St. Thomas to St. John Ferry
Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay & Crown Bay ↔ Cruz Bay — schedules, fares and tips
2026 SeasonShort answer: the passenger ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John leaves every hour on the hour from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, takes about 20 minutes, and costs $8.15 one-way ($16.30 round trip) for visitors. No reservation is needed — buy a ticket at the dock and walk on. A second, slower route runs from Crown Bay near Charlotte Amalie for $20 one-way, taking about 35 minutes.
Fares and times verified September 2026. Operators can adjust schedules on holidays and add fuel surcharges — confirm at the terminal for early or late sailings.
Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay ferry fares (2026)
Same fare in both directions. Residents must show a valid US Virgin Islands ID.
| Rider | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (visitor) | $8.15 | $16.30 |
| USVI resident (with ID) | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| Child, ages 2–11 | $1.00 | $2.00 |
| Resident senior 60+ (Mon–Fri) | $1.50 | $3.00 |
| Infant, under 2 | Free | Free |
| Checked bag, cooler or bike | $4.00 | $8.00 |
Tickets are sold at the booth at both terminals (cash and cards) or online in advance.
One lap-sized personal item rides free; anything the crew must stow is $4.
A round-trip ticket is simply two one-way fares — it saves a queue, not money.
Red Hook ↔ Cruz Bay ferry schedule
~20 minute crossing · departures every hour, on the hour, seven days a week
Red Hook → Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay → Red Hook
* The 5:30 AM Red Hook departure runs Monday–Friday only. The 11:00 PM Cruz Bay boat is the last ride back to St. Thomas each night.
Busiest sailings
The 9:00–11:00 AM boats to St. John and the 4:00–6:00 PM boats back fill up with day-trippers and commuters. Arrive 20 minutes early or shift an hour either side.
Getting to Red Hook
Taxis from Charlotte Amalie or the airport take 30–45 minutes and run roughly $20–$25 per person shared. Leave a full hour in cruise-ship traffic.
Parking in Red Hook
The Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal garage is about $15–$20 a day. Curbside meters are for drop-offs only — overstaying gets you booted.
Crown Bay (Charlotte Amalie) ↔ Cruz Bay ferry
Operated by Inter Island Boat Services · ~35 minute crossing · handy if you are staying downtown or docked at Crown Bay
Fares
Crown Bay → Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay → Crown Bay
• Sailings are limited and seasonal — call ahead before building a flight or cruise departure around this route.
• One personal item free per passenger; extra luggage is tagged (up to 50 lbs).
• Check in 30 minutes before departure.
Which way should you cross to St. John?
A quick comparison of every way to get from St. Thomas to St. John.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hook passenger ferry | $8.15 each way | 20 min, hourly | Almost everyone — cheapest and most frequent |
| Crown Bay ferry | $20 each way | 35 min, 3 daily | Staying downtown or docked at Crown Bay |
| Car barge from Red Hook | $65 one-way per vehicle | 20–30 min | Bringing a rental jeep for a longer stay |
| Private boat charter | From a few hundred per group | Your schedule | Snorkel stops, groups, no taxi or lines |
Taking a car across? See the car barge schedule and fares. Staying at the resort? The Westin ferry runs direct from Charlotte Amalie.
What to expect on the crossing
The Red Hook boats are open-sided double-deckers holding a few hundred passengers. Upper-deck seats get the breeze and the photographs across Pillsbury Sound; the lower deck is shaded and calmer if anyone gets queasy. Crew stow big bags near the bow, so keep phones, wallets and sunscreen in a day bag with you.
Buy your ticket at the booth beside the dock, then queue on the pier — boarding starts a few minutes before the hour and the boat leaves on time. There is no assigned seating and no reservations, so the line is your seat selection.
Ferries run rain or shine. The channel is short and protected, and only a small craft advisory or tropical system stops service.
Arriving in Cruz Bay. You step off in the middle of town. Taxis line the dock — expect roughly $10–$12 per person to Trunk Bay, $12–$15 to Cinnamon Bay, and more to Coral Bay on the far side of the island. Mongoose Junction shops, Cruz Bay restaurants and the National Park Visitor Center are all a short walk away.
Day-trip timing. Catch a 9:00 or 10:00 AM boat over and plan to be back at the Cruz Bay dock by 4:00 or 5:00 PM if you want an unhurried beach day. Cruise passengers should be back on the ferry at least two hours before all-aboard, allowing for the Red Hook taxi ride.
Charter pickups. Many St. John boats leave from the Cruz Bay ferry dock or the nearby National Park dock, so the ferry lands you within a couple of minutes' walk of your captain.
St. Thomas to St. John ferry FAQs
How much is the passenger ferry from St. Thomas to St. John?
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The Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry costs $8.15 one-way for visitors, $16.30 round trip. US Virgin Islands residents pay $6.00 one-way with valid ID, children ages 2–11 pay $1.00, resident seniors 60+ pay $1.50 (weekdays), and infants under 2 ride free. Checked luggage is $4.00 per bag.
How long is the ferry ride from Red Hook to Cruz Bay?
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The crossing takes about 20 minutes. Allow roughly an hour door to door from Charlotte Amalie or the cruise port, since the taxi ride out to Red Hook takes 30–40 minutes depending on traffic.
How often does the St. Thomas to St. John ferry run?
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Every hour, on the hour, in both directions. Red Hook departures run 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily, with an extra 5:30 AM run Monday through Friday. Cruz Bay departures run 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, plus a late 11:00 PM boat back to Red Hook.
Do I need to buy ferry tickets in advance?
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No. The Red Hook to Cruz Bay ferry is walk-on service with no reservations. Buy your ticket at the booth at either terminal (cash and cards accepted) or online in advance. Arrive 15–20 minutes early during high season and around the 5:00 PM commuter rush.
Is there a ferry from Charlotte Amalie or the cruise port to St. John?
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Yes. Inter Island Boat Services runs Crown Bay (next to Charlotte Amalie and the Crown Bay cruise dock) to Cruz Bay. Adults are $20 one-way, seniors $15, children 3–11 $10, and the crossing takes about 35 minutes. Departures are limited to a few sailings a day, so check times before you plan around it.
Can I take the ferry to St. John from the airport?
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There is no ferry at Cyril E. King Airport (STT). Take a taxi east to Red Hook (about 45 minutes, roughly $20–$25 per person shared) and catch the hourly Cruz Bay ferry, or take a shorter taxi to Crown Bay for the less frequent direct boat.
Where do I park at the Red Hook ferry terminal?
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The Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook has a multi-level parking garage, typically around $15–$20 per day, plus metered curbside spaces for short drop-offs. Do not overstay a meter — booted vehicles carry a steep release fee.
Can I bring luggage, a cooler, a bike, or a dog on the ferry?
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Yes. One personal item that fits on your lap rides free; larger bags, coolers, and bicycles are charged the $4 luggage fee and are stowed by the crew. Dogs are welcome leashed or in a carrier. Heavy suitcases are loaded on the lower deck, so keep valuables with you.
Do I need a passport for the St. Thomas to St. John ferry?
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No. St. Thomas and St. John are both US Virgin Islands, so it is a domestic trip and no passport or customs check is required. You only need a passport for onward ferries to the British Virgin Islands such as Jost Van Dyke or Tortola.
What happens if the weather is bad?
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The channel is short and sheltered, so ferries run in most weather. Service is suspended only during small craft advisories, tropical storms, or hurricane warnings, when the Virgin Islands Port Authority closes the terminals. Check with the terminal the morning of a stormy travel day.
Is the ferry or a private charter better for getting to St. John?
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The ferry is the cheapest and most frequent way to cross for a day trip or a stay. A private charter makes more sense when you want to snorkel Trunk Bay, Waterlemon Cay, or the BVIs on the way, travel with a group on your own schedule, or avoid the taxi-and-line routine altogether.
Skip the ferry — cross by private charter
Private boats to St. John with snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay, beach stops and lunch — on your schedule, with no taxi run to Red Hook.