Will I make the last car ferry?

[Rbaron721]

I'm coming to STJ for New Year's and I've done somethig I've never done before. I've rented a car on St. Thomas for use on St. John. My flight arrives at 4:30 pm. I think I read that the last car ferry leaves at 6:00 pm. Is that right? Also, is there any chance I'd make the 5:00 ferry? How quickly are companies like Thrifty in getting you into your rental car?

[Exit Zero]

Arriving at 4:30 there is NO chance you will make a 5:00 Red Hook departure car ferry - you will be able to make a later one, and the schedule doesn't seem to be set in stone for the car ferries - so just be expedient, and get to Red Hook to be in line, and think good thoughts.

[Randy in MD]

You'll be on the 6:30 barge. The last one is at 7. No worries...

[Rbaron721]

Thanks Randy. That's a relief!

[polly]

Don't be so sure. We got to the ferry dock at 6 and had missed the last car barge. The car barges have been very unreliable this year. We take the car barge often- the 6 has been pretty reliable but after that I won't chance it.

[Exit Zero]

Think Good Thoughts -- it is very hard to predict the future, just don't worry needlessly.

[Rbaron721]

Don't be so sure. We got to the ferry dock at 6 and had missed the last car barge. The car barges have been very unreliable this year. We take the car barge often- the 6 has been pretty reliable but after that I won't chance it.

How long do you think it will take me to get the car and get across island. As I said before, this is my first time to rent on St. Thomas.

[polly]

Are you checking bags? Are you getting the car at the airport? Are you traveling with someone?? If you have someone with you then you need to divide and conquer. One gets bags while one gets car. Check the cruise ship schedule. If lots of boats are in the traffic at that time could be heavy. Two weeks ago my husband picked up our daughter from the 4:40 flight. She had no checked bags and they made it on the 5:30 barge. They were a bit late but the barge had only about 6 cars on it so they were hanging around for extra cars. I always recommend to my friends to rent on St. John if they have a late afternoon flight. The advantage to renting on St. Thomas is that if you get in around 1 you can stock up on supplies at cost-u-less. But, if you get in after 4 you just don't have time. Good luck and go with the flow. What can you do about it now?

[loria]

i have to second what polly said--
and if i remember , didn't Pia post that they were down to one barge again? (or am i misremembering?) --that, of course may change...
at reliable you need to go to their office --you have to call them when you get in and they will pick you up and bring you to their office downtown--they are reasonably quick--
so you might need to pick your car up the next day--and just take the regular ferry over (maybe you should look at parking options in redhook--I am not sure about that--assume that you can park there though.)

[ivegotskinnylegs]

Oh boy, I'm in the same boat. 4:40 arrival (originally 3:30 until AA changed our flight) renting from Budget. We have some precious cargo that we need to get safely to St. John otherwise we probably would have rented on St John.

Any updates on the car barge service???

Shipped our luggage today, USPS estimated 6 days to get there.

[Pia]

Good luck this time of year with 6 days USPS - I am awaiting 2 USPS Priority boxes one mailed on the 4th and on on the 6th ...........still waitin'

Pia