Ferry Trinidad to Tobago

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:35 pm

Wife and I are hoping for a trip to Tobago next year.....
I have found the slow ferry which apparently takes 5.5 hrs.. and read about a season high speed one.. is it year a round now... or still seasonal?? Cant fine much info on line.. except looks like it was seasonal from Main or MA last winter.

TIA Merlin

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:38 pm

Hello Merlin

Welcome aboard!

The Fast Ferry now runs all year round. What information we have can be found via the menu bar above - Tobago/Getting To Tobago/Ferry.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:36 pm

yeah.. I see the photo of the high speed one,, but no info on it.. just on the slow 5.5hr.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:45 pm

Hi Merlin

With typical Trini efficiency, I think they are "in between" ferries at the moment. To be honest I've given up wondering which ferries they have/are intending to get/or even thinking of. Plans seem to change every few months. Timetables are pointless - its more a case of "might" run. There's nowhere to get information from, other than at the dock itself, and I believe you can't book in advance. So, its a question of rolling up, waiting and keeping your fingers crossed. Its not a service ever used by tourists, so rather outside the bounds of this site. You could try ringing the telephone numbers provided, but don't hold your breath. Sorry!

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:51 pm

okay..... the problem is at times, as I see on other posts also, is getting the planes to lineup for flight to tobago... I read on the site that the fast ferry is from that it was seasonal last year.. didnt know if it came backthis year or not.. but yeah, i guess plane is best to count on..

Bill B · Post by **Bill B** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:22 pm

Merlin,

Where are you flying from? We are flying from Chicago this January and found that our only option on AA was to fly through Miami. The choice was to do it in one day which got us into Trinidad too late to catch the Tobago express or to fly into Miami the day before and take the morning flight the next day. We chose to spend our overnight in Miami rather than Trinidad as we could get there late afternoon and felt that if there were any problems with hotel accomodations etc. we would rather have them occur in the states than in another country late at night. We used Yes Tourism http://www.yes-tourism.com/ as recommended by others on this site to purchase the tickets for the shuttle.

Bill

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:29 pm

I dont know whyuse an agent when you canusually do it yourself... but I did find a few flights from MSY through MIA then catch Tobago Express out that same pm... and you can purchase there's on line or do the entire thing through travelocity.. seemed like flight back wanted to spend night inBarbados.. if I purchased on travelocity.

Bill B · Post by **Bill B** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:12 pm

Merlin,

I used FF miles on AA to get as far as POS. If you look at the Tobago Express website you'll see that reservations can be made on line but payment can't. Tickets must be picked up and paid for at the airport or ticket office within 24 hours. I didn't want to wait until we arrived in POS to get them and find that flights were full. Yes Tourism charged $5.00 a ticket to make our reservations and book our tickets. I suppose that if you go thru Travelocity or someplace similar they handle the entire booking including Tobago Express.

Good luck on making arrangements. Hopefully you will be able to make it to Tobago. It's worth the difficult travel arrangements as it's a beautiful place to visit.

Bill

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:15 pm

Apparently there are no clothing optional beaches...

Phil Dean · Post by **Phil Dean** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:21 pm

from my limited knowledge of the carribean, many of the islands expect a level of dress to be retained at all times, I believe that that is true of tobago.

Lisa Keith · Post by **Lisa Keith** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:43 pm

Hi guys,

That's true - even topless sunbathing is illegal, I believe (for women, obviously... men can sunbathe topless til their hearts' content... or til their shoulders peel, anyway!).

As far as ferry's are concerned, The Cat and The Lynx have been operational recently although never both together. They take 3 hours (supposed to be 2.5, but always nearer three!), and run, I believe, every day. The first one from Tobago to Trinidad in the morning is 06:30, I think (the first 'fast' one, that is!). There are normally more frequent crossings between now and Christmas.

Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Lisa.

Hope this helps!

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:49 pm

Thanks Lisa,, yeah.. Iguess all one has to do is cover up if someone is around....

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 7:55 pm

Merlin

It would be nice to think that visitors are prepared to show respect for the laws and customs of their host country.

David Watkins · Post by **David Watkins** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:00 pm

mmmmmmm??? clothing optonal beaches....that's a new one.No 'fraid not old chum.It is definitely against the law.Keepyour kit on,Trinni gaols are not very pleasant(apparently)!
David(as usually imacculately attired

)

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:03 pm

no prob.

Yansie Rolston · Post by **Yansie Rolston** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 9:46 pm

I've been told that the inter island Ferry (The Cat is currently being used) can be booked at TT Post outlets. I don't have phone numbers but I believe TT post has a website that may have this information.

Paul Makin · Post by **Paul Makin** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 2:55 pm

lynx is now operational. however, the cats going back to tasmania for refurb soon

. sailings from PoS are 10am (ish) and 17.30(ish). get your tickets from the terminal in the port but be prepared for a bit of a scrum, especially if you want a weekend sailing. they do operate a standby system so it is usually worth turning up even without a ticket, unless its a holiday etc. you will need ID and for non-nationals the only acceptable document will be your passport.

tickets on tobago are certainly available at the post office in the mall opp pennysavers, although you need to purchase at least 48 hrs prior to sailing iirc.

unless you have no other option, avoid the warrior spirit cargo run. i had no option but to get this after going to collect stuff on trinidad and it was possibly the worst maritime experience of my life.

paul

Clyde Alleyne · Post by **Clyde Alleyne** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 1:06 am

The Port Authority publishes a monthly sailing schedule in the local newspapers at the beginning of each month. For example, the November published schesule for the fast ferry "The Cat" shows that it sails POS/Scarborough and Scarborough/POS twice daily Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. POS-Tobago sailings are 10AM and 5PM, with Tobago-POS 6:30AM and 1:30PM. There is only one sailing each way on Wednesdays (POS-Tobago 12 noon, Tobago-POS 6:30AM), Saturdays (POS-Tobago 4PM, Tobago-POS 6:30AM), and Sundays (POS-Tobago 2:30PM, Tobago-POS 8:30AM). The Port Authority can be reached for schedule information at the following numbers: POS (868) 627-8806 or (868) 625-3055 X 160/161, Tobago (868) 639-2416/7 or (868) 639-2668.

Weekend tickets are hard to get at the last minute. You should try to buy your weekend tickets by Wednesday of that week at the latest.

And yes, tourists DO use the fast ferries. I have personally seen a number of tourists on the fast ferries.

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