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Voyager Ferry from Marigot

The 60-minute Caribbean crossing between St Barths and St Martin's French capital

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Why Go

Skip the puddle-jumper anxiety and cross the sea in style aboard the Voyager, a high-speed catamaran that links Gustavia's harbor with Marigot on St Martin in about an hour. Whether you're arriving with luggage from SXM airport or plotting a day trip to shop the French capital, this is the local's alternative to the 10-minute white-knuckle flight into Saint-Jean.

The Experience

The Voyager operation is refreshingly no-nonsense: a covered air-conditioned cabin, an open-air sun deck at the stern, and crew who've done the run so many times they can predict swell before it hits. Check-in at the Marigot Ferry Terminal opens an hour before departure and closes 15 minutes prior, so factor that into your morning coffee. Once you clear the small immigration desk, you board through the marina and settle in as the boat pulls out past Fort Louis. The first 20 minutes hug the northern coast of St Martin before the open-water stretch, where the Voyager's twin hulls handle chop far better than the smaller boats out of Oyster Pond. Arrival into Gustavia is the payoff: you glide past mega-yachts and step off directly at the quay, a two-minute walk from the shops on rue de la Republique.

What to Try

Grab a seat on the upper open deck for the outbound leg (mornings are calmer and the light on Gustavia's approach is postcard-perfect), then take the enclosed cabin on the return when the trade winds pick up. If you're prone to seasickness, sit mid-ship on the lower deck and skip the pre-boarding espresso. Book the earliest crossing you can — it maximizes your St Martin day and beats the afternoon swell.

Insider Tip

Book the Marigot route rather than the Oyster Pond departure even if you're staying on the Dutch side. The Marigot crossing is shorter, smoother (protected water for the first leg), and drops you into the French capital's Wednesday and Saturday morning markets. Also: reserve online at voy12.com at least 48 hours ahead in high season — walk-ups get bumped when yacht crews block-book, and the counter doesn't take pity on tourists.

The Practical Stuff

Location: Gare Maritime Marigot, 97150 St Martin (French side). Crossing time: ~60 minutes to Gustavia. Frequency: up to three round-trips daily on the Voyager 3 Dreamliner, subject to season. Check-in opens 1 hour before departure and closes 15 minutes prior — arrive early. Bring your passport (this is an inter-territory crossing between French collectivities but ID is checked). Luggage is stowed at the front of the boat; there's a modest allowance for hand baggage plus one checked bag. Booking: voy12.com or at the terminal counter.

Pair It With

  • Gustavia Harbor — Step off the ferry and you're already in the middle of Gustavia's shopping and lunch scene — walk five minutes to Le Select for a burger before your return crossing.
  • Marigot Market Guide — Time your Voyager departure to land in Marigot on a Wednesday or Saturday morning for the open-air market — spices, rum, and Creole street food a block from the terminal.
  • Fort Louis — If you've got a couple of hours to kill on the St Martin side before the return ferry, the short hike up to Fort Louis above Marigot delivers the best panoramic view of the bay.