Tag: Makruzz Nautika Green Ocean

Getting from Port Blair to Havelock and Neil Island means one thing: ferries. There are no bridges between the islands and no scheduled flights on these hops, so the ferry is how every traveller island-hops in the Andamans. The good news is it is straightforward once you understand how it works. The bad news is that most first-timers make the same handful of avoidable mistakes — tight connections, wrong jetty, no monsoon backup plan — and lose a day of their holiday to it. We live here and book these ferries every week. This is the honest, practical guide: private versus government ferries, timings, prices, luggage, seasickness, jetties, and the mistakes to steer clear of.

The short answer: ferry from Port Blair to Havelock

For the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock, you have two choices: fast private catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean) that take roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours in an air-conditioned cabin, or the cheaper government ferry that takes longer and is harder to book in advance. Most travellers take a private ferry — it is comfortable, reliable, and simple to reserve. The same operators run onward to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) and back to Port Blair. Book your private ferry seats as early as you can, especially in peak season, because they genuinely sell out.

Private ferries vs government ferries

Private ferries (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean)

These are modern, enclosed, air-conditioned catamarans with assigned seating, much like a short-haul flight. They are fast, they run on a predictable schedule, and they are the sensible default for most holidaymakers.

• Makruzz — the long-established premium operator. Enclosed AC seating in tiers (Deluxe up to Royal), a small snack counter on board. Reliable and popular.
• Nautika — one of the newer, comfortable catamarans; similar class experience, seating tiers, AC cabin.
• Green Ocean — another well-used private operator on the same routes, often a touch more affordable.

All three cover Port Blair–Havelock, Havelock–Neil, and Neil–Port Blair, plus the Port Blair–Neil–Havelock combinations. Journey time Port Blair to Havelock is about 90 minutes to 2 hours; Havelock to Neil is roughly 60 to 75 minutes; Neil to Port Blair is around 90 minutes. Exact timings and which operator sails on a given day vary, so we confirm the live schedule when we book.

Government ferries

The government (Directorate of Shipping) ferries are significantly cheaper and are the lifeline for locals. They also sail the inter-island routes, and some have air-conditioned seating classes. The trade-offs are real: they take longer, the schedules are less convenient, and booking is far less traveller-friendly — tickets are sold through government counters, released closer to the date, and can involve queueing. For budget travellers with flexible time they are a genuine option; for a tight holiday itinerary, the certainty of a private ferry is usually worth the extra rupees.

Price bands

Ferry fares move with operator, class, and season, so treat these as ranges rather than fixed quotes:

• Private ferry (per person, one way): roughly ₹1,000 to ₹2,200 depending on operator and seating tier. Premium classes and peak dates sit at the top of that band.
• Government ferry (per person, one way): a fraction of the private fare — often in the low hundreds of rupees — but with the booking and timing trade-offs above.

When ferries are part of one of our Andaman tour packages, the inter-island tickets are already itemised in your quote — you know the cost up front and we handle the booking, so you are not chasing seats yourself.

Booking windows: book early, especially in peak season

This is where planning pays off. Private ferry seats between Port Blair, Havelock and Neil are limited, and during peak season — roughly October to February, and heavily so around the Christmas–New Year fortnight — the popular morning sailings sell out days or even weeks ahead.

• Peak season (Oct–Feb): reserve private ferry seats as far ahead as your dates allow — ideally when you confirm your trip, not after you land.
• Shoulder and off-season: more availability, but the best morning slots still go first.
• Government ferry tickets release closer to the sailing date and cannot be locked in as far ahead — another reason they suit flexible travellers, not fixed itineraries.

Carry a valid government photo ID for every passenger — you need it to book and to board, and the name on the ticket must match the ID.

Jetty logistics: Haddo vs Phoenix Bay

Port Blair has two jetties, and knowing which one your ferry leaves from is the difference between a calm morning and a panicked taxi ride:

• Phoenix Bay Jetty — the main hub for private catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean) to Havelock and Neil. Most holidaymakers depart from here.
• Haddo Wharf / Jetty — used primarily for government ferries and some other services.

On the islands, Havelock’s ferries use the Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) jetty and Neil’s use the Neil (Shaheed Dweep) jetty — both single, easy-to-find harbours. A few practical rules:

• Reach the jetty at least 45–60 minutes before departure. Private operators close boarding and do security and baggage checks well before sailing; arrive late and you miss the boat with no refund.
• Confirm your exact jetty the night before. Do not assume — check the ticket. Getting to the wrong one is a classic first-timer mistake.
• Build in traffic time. Mornings around the jetties get busy when several ferries sail together.

Luggage

Private ferries generally allow a sensible amount of luggage per passenger — think airline-style hand plus checked baggage — with larger bags stowed separately and hand baggage kept with you in the cabin. Rules and any excess-baggage charges vary by operator, so it is worth checking when you book if you are travelling heavy. Two practical tips: keep a small day bag with your ID, phone, medication and valuables on your lap, and avoid over-packing for an island hop where you only need light clothes, swimwear and sandals anyway.

Seasickness: how to have a smooth crossing

The open stretch between Port Blair and Havelock can get choppy, particularly in the afternoon and during the shoulder-to-monsoon months. Most people are completely fine, but if you know you are prone to motion sickness, a little preparation goes a long way:

• Take a motion-sickness tablet about 30–60 minutes before boarding if you are sensitive — check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
• Pick a morning sailing where you can — the sea is usually calmer earlier in the day.
• Sit low and central in the cabin, where the boat moves least, and look at the horizon rather than down at your phone.
• Do not travel on an empty stomach — a light meal beforehand helps; a heavy, greasy one does not.
• Keep water and ginger sweets handy. Simple, and they help.

Common mistakes to avoid

These are the errors we see cost travellers a day, or a booking, again and again:

1. Planning a tight same-day connection. Do not book a ferry that lands you in Port Blair a couple of hours before your flight home. Ferries can be delayed or cancelled by weather, and there is no quick backup. Give yourself a full buffer — ideally a night in Port Blair before an early flight.
2. Leaving ferry booking until you arrive. By the time you land, peak-season private seats on the sailing you want may be gone. Book with your itinerary, not after it.
3. Going to the wrong jetty. Phoenix Bay and Haddo are not the same place. Confirm which one your ticket says.
4. Cutting the arrival time fine. Boarding closes well before departure. A late auto-rickshaw should not cost you the ferry.
5. Assuming ferries run in bad weather. In rough seas, sailings are cancelled for safety — always. Build flexibility into monsoon-season plans.
6. Booking too many islands in too few days. Every hop is a half-morning of ferry logistics. Two islands done well beat three done in a rush.

Monsoon disruptions

During the southwest monsoon (roughly June to September), rougher seas and heavy weather can delay or cancel ferry sailings at short notice, private and government alike. This is a safety call, not an inconvenience, and it is non-negotiable when the sea is unsafe. If you are travelling in the monsoon or shoulder months, plan for it rather than around it:

• Keep a buffer day before your return flight so a cancelled ferry does not strand you.
• Avoid packing your itinerary so tightly that one lost sailing collapses the whole trip.
• Have a local contact who can rebook you fast if a sailing is scrapped — this is exactly where a local operator earns their keep. When we run your trip, a cancelled ferry becomes our problem to solve, not yours to panic over.

FAQ

How long is the ferry from Port Blair to Havelock?

On a private catamaran (Makruzz, Nautika or Green Ocean) it takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours. Government ferries take longer. Havelock to Neil is roughly an hour, and Neil back to Port Blair is about 90 minutes.

Should I take a private or government ferry?

For most holiday itineraries, a private ferry — it is fast, comfortable, air-conditioned, runs on a dependable schedule, and is easy to book ahead. Government ferries are much cheaper and fine if you are on a tight budget with flexible time, but the timings and last-minute booking make them awkward for a fixed trip.

How far in advance should I book ferry tickets?

As early as you can, especially in peak season (October to February and around New Year), when popular private sailings sell out days to weeks ahead. Booking when you confirm your trip is far safer than waiting until you arrive.

Which jetty do ferries leave from in Port Blair?

Private catamarans mostly depart from Phoenix Bay Jetty; government ferries typically use Haddo. Always check your ticket for the exact jetty and reach it at least 45–60 minutes before departure.

Let us handle the ferries

Ferries are the one part of an Andaman trip that quietly decides whether the rest runs smoothly — right jetty, right sailing, sensible buffers, and a plan if the weather turns. It is also the part we handle every single week. When your trip is one of our Andaman tour packages, the inter-island ferries between Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) and Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) are booked, itemised and coordinated for you — and if a sailing is cancelled, a real person here sorts out the next one. Tell us your dates on WhatsApp and we will send a free, no-obligation quote with the ferries already planned in.