Flight and Ferry Travel Planner Tool
Use this to assist with booking flights | travel plans to the boat.
Getting to Aquanimity should feel simple, exciting, and stress-free.
This page helps guests compare the two primary arrival routes into the British Virgin Islands — either flying directly into Tortola (EIS) or arriving through St. Thomas (STT) before continuing by ferry.
For most guests, flying directly into Tortola provides the smoothest arrival experience and allows the vacation to begin almost immediately after landing.
Fly Into Tortola, BVI (EIS)
Flying directly into Tortola is typically the most seamless arrival option for Aquanimity guests.
After landing at EIS Airport on Beef Island, guests can walk across the street to Trellis Bay Market & Grill, relax by the water, enjoy lunch or a cocktail, and wait comfortably until the crew meets them at the dock.
This route avoids ferry coordination, reduces transfer stress, and makes arrival day feel like the vacation has already begun.
Fly Into St. Thomas, USVI (STT)
St. Thomas often offers more flight choices and potentially lower airfare from major U.S. cities, but it requires additional ferry and customs logistics to reach the British Virgin Islands.
This option is usually best for guests who plan to spend time vacationing on St. Thomas or St. John before boarding Aquanimity.
If your goal is the simplest arrival directly to the yacht, flying into Tortola (EIS) is usually the cleaner route.
Search Flight Options
Use this tool to search flights into Tortola (EIS) or St. Thomas (STT). It also gives a simple arrival-route recommendation based on how you want to travel.
If You Fly Into St. Thomas (STT)
St. Thomas can be a useful arrival option when guests want more flight choices or plan to enjoy time on St. Thomas or St. John before the charter. However, it is not usually the simplest same-day route to Aquanimity.
Guests arriving through STT normally need to continue by ferry into the British Virgin Islands before reaching the yacht.
- Land at Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas.
- Collect checked luggage and exit the airport.
- Taxi to Red Hook Ferry Terminal.
- Take an international ferry into Tortola or, when available, Virgin Gorda.
- Clear BVI customs upon arrival.
- Continue by taxi or transfer to the yacht, marina, or agreed boarding location.
Important Ferry Timing Note
Many afternoon arrivals into St. Thomas — especially flights landing after approximately 1:00–1:30 PM — may not leave enough time to comfortably make the final ferry into the British Virgin Islands.
Checked luggage, taxi time to Red Hook, ferry check-in, passport processing, boarding time, and customs procedures all require extra buffer.
Guests arriving later in the day often have a smoother experience by overnighting in St. Thomas and taking a morning ferry into the BVI the following day.
St. Thomas ↔ Tortola Ferry Schedule
For guests flying into St. Thomas (STT), the most common ferry routes into the British Virgin Islands are between St. Thomas and either West End or Road Town, Tortola.
Ferry schedules can change seasonally and may vary by operator, customs timing, weather conditions, and vessel availability. The schedules below are intended as a guest planning reference only.
Red Hook / St. Thomas ↔ West End / Tortola
St. Thomas to West End
| Monday – Friday | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 7:45 AM | Native Son |
| 8:00 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 11:15 / 11:45 AM* | Smith’s Ferry |
| 11:45 AM | Native Son |
| 2:55 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 3:15 PM | Native Son |
| 5:00 PM | Native Son |
| 5:30 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| Saturday – Sunday | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 8:00 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 10:45 AM | Native Son |
| 11:15 / 11:45 AM* | Smith’s Ferry |
| 2:00 PM** | Native Son |
| 2:55 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 5:30 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 6:00 PM** | Native Son |
West End to St. Thomas
| Monday – Friday | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 6:00 AM | Native Son |
| 6:30 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 6:45 AM | Native Son |
| 8:30 AM | Native Son |
| 8:50 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 12:15 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 12:30 PM | Native Son |
| 3:45 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 4:00 PM | Native Son |
| Saturday – Sunday | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 6:30 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 8:30 AM | Native Son |
| 8:50 AM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 11:00 AM | Native Son |
| 12:15 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
| 3:40 PM | Native Son |
| 3:45 PM | Smith’s Ferry |
St. Thomas ↔ Road Town / Tortola
Road Town is the larger and more central ferry port on Tortola. For some guests, especially those planning onward taxi service or marina transfers, Road Town may be the more practical arrival point.
St. Thomas to Road Town
| Common Departures | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 8:45 AM | Speedy’s Ferry |
| 5:00 PM | Speedy’s Ferry |
| 5:00 PM* | Road Town Fast Ferry / Aquatic Rentals |
Road Town to St. Thomas
| Common Departures | |
|---|---|
| Departure Time | Operator |
| 6:00 AM | Road Town Fast Ferry / Aquatic Rentals |
| 6:15 / 6:30 AM* | Smith’s Ferry |
| 6:45 AM | Road Town Fast Ferry / Aquatic Rentals |
| 7:15 AM | Speedy’s Ferry |
| 7:45 AM* | Road Town Fast Ferry / Aquatic Rentals |
| 3:25 PM | Speedy’s Ferry |
- Passport required: travel between the USVI and BVI is international travel.
- Carry some cash: ferry and baggage payment options can vary by operator and terminal.
- Arrive early: ferry check-in, luggage handling, and customs timing can add buffer time.
- Schedules change: ferry operators may adjust times without notice.
- Return planning matters: guests returning from Tortola to STT should allow enough time for ferry travel, customs, taxi transfer, airline check-in, and airport security.
* When two times are shown, schedules may alternate or vary by operator/week. Availability may be seasonal or schedule-dependent. This table is intended as a planning reference only and should be independently verified before travel.
Typical Ferry Timing Reality
Ferry schedules for guests arriving for a BVI yacht charter or a fully crewed catamaran yacht charter can include morning, midday, and afternoon departures, but exact times vary frequently by operator, weather, customs processing, and season.
Guests should avoid assuming that a same-day arrival into St. Thomas (STT) will automatically connect comfortably with a ferry into the BVI.
In practical terms, checked luggage, taxi time to Red Hook, ferry check-in, and customs processing all add travel buffer. This is why many British Virgin Islands yacht charter guests' later-afternoon STT arrivals often become overnight stays in St. Thomas rather than same-day transfers to Tortola.
Direct Virgin Gorda Ferry Options
Depending on the season and operating schedules, limited direct ferry service between St. Thomas and Virgin Gorda may occasionally be available to guests arriving for a BVI catamaran charter or a luxury, fully crewed yacht charter.
This can simplify travel logistics for charters departing from near Virgin Gorda by reducing the need for additional taxi and transfer coordination upon arrival in Tortola.
Travel schedules, ferry times, customs procedures, and flight availability can change. Guests are responsible for independently verifying transportation timing and travel requirements before booking airfare or ferry travel for their British Virgin Islands yacht charter vacation.
Ferry Q&A
Bottom line: For the smoothest start to your British Virgin Islands yacht charter or luxury catamaran vacation, most guests find that flying directly into Tortola (EIS) offers the easiest, most seamless arrival experience to begin their BVI sailing charter aboard Aquanimity.