St Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the few areas of the Caribbean where there are scheduled ferries, which makes Caribbean island hopping a whole lot nicer. Not that I have anything against the flights that we’ve taken between Caribbean Islands, I just prefer to be on the water!. We’d arrived in Union Island by boat and we left Union Island by boat. Information online about how to leave Union Island was a little sparse, so here’s all you need to know about how to go from Union Island to St Vincent. We’ve also included how to go from Union Island to Bequia – as that’s the route that we wanted to take.
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How to Go from Union Island to St Vincent & Bequia
Unless you have access to a sailing yacht, then there are 2 ways in which you can travel between Union Island and St Vincent. The quickest way to travel to St Vincent from Union Island is to fly. The cheapest way to travel from Union Island to St Vincent is to take one of the ferries. Note that the ferries do not run every day, the schedules and details are below.
Flying from Union Island to St Vincent
SVG Air operates flights to and from Union Island to St Vincent. Check out SVGAir here.
Taking the Ferry from Union Island to St Vincent
There are currently four ferries a week to St Vincent from Union Island.
The MV Gem Star II leaves Union Island on Wednesday and Saturday going to Kingstown, St Vincent. **** Note that the MV Gem Star II is in dry dock until further notice from 19th January 2023 ****
The Bequai Express leaves Union Island on Monday, Thursday, and Friday going to Kingstown, St Vincent.
Both ferries also call at Mayreaux and Canouan Islands.
The boats that depart Union Island on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday all arrive in Clifton, Union Island the day before. So the departures from Union Island are early in the morning (0630-0700).
The ferries that leave Union Island on Friday depart from Kingstown, St Vincent in the morning and return the same day, so this departure from Union Island is in the early afternoon (1430).
Taking the Ferry from Union Island to Bequia
There is no direct ferry to Bequia from Union Island, even though the ferry from Union Island to St Vincent passes straight past the island of Bequia!. You must take a ferry from Union Island to St Vincent and then from St Vincent to Bequia. The ferry from Union island arrives in the same place that the ferry to Bequia leaves from. The ferry from Union Island to St Vincent costs EC$70 and the ferry from St Vincent to Bequia costs EC$25.
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Union Island to St Vincent Ferry Details
Here’s all you need to know about this regular ferry service between Union Island and St Vincent.
Where does the ferry go from on Union Island?
The ferry from Union Island to St Vincent leaves from the ferry dock in Clifton. You can see where this is located on the map below. This is the main large dock in Clifton. There are no facilities on it, it is just a concrete dock located right next to the Gypsea Cafe. It’s great for sunset drinks on one of the 2 verandahs that overlook the bay.
Where does the ferry arrive in St Vincent?
All ferries in St Vincent arrive at the ferry port in Kingstown. This is also where ferries from St Vincent to Bequia and St Vincent to Mustique depart from and arrive into.
Who operates the ferry from Union Island to St Vincent?
There are two companies operating the ferries from Union Island to St Vincent. The Bequia Express ferry company operates a trip from the Southern Grenadines to St Vincent on a Thursday and a Friday.
The MV Gem Star II departs Union Island for Kingstown on Wednesdays and Saturdays. *** MV Gem Star II is in dry dock from January 19th, 2023 until further notice***
Union Island to St Vincent Ferry Timetables
- Bequia Express leaves Clifton, Union Island on Thursdays at 0630 – arriving in Kingstown, St Vincent around 1130.
- MV Gem Star II leaves Clifton, Union Island on Wednesday at 0730 – arriving in Kingstown approximately 5 hours later. *** MV Gem Star II is in dry dock from January 19th, 2023 until further notice***
- Bequia Express leaves Clifton, Union Island on Fridays at 1430 – arriving in Kingstown around 1830.
- MY Gem Star II leaves Clifton, Union Island on Saturday at 0730 – arriving in Kingstown approximately 5 hours later. *** MV Gem Star II is in dry dock from January 19th, 2023 until further notice***
St Vincent to Union Island Ferry Timetables
- Bequia Express leaves Kingstown, St Vincent on Mondays at 1100 arriving in Clifton, Union Island around 5 hours later.
- MV Gem Star II leaves Kingstown, St Vincent on Tuesdays at 1130 – arriving in Clifton Union Island around 5 hours later. *** MV Gem Star II is in dry dock from January 19th, 2023 until further notice***
- Bequia Express leaves Kingstown, St Vincent on Wednesdays at 1100 arriving in Clifton, Union Island around 5 hours later.
- Bequia Express leaves Kingstown, St Vincent on Fridays at 1100 – arriving in Clifton, Union Island around 5 hours later.
- MV Gem Star II leaves Kingstown, St Vincent on Fridays at 1130 – arriving in Clifton Union Island around 5 hours later. *** MV Gem Star II is in dry dock from January 19th, 2023 until further notice***
How far is it from Union Island to St Vincent on the Ferry?
It is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Union Island to St Vincent.
How long does the Union Island to St Vincent ferry take?
The ferries from Union Island to St Vincent also call at Mayreaux and Canouan Islands. Timetables for their arrival and departure are slightly fluid, as there are unloading and loading at both islands. The loading is cargo as well as passengers.
This is the actual timed timetable of the Union Island to Mayreaux to Canouan Island to St Vincent based on our trip in January 2020. (We do this, so you can have an idea as to whether the boats run to time or not!) We had only one slight hold-up on this ferry, a yacht had anchored in the direct path of the ferry in Clifton Harbour and it took us around 45 minutes to get out of the harbor.
- 0630 Scheduled Departure from Union Island
- 0715 Actual Departure from Union Island
- 0810 Arrival Mayreau Island
- 0825 Departure Mayreau Island
- 0900 Arrival Canouan Island
- 0915 Departure Canouan Island
- 1130 Arrival St Vincent
What is the cost of the ferry ticket from Union Island to St Vincent?
An adult ticket from Union Island to St Vincent in 2022 costs EC$70
How to Buy Tickets for the Ferry from Union Island to St Vincent
You buy tickets to go to St Vincent from Union Island on board the boat. There’s no ticket office on Union Island (or in St Vincent). Simply board the ferry and follow the signs for passengers. There’s a small ticket booth there with the prices displayed. Although if you are taking the ferry from Union Island to St Vincent you may be on the Bequia Express ferry which displays prices for the St Vincent to Bequia route.
If you happen to board the ferry and no one is at the ticket booth on board simply find a seat, and the ticket seller and staff will find you.
What Facilities are on the Union Island to St Vincent Ferry
There are two seating areas on the ferry to St Vincent from Union Island. After the ticket booth, you’ll see steps down. These lead to the cafeteria, where there are lots of tables and long padded bench seats. This cabin is air-conditioned and the lowest and most central point of the ferry and therefore the most stable.
The cafeteria provides hot and cold drinks and limited food (i.e. toasties). A 500ml bottle of Sprite is EC$5, filter coffee is EC$5. You can get a Ham or Cheese toasted sandwich for EC$10 or a Ham and Cheese toasted sandwich for EC$12.
The top deck seating area has shade from the sun (and there are areas of no shade as well) and there are tarpaulins that the crew will deploy in case of rain. These seats are bench seats (no padding). On the journey that we took most people sat on the top deck.
There is no passenger access to the car deck during the passage.
Map of Ferry Port on Union Island
Click on the link here to see the map live on Google, or also click the image.
What to expect on the Union Island to St Vincent Ferry
This is an easy route. The staff are friendly, once they’ve woken up a little. You’ll travel mainly alongside regular Vincentians, rather than tourists. It’s a laidback ferry service and an enjoyable journey.
What’s the scenery like on the Union Island to St Vincent Ferry?
It’s actually a pretty scenic route. You’ll depart from Union Island as the sunrises and that’s spectacular if the weather is good. Arriving and departing into Mayreau and Canouan Islands gives you a view of other islands that you might not have seen before. After Canouan, you’ll pass by Mustique – for us the closest we got to this luxury-only island. You’ll also pass by Bequia, which for us for somewhat irritating as we were heading there!
Will you get seasick on the Union Island to St Vincent Ferry?
We had very calm weather on our trip in the third week of January. We sat in both the lower AC cabin where the cafeteria was, ate a toasted sandwich, drank cold drinks and good filtered coffee, and on the top deck under the sunshade.
We didn’t get sick and didn’t see anyone else getting sick at all. This wasn’t at all like the Grenada to Carriacou ferry where 90% of passengers (including me) were sick.
Union Island to Bequia Ferry
In order to go to Bequia from Union Island, you will need to first take a ferry to St Vincent from Union Island. Then you wait for the ferry from St Vincent to Bequia. The ferry to Bequia from St Vincent takes about an hour and costs EC$25 per person. The ferry times from St Vincent to Bequia are as follows.
Kingstown, St Vincent to Bequia
Monday to Friday
- 0800
- 1030
- 1300
- 1600
- 1800
Saturday
- 0800
- 1100
- 1600
- 1800
Sunday/ Public Holiday
- 0830
- 1800
Bequia to Kingstown, St Vincent
Monday to Friday
- 0630
- 0800
- 0930
- 1300
- 1630
Saturday
- 0630
- 0915
- 1300
- 1630
Sunday/ Public Holiday
- 0700
- 1630
Arriving in Kingstown, St Vincent
The Union Island / Southern Grenadine ferries arrive at the ferry port at Kingstown, St Vincent. This is located in the capital of Kingstown. For onward transport, you can take a taxi (taxi drivers will find you, most likely before you’ve even got off the ferry!), or take a local bus from just outside the ferry port.
Here’s a map to find the best spot to catch a local bus. You can see the map online here.
Local buses in St Vincent are minivans, but they’re more crowded than on other Caribbean Islands. They’re friendly, with loud music and they’re cheap too. Not many Vincentians own cars, so if you have a bag that won’t fit between your legs, or on your lap just cram it in. If the driver wants more money for your bag they’ll tell you. We took buses as our only form of transport (apart from walking) on St Vincent, drivers, helpers, and passengers were always friendly, and locals at stops helped us when we didn’t know which one to catch (and even handed over responsibility with a “make sure these two get on the right bus” when their bus arrived before ours did!)
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12 thoughts on “Union Island to St Vincent – 2023 [Ferries, Times, Prices]”
Really helpful Sarah…thanks!! Tony
As a couple who have often done this complicated but brilliant journey (Grenada-carriacou-Union-St Vincent-Bequia and back again) I can’t tell you how much work you have saved us this time (going in Jan 22), with this exceptionally helpful information. Thanks Sarah.
No worries at all! Glad it’s helpful and it is such a lovely journey to take!
Hi Sarah, Hope you are well. We are flying to St Vincent and then hoping to move on to Union Island for a few days. We were thinking of taking the 10:30 am ferry on the Friday morning – would you by any chance know if the ferries are still running and at what times? I am struggling to get information on them anywhere!
Hope you can help 🙂 Thank you
Hi Anu – my contacts say that the Bequia Express was running the schedule two weeks ago – I’ve asked if its still going now and into the future, and will confirm but wanted you to know the latest info that I had. I haven’t had any updates on Gem Star II in a long while now. I’ll keep you posted when I hear more.
Ok. Thank you so much Sarah!
Hi Sarah,
We stay in Union Island for 3 weeks. Looking at the information that you gave, it’s impossible to do a day in St-Vincent and come back to Union. So, where should we sleep for one night in St-Vincent and what are the best things to do or see in St-Vincent for our little stay? Thanks!
Hi Nadia – If you plan on just spending one night in St Vincent, then I’d recommend the following. 1) stay as close to the ferry terminal as you can – otherwise you’ll just spend time traveling. 2) If you arrive on the ferry from Union Island, then drop your overnight bags at your accommodation and then head for the botanical gardens (EC$5 per person to get in) – they’re lovely and a really nice place for a walk. Don’t miss the breadfruit tree from a seed from Captain Bligh! And the St Vincent parrots in the park are also worth stopping by too. To walk there from the port is easy – and you’ll pass the Anglican and Catholic Cathedrals on the way and they’re pretty to look at too. For a rum in air conditioned comfort when you’re finished head back to the bar at the Cobblestone Inn on Bay Street (not far from the ferry terminal). If you don’t need A/C then the outdoor bars around Heritage Square are great – and at the end of the day you’ll find folks having a drink after work before heading home. 3) places to stay near the ferry terminal – there are a few on booking.com – this one looks ok https://www.booking.com/hotel/vc/the-edge-apartments.en-gb.html?aid=921868 that you can book – they tend to be apartments that do online booking (we stayed quite a bit further out near the old airport in Arnos Vale) – there are some hotels, like the Cobblestone, but you’d have to contact them directly for availability. 4) for a bit of a longer walk – then head up to Fort Charlotte up above the “city”. 5) if you want to take more of a tour around the island you’ll need to stay longer – (and these on Civitatis are really the extent of what’s on offer) – the Pirates of the Caribbean one is usually the one that cruise ship passengers go on https://www.civitatis.com/en/kingstown/?aid=13029 6) there is also a museum near the ferry port called the National Trust museum, I wouldn’t bother with it.
Hope that helps! Sarah
Thanks. We will give it a try
Such a good blog for planning our trip to The Grenandines this year. Travel Agent didn’t even know (or failed to admit) that there was a ferry which would be suitable for a traveller from UK.
Thank you Sarah for your detailed information!! very Helpful for us 🙂
wishing you wonderful times
Matti
HI Sarah
What time does the ferry leaves Union for St, Vincent on Monday? Am trying to catch a flight from St. Vincent to Barbados. Is the a number so i can find out more about your services
Curlyn