Two ferry routes run between St. Thomas and St. John, and the right choice depends almost entirely on what time your flight lands.
The quick answer
- Flight lands before 9pm: Take a taxi to Red Hook, take the Red Hook ferry. Cheaper, more frequent, shorter ferry ride.
- Flight lands after 9pm: Take the Charlotte Amalie ferry. Red Hook's last departure is around midnight, but taxi traffic on Mafolie Hill at night is rough.
- Bringing a car/large group: Charlotte Amalie has the car barge.
Side-by-side
| Red Hook | Charlotte Amalie | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi from STT | 30–45 min, $20/pp | 10 min, $5/pp |
| Ferry ride | 20 min, $8.15 | 45 min, ~$14 |
| Frequency | Hourly | Every 1–2 hrs |
| Total door-to-door | ~75 min | ~80 min |
Our default recommendation
For most arrivals, Red Hook. The taxi ride is the worst part of either route, and you'd rather spend that hour before the ferry than on it. The 20-minute Red Hook crossing is also where the trip starts to feel like vacation — open-air seating, salt spray, the green wall of St. John ahead of you.
Part of the Getting to St. John, USVI: The Complete Guide.
Frequently asked
›Which ferry is faster from St. Thomas to St. John?
Red Hook is much faster — a 20-minute crossing that runs every hour. Charlotte Amalie is 45 minutes and runs only a few times a day.
›How much is the St. John ferry?
Red Hook to Cruz Bay is $8.15 per adult plus $4 per bag, paid at the dock. Charlotte Amalie is body: () => (3 per adult.
›Which ferry should I take from STT airport?
Red Hook — 95% of the time. The 30-minute taxi to Red Hook plus the 20-minute ferry beats the Charlotte Amalie route except very late at night when only Charlotte Amalie sails.
