Philipsburg - Gustavia
Ferries to St Barts
Philipsburg - Gustavia
Ferries to St Barts
Great Bay Express provides the ferry from Philipsburg to Gustavia. Philipsburg Gustavia ferries cost from just $70 vary based on season, availability and whether you’re going by foot or by car. Prices exclude any service fees. Ferry schedules change seasonally. Use our Deal Finder to get the latest ferry ticket information for Philipsburg Gustavia ferries.
Philipsburg Gustavia ferry prices typically range from $70* to $348*. The average ferry price from Philipsburg to Gustavia is around $186*. The cheapest fares usually start from $70*. The average foot passenger ticket costs $186*.
Prices may vary depending on passenger numbers, vehicle type, route and sailing time. Pricing data is based on searches from the last 30 days, excludes service fees, and was last updated June 26.
We make it easy to compare ferry tickets and prices worldwide, helping you find the best option for your trip. Visit our Special Offers page to see current discounts on selected routes and operators. Booking early is often the best way to secure lower prices and better availability.
Yes, Direct Ferries offers a range of discounts throughout the year. Where available, senior discounts are applied automatically during the search process. Simply select the relevant age range when entering passenger details.
Students and graduates can receive a 5% discount on ferry tickets. To claim this, you’ll need to register with our partner Student Beans and verify your student or graduate status. Once confirmed, you’ll receive a discount code to use at checkout.
Resident discounts are available on selected Spanish and Italian routes. When applicable, choose the “Residents” option during booking, and the discount will be applied automatically. Please note that proof of residence or a valid ID with the correct address must be shown at check-in.
The first ferry from Philipsburg to Gustavia usually departs at around 07:15, with the last sailing leaving at approximately 17:30.
Yes, day trips between Philipsburg and Gustavia are possible and very popular thanks to the short crossing time and frequent sailings. Traveling with a vehicle can also be a great way to explore the area at your own pace. For inspiration on what to do when you arrive, take a look at our blog.
No, ferry operators currently do not allow cars on sailings between Philipsburg and Gustavia.
Whether you can take a campervan or caravan on the ferry depends on the operator and vessel used for your chosen crossing. Simply enter your travel details into our search bar to see which operators and vehicle options are available for this route.
For more advice and travel inspiration when taking a car, campervan or caravan, visit our blog.
Currently, bicycles are not permitted on ferries traveling between Philipsburg and Gustavia.
Yes, foot passengers can travel on ferries between Philipsburg and Gustavia with Great Bay Express.
Pets are allowed on ferries traveling from Philipsburg to Gustavia with Great Bay Express. The average price for traveling with a pet is $279.
Pricing is based on searches from the last 30 days, excludes service fees, and was last updated June 26.
When traveling with your pet on a ferry, you’ll usually need:
For more details, read our guide to travelling with pets by ferry.
Pet accommodation varies by operator. Some ferries require pets to remain in your vehicle for the duration of the crossing, while others provide designated pet areas or pet-friendly cabins and lounges. Our Deal Finder shows all available options so you can choose the best crossing for you and your pet.
If you’re traveling with a guide dog or an assistance dog, we recommend informing the ferry operator or our customer service team at the time of booking.
Please ensure you carry all required documentation, as you may be asked to present this during check-in or on board.
Even if standard pet travel is not permitted, different rules may apply to guide and assistance dogs. You can confirm the specific requirements for your sailing with our customer service team. For more information, visit our Special Assistance Help page.
Whether an overnight ferry runs between Philipsburg and Gustavia depends on the operator and timetable. To check if an overnight option is available, enter your travel details in our search bar. The results will show if your chosen sailing operates overnight, plus current timetables and alternative day crossings.
Please note that overnight crossings can sometimes take a little longer than daytime sailings.
Travel requirements vary by route, so it’s important to confirm which documents you need before you travel. In most international cases, you will need a valid passport to travel from Philipsburg to Gustavia, and possibly a visa or national ID depending on your nationality and the destination’s rules. To avoid delays at check-in, see our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide and our blog post on travelling to Europe for useful tips.
To book ferry tickets, enter your departure and arrival ports plus your travel date. You’ll then see all available sailings and prices. The search also shows alternative routes and times so you can choose the best option for your trip.
Watch out for early-booking deals and special ticket types like upgrades or flexi fares that allow changes or cancelations. To ensure a smooth booking, enter accurate details such as passenger numbers and vehicle specifications.
After booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email. How your boarding pass is issued depends on the ferry operator you’ve booked with.
Some operators provide the boarding pass at the time of booking, while others require you to check in at the port. Where available, you can usually check in online via the Direct Ferries app.
Ticket desks are typically located close to the terminals. To avoid delays at the port, allow extra time for ticket collection and check-in.
At check-in, you will need to show your booking confirmation and an official photo ID (for example, a passport or identity card). You may also be asked for pet documentation (vaccinations, insurance, etc.) or proof of residence if you applied a resident discount to your booking.
There are several reasons why no sailings may be available from Philipsburg to Gustavia on your chosen date. This can include temporary timetable changes, limited capacity, or seasonal adjustments to services. We recommend checking alternative dates or nearby routes to find the best available option.
The best time to book ferries from Philipsburg to Gustavia is generally as early as possible. Booking in advance often means lower prices, along with a wider choice of departure times and cabin or seating options.
To secure the best deals, we recommend booking at least a few weeks ahead of travel. Please note that prices can vary depending on the season and availability.
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| Philipsburg - Gustavia Ferry Route Prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Foot Passenger | $186 | |
| Average Cabin Price | $183 | |
| Philipsburg - Gustavia Ferry Route Summary | |
|---|---|
| Origin | St Martin |
| Destination | St Barts |
| No. of Operators | 1 |
| Operators | Great Bay Express |
| Average Price | $186 |
| Average Pet Price | $279 |
| Average Daily Sailings | 3 |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 19 |
| Average Sailing Duration | 45 m |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 45 m |
| First Ferry | 07:15 |
| Last Ferry | 17:30 |
| Distance | 12 Nautical Miles |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 June 2026.
Philipsburg is the capital of Sint Maarten, an island laying in the Caribbean Sea. Great Bay Express provide the only ferry route from the port, heading to Gustavia, an island laying to Sint Marteen’s south east, and lasts around 45 minutes.
On the warm western coast of Saint Barthélemy, a French-owned island in the West Indies more commonly known as St Barts, is the port town of Gustavia. Named after King Gustav III of Sweden who was granted the town in the 1700’s in exchange for French trading access to Gothenburg, Gustavia has become a fashionable summer destination blessed with a year-round tropical climate. The town is built in a horse-shoe arc that surrounds a rectangular bay of the Caribbean Sea. It’s collection of red-roofed buildings rise and fall upon the vista of hills that mark the coast, their rough faces coloured by the deep green hues of succulent plants and palm trees. Despite its modern revival as a deluxe shopping centre of boutique clothing and jewellery stores, vestiges of the town’s historic Swedish-style architecture still remains. This includes the famous Wall House museum and the lofty ramparts of Fort Gustave that sits atop a hillside on the outskirts of the suburbs. The port of Gustavia is located by the mouth of the bay, just beside the town’s industrial zone. It’s a small facility that consists of little more than a ferry docking area and a check-in terminal staffed by multi-lingual staff. Though there are no public buses in town, the island’s only airport is just a 20-minute walk away from the harbour, with flights heading to the other islands across the West Indies. Taxi services regularly operate from outside the port too. They take passengers deeper into town along the Rue de la Republique and towards the beautiful stretches of gold-sand beaches that line the crystalline shallows of the sea. Three passenger routes currently leave from the port a number of times throughout the week. Voyager line ferries sail the short distance north to the towns of Marigot and Oyster Pond on the island of Saint-Martin, while another daily service hosted by Great Bay Express travels to Philipsburg. All of these routes skirt the cliff-lined shores of St Barts’ north-eastern peninsula before skimming across the deep-blue waters of Saint-Barthelemy Channel.