Andaman Ferry Travel Guide
The comfortable season for the Andaman ferries is about October to March . The sea is roughest about May to September , when sailings are most often delayed or cancelled. Plan...
The best time to sail, and the months the sea turns rough
The comfortable season for the Andaman ferries is about October to March. The sea is roughest about May to September, when sailings are most often delayed or cancelled. Plan your island hops for the calmer months if you can.
- October to March: calm seas, easy crossingsThis is the season most people come, and for good reason. The sea is settled, the private catamarans keep to their timings, and the crossings are smooth. It is also the busiest time, so book your ferry seats along with your flights, because the morning sailings fill first.
- April and May: warm, still mostly calmThe islands are hot but the sea is usually still fine in April and into early May. Crowds thin out after the winter peak, so ferries are easier to get, but keep an eye on the weather as the monsoon approaches.
- About May to September: the rough monthsThis is when the sea can turn, and a rough sea is the one thing that stops the boats. Sailings are more often delayed or cancelled in these months. You can still travel, but keep your island days flexible and do not plan a tight connection to a flight home the same day you cross back.
- Book the calmer months for a tight tripIf your dates cannot move and your trip is short, choose about October to March so a cancelled sailing does not eat your whole holiday. If you must come in the monsoon, keep a spare day in Port Blair before your flight out.
Almost every Andaman ferry cancellation comes down to one thing, a rough sea. It is not the operator being difficult. When the sea is high the harbour master holds the boats for safety. This is why the calmer months are worth planning for, and why you should never book your last island day for the same day as your flight home.
The two kinds of ferry, government and private
There are two ways to cross between the islands: the cheaper government ferry and the faster, more comfortable private catamarans. Most visitors take the private boats. Here is the honest difference so you can choose.
- The private catamarans: fast and comfortableMakruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika and ITT Majestic run air-conditioned catamarans with numbered seats. Port Blair to Havelock takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Fares run about 1000 to 3500 rupees a person depending on the class and the operator. This is what most visitors use, because the timings are reliable and you book a fixed seat.
- The government ferry: cheaper, but fewer sailingsThe government ferry, run by the Directorate of Shipping Services, is much cheaper, about 770 to 970 rupees a person for Port Blair to Havelock, but it takes about 2 hours, has fewer sailings, and keeps only a limited number of seats for tourists. It is a good saving if you plan ahead and your dates are flexible.
- Which one should you pickFor a short holiday in peak season, take the private catamarans and book early, so your island days are certain. If you are travelling slowly, watching the budget, and can book the government seat in advance, the government ferry saves money. Many travellers use a private boat one way and the government ferry the other.
The private catamarans win on two things that matter on a short trip: they are faster, and they keep to their timings. The government ferry is the better deal on price, but with fewer sailings and limited tourist seats it needs more planning. Neither is wrong; it is a choice between saving money and saving worry.
Port Blair to Havelock, the crossing everyone makes
Port Blair to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) is the main ferry hop, and the gateway to Radhanagar, one of India's most loved beaches. In peak season there are about six private sailings a day.
- The crossingThe private catamarans leave from Haddo Jetty in Port Blair and reach the Swaraj Dweep (Havelock) jetty in about 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. In peak season there are about six private sailings a day, with the morning boats the most popular, so those go first.
- What waits on the other sideHavelock, now called Swaraj Dweep, is the island most people come to the Andamans for. Radhanagar beach, on the far side of the island, is one of the most beautiful in India, and the diving and snorkelling here are the best in the group. Give the island at least two nights so a rough-sea day does not rob you of it.
- Book the morning boat outTake a morning sailing from Port Blair so you reach Havelock with the day still ahead of you. Leave the crossing back to Port Blair for the morning of your departure day only if you have a late flight, and never for the same few hours as the flight itself.
The private ferries leave from Haddo Jetty in Port Blair, which is a short drive from the town and the airport. Reach the jetty at least 45 minutes to an hour before your sailing, because there is a security check and a boarding queue, and the boats leave on time. Carry a printout or a phone copy of your ticket and your photo ID.
Neil Island, and the island-to-island hops
Neil (Shaheed Dweep) is the calmer, greener island. The easy way to reach it is the short hop from Havelock. There are few direct private boats from Port Blair, so many people go through Havelock instead.
- Havelock to Neil: the easy hopThis is the short crossing, about 45 to 75 minutes, and it costs about 1050 to 1800 rupees a person on the private boats. In peak season there are about eight sailings a day between the two islands, so it is easy to fit into an island-hopping plan. The boats arrive at Bharatpur Jetty on Neil.
- Port Blair to Neil: fewer direct boatsThere are few direct private sailings from Port Blair to Neil. Many travellers reach Neil through Havelock, or take the government ferry, which runs Port Blair to Neil for about 970 rupees in roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. If your heart is set on a direct boat, check the government portal first, because private direct sailings come and go with the season.
- The natural island orderThe tidy way to see all three is Port Blair, then Havelock, then Neil, then back to Port Blair for your flight. Neil is smaller and slower than Havelock, so one or two nights is usually enough, and it makes a gentle end to the trip before the crossing home.
If you plan to cross from Port Blair to Havelock and on to Neil on the same day, leave real time between the two boats. You have to get off, collect your luggage, leave the jetty and check in again for a separate sailing. A rushed same-day double hop is where island trips go wrong, so it is usually better to sleep a night on each island.
What to do once you cross, and how to time it
The ferry is only the way there. This is what the crossing buys you: some of the finest beaches and diving in India. Time the boats so you actually get a day on the sand, not just a day on the water.
- Radhanagar beach on HavelockRadhanagar, on the far side of Havelock, is often called one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, a long curve of white sand and clear water. It is at its best in the late afternoon, when the light turns gold and the crowds thin. Take a morning ferry from Port Blair so you reach the island with the whole afternoon free for it.
- Scuba diving and snorkellingHavelock has the best diving in the Andamans, with gentle house reefs for first timers and boat dives for those with a licence. Elephant Beach, reached by a short boat ride or a forest walk, is the easy snorkelling spot. Keep a full island day for diving, never a day you are also crossing on a ferry, so a delayed boat cannot cut it short.
- Kalapathar and the quiet corners of HavelockKalapathar beach on the eastern shore is calmer and good for a sunrise, and the island has quiet cafes and slow mornings once the day trippers leave. Havelock rewards an unhurried stay, which is why two to three nights beats a rushed single night.
- Neil Island: the natural bridge and slow beachesOn Neil, the natural rock bridge at Laxmanpur, the sunset at Laxmanpur beach, and the shallow snorkelling at Bharatpur beach beside the jetty are the highlights. Neil is small, so a scooter or a cycle covers it, and one full day is enough to enjoy it without rushing.
The commonest island mistake is to book a ferry on the same day you planned to dive or laze on Radhanagar, then lose the day to a delayed boat. Keep your crossings and your beach days separate. Cross on one day, and give the next full day to the island. That single habit turns a stressful trip into an easy one.
Which island to base yourself on
You do not have to choose only one, but where you sleep shapes the trip. Port Blair is the arrival base, Havelock is the main beach base, and Neil is the quiet one.
- Port Blair: the arrival baseYou arrive here, and it is worth one or two nights for the Cellular Jail, the light and sound show, and Ross Island. Keep Port Blair for the start and, if your flight is early, the last night, so you are near the airport and not depending on a morning crossing.
- Havelock: the main baseMost people give Havelock the most nights, because Radhanagar beach, the diving and the best resorts are here. Two to three nights lets you enjoy the island and still have a spare day if a sailing is delayed.
- Neil: the quiet baseNeil is smaller, greener and slower, known for the natural rock bridge and unhurried beaches. One or two nights is the right amount, as a calm end to the trip.
- A simple plan that worksTwo nights Port Blair to start, three nights Havelock, one to two nights Neil, then back to Port Blair for the flight. This gives every island its due and keeps a cushion against a rough-sea day.
Whatever your island plan, try to spend your final night in Port Blair rather than on an outer island. That way a cancelled or delayed sailing on your last day cannot make you miss your flight home. It is the single easiest way to take the worry out of an Andaman trip.
How to book, the government portal and the private operators
Private ferry seats are booked on the operator websites or through an agent. Government ferry seats are booked on the official STARS e-ticketing portal, which runs almost round the clock, roughly 00:30 to 23:30 each day.
- Private ferries: book early onlineBook Makruzz, Green Ocean, Nautika or ITT Majestic on the operator sites, or let a trusted travel desk do it. Booking usually opens about 60 to 90 days ahead, and in peak season the morning sailings sell out first, so book your ferry seats as soon as your flights are fixed.
- Government ferry: the STARS portalGovernment ferry seats are booked on the official STARS e-ticketing portal of the Directorate of Shipping Services. The administration runs this online reservation almost round the clock, roughly 00:30 to 23:30 each day, with a short nightly break for maintenance. Seats for tourists are limited and open a set number of days ahead, so log in the moment booking opens for your date.
- Carry your ticket and IDFor every boat, private or government, carry a printout or a phone copy of your ticket and a photo ID that matches the name on the ticket. You will show both at the security check before boarding.
For the government ferry, book only on the official Directorate of Shipping Services portal (dss.andamannicobar.gov.in and its STARS e-ticketing system). There are many private agent sites that resell tickets with a fee added. That is fine if you want the help, but if you want the government fare, go to the official site itself.
What the ferries cost
The private boats cost more than the government ferry but save time and worry. Here are the honest fare bands so you can budget the island hops.
- Port Blair to HavelockThe private catamarans run about 1000 to 3500 rupees a person, depending on the class and the operator, with the premium and business seats at the top of that band. The government ferry for the same crossing is about 770 to 970 rupees.
- Havelock to NeilThe short hop between the two islands is about 1050 to 1800 rupees a person on the private boats. This is the crossing most island-hoppers make, so book it with the rest.
- Port Blair to NeilThe government ferry runs Port Blair to Neil for about 970 rupees. Direct private sailings are few, so for Neil the government boat or a hop through Havelock is often the practical choice.
- Budget for the whole loopFor a Port Blair, Havelock, Neil and back plan, budget for three or four ferry legs a person. Two adults doing the full island loop on private boats will usually spend a few thousand rupees each on the ferries alone, so it is worth putting into the plan early.
The gap between the low and high private fare is mostly the class of seat. The base economy seat is the cheapest way across on a private boat; the premium, business or royal classes add comfort, a better deck and sometimes a snack. On a short crossing the economy seat is perfectly comfortable, so pay up only if you want the extra space.
At the jetty: boarding, luggage and timing
Knowing the jetties and the boarding routine saves a missed boat. Private boats use Haddo Jetty in Port Blair, the Swaraj Dweep jetty on Havelock, and Bharatpur Jetty on Neil.
- Reach earlyGet to the jetty at least 45 minutes to an hour before your sailing. There is a security check and a boarding queue, and the boats leave on time. If you are late, the boat does not wait, and there may not be a seat on the next one.
- The three jetties to knowPrivate boats leave Port Blair from Haddo Jetty, arrive on Havelock at the Swaraj Dweep jetty, and use Bharatpur Jetty on Neil. Tell your driver the jetty by name, because Port Blair has more than one harbour and arriving at the wrong one can cost you the boat.
- Luggage and comfortThere is a hold or a luggage area on the boat, so you do not carry heavy bags to your seat. If you get seasick easily, sit low and near the middle of the boat where the motion is least, keep water and a light snack handy, and step out for air on a calm deck if you can.
Port Blair has more than one harbour, so when you take a taxi or an auto to your boat, say Haddo Jetty by name and check you are dropped there. Arriving at the wrong harbour is one of the few ways to miss a ferry that leaves on time. Give yourself the early start and the right jetty, and boarding is calm and simple.
Safety, seasickness and cancelled sailings
The crossings are safe and short, but the sea decides the timetable. Here is how to handle seasickness and, more importantly, what to do if a sailing is cancelled.
- Seasickness on a short crossingThe crossings are short and most people are fine. If you know the sea does not agree with you, take a motion-sickness tablet about half an hour before boarding, sit low and central, look at the horizon rather than a phone, and keep water and a dry snack with you. It passes quickly once you are on land.
- If a sailing is cancelledA rough sea can cancel a sailing at short notice. If it happens, the operator usually refunds or moves you to the next boat, but the next boat may be full. This is why a spare day in your island plan is worth so much, and why your last night should be in Port Blair, not on an outer island.
- Keep the last day freeNever book your crossing back to Port Blair for the same day as your flight home. Cross back the day before, sleep near the airport, and you remove the one real risk of an Andaman trip. This one habit saves more holidays than anything else on this page.
Do not connect a ferry and a flight on the same day. The sea can hold a boat with little warning, and if that boat was your ride to catch a flight, you are stuck. Cross back to Port Blair a day early and spend the last night near the airport. Every experienced Andaman traveller plans this way.
By traveller type: families, seniors, honeymooners and solo
The ferries suit every kind of traveller, but a few choices make the crossing easier depending on who you are travelling with.
- Families with childrenTake the private catamarans; they are faster and have proper seats and washrooms, which matters with children. Keep a snack and water, and choose a morning sailing so nobody is tired and cranky by boarding time.
- Seniors and parentsThe private boats are gentler and quicker, and the numbered seats mean your parents are not standing in a queue for a place. Book an economy or premium seat near the middle of the boat, reach the jetty early so there is no rush, and keep the island plan unhurried with a night on each island.
- Honeymoon couplesGive Havelock the most nights for Radhanagar and the diving, then add a quiet night or two on Neil. Book the ferries the moment your flights are fixed, because the best resorts and the morning boats both fill in peak season.
- Solo travellersThe ferries are easy and safe to do alone. Book online yourself, carry your ID, and keep your plans a little flexible so a delayed sailing is a small thing, not a crisis.
Two habits suit every kind of traveller. Book the ferry seats the moment your flights are fixed, because the good sailings sell out in season. And spend your last night in Port Blair near the airport, so a rough sea on the final day can never make you miss your flight home. These two habits matter more than any seat class.
How many days, and how to sequence the islands
A comfortable Andaman trip is about five to seven nights, with the ferries planned so a rough day never traps you. Here is a plan that works.
- The comfortable plan, six to seven nightsTwo nights in Port Blair to start, for the Cellular Jail and Ross Island. Then the morning ferry to Havelock for three nights, for Radhanagar and the diving. Then the short hop to Neil for one or two nights. Then back to Port Blair for the last night near the airport.
- The short plan, four to five nightsOne night Port Blair, two to three nights Havelock, then back to Port Blair for the last night. Leave Neil for a longer trip. Even on a short plan, keep that last night in Port Blair so the crossing back is never on flight day.
- The order that keeps you safeAlways end in Port Blair, not on an outer island. Book the ferries in the same sitting as your flights, choose morning sailings for the crossings out, and keep one spare day if you are travelling in the rougher months.
If planning the ferries, the permits and the island order feels like a lot, the WayToIndia travel desk arranges the whole Andaman trip, ferries included, so the boats, the resorts and the timing all fit together. It is the same honest advice on this page, turned into a booked trip.
Real questions travellers ask
The questions people actually type before an Andaman trip, answered plainly.
- How early should I book the ferry?Book your ferry seats as soon as your flights are fixed. Private booking usually opens about 60 to 90 days ahead, and the morning sailings sell out first in peak season.
- Is the government ferry worth it?Yes, if you plan ahead and want to save money. It is about 770 to 970 rupees for Port Blair to Havelock against about 1000 to 3500 on the private boats, but it is slower and has fewer seats, so it needs early booking.
- Can I reach Neil directly from Port Blair?Sometimes, but direct private boats are few. Most people reach Neil through Havelock, or take the government ferry, which runs Port Blair to Neil for about 970 rupees.
- What if the sea is rough on my day?A rough sea can delay or cancel a sailing. You are usually refunded or moved to the next boat, but keep a spare day and always spend your last night in Port Blair so a cancellation cannot make you miss your flight.
For overseas visitors: the permit rule in 2026
The old permit fear is mostly gone. Since 2018, foreigners no longer need a Restricted Area Permit for Port Blair, Havelock or Neil, but there are still a few rules to know.
- No RAP for the main islandsSince the 2018 relaxation, foreign nationals no longer need a Restricted Area Permit for Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) or Neil (Shaheed Dweep). You simply show your passport at the airport and the seaport for verification. This is stated by the Andaman and Nicobar Police.
- Registration for a long stayYour hotel will record your details in Form C for the Foreigners Registration Office, which is normal across India. Only if you stay longer than 180 days do you need to register in person with the FRO in Port Blair, within 14 days.
- Where a permit is still neededCitizens of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan still need prior Ministry of Home Affairs approval. Reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, tribal reserves and defence areas still need separate permissions. For the ordinary island-hopping trip, none of this applies.
Permit rules can change, so confirm the current position on the Andaman and Nicobar Police website for foreign tourists before you travel. It states plainly which islands are open without a permit and what still needs approval, so you arrive knowing exactly where you stand.
For overseas visitors: money, connectivity and taking parents
A few practical notes for NRI and foreign visitors planning the island hops, on paying for the ferries, staying connected, and bringing older parents along.
- Paying for the ferriesThe private operators and the government portal take online payment, so you can book from abroad before you arrive. Booking ahead matters more here than anywhere, because a foreign visitor cannot easily fix a sold-out sailing after landing.
- Staying connectedMobile signal on the islands is patchy, and data can be slow or drop on the outer islands. Download your tickets and a copy of your plan before you leave Port Blair, so you are not depending on a signal at the jetty.
- Taking parents alongFor older parents, take the private catamarans for the gentler, quicker ride, book seats near the middle of the boat, reach the jetty early, and keep a night on each island so no day is rushed. Spend the last night in Port Blair near the airport.
For an overseas visitor the single best move is to book every ferry leg before you arrive, along with your flights. Sailings sell out in season, and fixing a sold-out or cancelled boat is far harder once you are on the islands. Book ahead, download the tickets, and the island hops take care of themselves.
Why Havelock and Neil now appear as Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep
When you book an Andaman ferry you will see two names for the same island, and it confuses many first-time visitors. In December 2018 the Government of India renamed three islands in honour of the freedom struggle. Havelock Island became Swaraj Dweep, the island of freedom. Neil Island became Shaheed Dweep, the island of martyrs. Ross Island became Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. The old British names were kept in daily speech for years, so tickets, boards and drivers still use both. When your ferry ticket says Swaraj Dweep, it means Havelock, and when it says Shaheed Dweep, it means Neil. Knowing this saves a moment of panic at the jetty, and it carries a small piece of history: these quiet, beautiful islands were renamed to remember the price of freedom, in the same waters where the Cellular Jail once held India's freedom fighters.
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