Ferry Ticket Help, Please

[smilesfromMN]

Good Morning-
In our past three trips to STJ we have always taken the downtown ferry upon our departure. We've always been on the earliest morning ferry so we've had to wait for the ticket window to open and purchased our tickets right before departure.

We will be on a cruise in early March (I know, I know, not as wonderful as a week or more on STJ, but this is an extended family thing - trust me cruising is the way to go here!), and on our STT day we are going to take the Red Hook ferry over to STJ in the morning and back to Red Hook in the afternoon. Can we purchase our tickets for our return ferry trip at the Red Hook ticket area or do we need to purchase them in Cruz Bay? If we need to buy them in Cruz Bay, can we purchase them when we arrive earlier in the day, or do we need to wait until just before our return ferry? We don't have a ton of time on STJ , but we so much want to show our extended family why we keep going to the same island! (We get, "Why don't you ever want to go anywhere else?" a lot!) I am a little nervous about the return ferry being sold out since there are several ships in port the day that we are. And yet I don't want to waste a bunch of time at the ferry dock just so we can be sure that we get return tickets. We can't miss the ship! (Actually being stuck on STJ would be okay, but maybe not to our entire group. ) So I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this ferry thing and not be worrying about it all day while we are trying to enjoy our short time on STJ. Also, are there plenty of taxis waiting in Red Hook to take us back to the cruise dock, or do we need to arrange a pick-up time with the driver that takes us to Red Hook in the morning?

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate everyone's expertise!

[Diana2]

How many are in your group? Have you done the math for whether or not it would be cost effective to book a water taxi (Dolphin is the one that goes from STJ to Red Hook I believe) for your group and coordinated land taxis? If there are quite a few of you it might make sense.

[smilesfromMN]

Thanks for that advice, but there are actually only six of us that will be going over to STJ and not staying on STT. I've done a little bit of research and I think that with six I am better off doing the public ferry. Is this correct?

[michigancouple]

Last February we bought round trip ferry tickets in the morning at the Red Hook terminal. And yes, there are plenty of cabs waiting in the parking lot at the Red Hook terminal to take you back to the ship.

I should add that I am quite positive the return trip ticket is for any ferry of the day, not a specific time. So... you may still need to arrive back at the Cruz Bay dock a little early to be sure you are going to get on the boat.

[smilesfromMN]

Thanks!

[Diana2]

If there are only 6 of you, the public ferry and cab is most cost effect way to go. Now if your group weree to be 10 or 12 than I'd consider booking a private service.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I'm kind of a nervous nellie and would opt for the private water taxi/taxi service back to the ship. We used it with our four kids (so, a total of six of us) a couple of years ago and it ROCKED. I believe it was Dohm's or something like that. It was a little pricey but not obnoxious. So, so worth it for peace of mind. JMHO.

[Pia]

Yes you can purchase a roundtrip trip ticket and it is good for any return ferry but just because you have a ticket it does not guarantee space - full is full . Keep in mind when planning you will need to be on board the ship 30 mins before sailing and allow 45 mins to get to the ship from red hook (and FYI the 3 pm and 4pm ferries are the busiest as everyone is either trying to get back to the ship or are returning to STT from their day of work on STJ).

[smilesfromMN]

You are all so helpful, it's amazing! Thank you.
Okay, so according to our cruise documents, our "all aboard" time is 3:45pm and departure time is 4:30pm. If I purchase roundtrip tickets in Red Hook that morning and arrive back at the Cruz Bay ferry dock at 1:30pm for the 2:00pm ferry, I should be okay, correct? Is the 2pm ferry busy enough that I should plan on arriving at the Cruz Bay dock earlier than 1:30pm? Thanks again so much for all of the help!

[SOonthebeach]

I would love more info on the private water taxis! We are going at the end of February. Only have 7 people, but 2 of them are my parents and I would love to make things easier on them, and not have to worry about getting on the ferry on our return to catch our flight home (sigh). Can ya'll give some advice on here to look for private water taxis? Are they crazy expensive?

[Pia]

For the 2pm ferry you should be fine being back to the ferry dock by 1:50pm

Pia

[smilesfromMN]

Thank you, Pia! I appreciate your help.

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

I would love more info on the private water taxis! We are going at the end of February. Only have 7 people, but 2 of them are my parents and I would love to make things easier on them, and not have to worry about getting on the ferry on our return to catch our flight home (sigh). Can ya'll give some advice on here to look for private water taxis? Are they crazy expensive?

This is who we used a couple of years ago. Really great service and lots of fun.

http://virginislandswatertaxi.com/index.html

[lovethebeach]

We did the same thing last summer while we were on a Carnival Cruise. We walked about 15 minutes from the cruise dock, caught a bus to Red Hook, took the ferry over to Cruz Bay and then walked to the National Park Service. They gave us a free map to a trail that went to a beach about a mile away. We got there, and there were only the 2 of us and about 3 other people on the beach. We spent a couple hours there. Then we caught the ferry to Charlotte Amalie and took a taxi from there back to the ship. The total cost for the 2 of us was less than $40. The people that took the excursion over to St. John with the tour group spent at least $70 each, and they were on a beach with about 100 other people. We got back with at least an hour and half to spare. I ended up shopping the rest of the afternoon at Havensight Mall where the cruise ship docks.

[SOonthebeach]

Thanks for the advice Marcia!