For the St Martin to St Barts ferry, choose Voyager from Marigot when the French side is the easier starting point; choose Great Bay Express from Philipsburg when Bobby’s Marina gives you the shorter land transfer. As of September 24, 2026, these scheduled services both arrive at the Gare Maritime in central Gustavia. The crossing takes about 45 minutes from Philipsburg and roughly 50–60 minutes from Marigot, so road time and check-in usually matter more than the small difference at sea.
Select where your transfer starts and whether you have a hard connection.
Voyager avoids a cross-island transfer when you are already in Marigot or northern French Saint-Martin. Confirm the sailing for your date.
| Route | Crossing | Check-In | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voyager from Marigot | ~50–60 min | Arrive ≥30 min early; complete ≥20 min before | Marigot and northern French side |
| Great Bay Express from Philipsburg | ~45 min | Arrive 45 min early; closes 15 min before | Philipsburg and cruise-port area |
Sources: Port of Saint-Martin, Voyager and Great Bay Express operator guidance. Times are approximate; live calendars control.
Pick the Port That Shortens the Whole Trip
Voyager uses the Marigot Ferry Terminal on French-side Saint-Martin. Great Bay Express leaves from Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg on Dutch-side Sint Maarten, not from the cruise-ship pier.
Do not choose solely by comparing 45 minutes with 50–60 minutes. Traffic across the island and the operators’ check-in requirements can erase that difference before the boat leaves.
Marigot Works Best From the French Side
Voyager leaves from the ferry terminal on Marigot’s market square, near shops and restaurants. The Port of Saint-Martin says the St Barts route normally has two or three sailings a day, but frequency varies and does not confirm that a sailing is available on your date.
Voyager’s official schedule page requires you to enter a date in the booking search to see departures. The operator recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early. Check-in generally opens one hour before departure and must be completed at least 20 minutes before sailing.
The port estimates a crossing of about 50 minutes. Allowing 50–60 minutes is more realistic for itinerary planning.
Philipsburg Offers the Shorter Scheduled Crossing
Great Bay Express leaves from Bobby’s Marina, J. Yrausquin Boulevard 22-H. The operator confirms the terminal address and passenger instructions on its official website.
On September 24, 2026, its published low-season timetable showed:
- Monday–Friday: Philipsburg departures at 7:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday–Sunday: Philipsburg departures at 9:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Weekday returns from Gustavia: 8:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
- Weekend returns from Gustavia: 11 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
This is a dated snapshot, not a timetable for every future journey. Check the Great Bay Express schedule and booking calendar for your date.
The scheduled crossing is about 45 minutes. Passengers must arrive 45 minutes early, and check-in closes 15 minutes before departure. The operator’s terms warn that departures can change because of weather or mechanical issues.
For an airport transfer, the Dutch-side taxi table lists US$20 for one or two passengers between SXM and Philipsburg. That includes one checked bag per person and hand luggage. Extra bags cost more, while travel between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. or on public holidays carries a 25% surcharge. Confirm the fare and allow a substantial traffic buffer using the official Sint Maarten taxi guide.
Verify Both Directions Before Paying
Search the journey as a round trip even if you intend to buy separate tickets. An available outbound ferry does not establish that the return works with your flight, cruise or accommodation plan.
- Check the outbound sailing. Search the operator’s booking calendar using the actual date and passenger count.
- Check the return sailing. Allow time for arrival formalities, the road transfer and any airline or cruise boarding cutoff.
- Read the fare conditions. Great Bay Express tickets are nonrefundable, although its terms permit a date or time change requested in writing at least 24 hours before departure. Voyager says modification and refund rights vary by fare class in its trip guidance.
- Name the exact terminal. Put “Marigot Ferry Terminal” or “Bobby’s Marina” in transfer instructions. “The St Barts ferry” is not specific enough.
No travel date was supplied here, so neither an outbound nor a return sailing is confirmed. Check again shortly before departure as well as when booking.
Carry the Documents Required for Every Border
A passport is the simplest document to carry regardless of route. Great Bay Express requires a valid passport from every passenger, including children. Voyager says EU nationals may use a national identity card or passport, while Americans, Canadians and other non-EU travelers need a valid passport.
The St Barts tourism office says passports held by US and Canadian visitors must be valid for at least three months. Visitors also need a return or onward ticket, and some nationalities must obtain a visa before travel. Its customs formalities page provides the destination guidance.
Do not assume that a Schengen visa covers St Barts. Saint-Barthélemy is a French non-European territory outside the Schengen Area. Check your nationality and itinerary with the official France-Visas assistant, selecting Saint-Barthélemy as the destination.
If you fly through SXM or otherwise arrive in, depart from or transfer through Dutch Sint Maarten, complete the official digital ED card. The government says each traveler must submit the form with travel-document, contact, accommodation and flight information through Entry.sx.
Protect Important Connections From Ferry Disruption
Both routes involve open-water crossings. A shorter scheduled trip is not necessarily smoother or more punctual. If motion is a concern, Voyager advises sitting near the center of the vessel on the lower deck, facing forward and looking toward the horizon.
Do not make the final ferry of the day your only workable link to an important flight. Great Bay Express explicitly says it does not promise substitute transportation after a cancellation.
Stay on St Martin or Sint Maarten when an inbound flight lands too close to ferry check-in. If you must connect on the same day, a morning ferry leaves more recovery time. Return from St Barts the day before an early or consequential flight from SXM.
An SXM–SBH flight can be an alternative only after you confirm seats, baggage limits and airport processing. Do not assume a seat will be available after a ferry disruption.
Marigot is the practical choice when it reduces the road transfer from the French side. Philipsburg is the practical choice when Bobby’s Marina and the 45-minute crossing create the simpler door-to-door journey. Let the live timetable, border documents and onward connection decide the booking rather than boat time alone.