferry is one of the "wonderful, unique entrances" you can make onto the island

It bugs me when people slam the ferry services
Yeah - they ain't perfect... but, this is all part of island life

Your mileage may vary... I guess much depends on why you come to this particular place on the planet

You only have to watch a boat costing a host or crew $1,000's per day sitting at the dock waiting for a couple of crew who tried to save s few bucks by using the ferry stuck on St. Thomas or waiting for delayed luggage. Sure the ferry works for many. If you have a day and dollars to burn with extra travel days on the day before and day after a charter great. If you are certain you are on the first direct flight of the day to STT even better. Late flights, delayed flights, missed connections to STT? Lost luggage? Early departure on the way home? Weekends anytime... all two much risk, worry, and hassle for us and those with us who do not want the disruption anyone in crew can bring to the entire guests list when a few decide to do the STT, taxi, ferry, taxi dance.

I do understand StormJibs point, however, Since first night (before charter starts) is at the marina, I would not worry to much about others being delayed. With mobile phones/texts, they let me know what ferry they are ON and I let them know where I will pick them up. It may cost them an extra taxi ride to Trellis bay, etc.
1 way ticket..Agree.

Ferry trip to Tortola is not bad... Starts Vacation. Coming Back is worse (ends vacation)