Frequently asked questions
Everything travellers ask about getting around St. Kitts and Nevis: the ferry between the islands, renting a car, private charters, cruise days, flights and the SKN Transit app.
Ferries between St. Kitts and Nevis
Where can I find the St. Kitts to Nevis ferry schedule?
The live ferry schedule lists every sailing, grouped by day of the week and route, with the next departure highlighted. It covers the Basseterre to Charlestown crossing and the other SKN routes.
How long does the ferry from St. Kitts to Nevis take?
The passenger crossing between Basseterre in St. Kitts and Charlestown in Nevis takes about 30 minutes. Times vary a little with the vessel and sea conditions.
Where does the ferry leave from?
Passenger sailings run between Basseterre Ferry Terminal in St. Kitts and Charlestown Pier in Nevis. The car ferry uses the shorter crossing near Majors Bay. The terminal for each sailing is shown on its schedule card.
Can I track the ferry live?
Yes. The live ferry map shows every vessel currently sailing across The Narrows, updated every 20 seconds while operators are broadcasting their position.
Are the ferry times guaranteed?
The times are the published schedule. Ferries can be delayed or cancelled for weather, sea conditions or maintenance, so arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes before departure.
Renting a car in St. Kitts & Nevis
Do I need a permit to drive in St. Kitts and Nevis?
Visitors need a local temporary driving permit to drive in the Federation. It is usually arranged at the time of rental. See car rentals for the details and every fee shown up front.
Which side of the road do they drive on?
On the left. Roads are narrow and hilly in places, so take it slowly, especially on the cross-island and coastal routes.
Where can I pick up a rental car?
Collection is available at the airport and in town on both islands. Choose your dates and branch on the car rentals page and see the full price before you send a request.
Do I have to pay to book a car?
No. You send a request with every fee shown up front and settle with the rental company. There is no payment to reserve.
Private charters & water taxis
What is a private boat charter?
The whole boat is yours, leaving when you want rather than on the ferry timetable. Browse crossings and prices on the private charters page.
Is there a water taxi between St. Kitts and Nevis?
Yes. The crossings on the private charters page run as private water taxis, so you are not tied to the scheduled ferry. Popular pairings link the Reggae Beach and Christophe Harbour side of St. Kitts with Oualie Beach and the Four Seasons side of Nevis.
How far ahead should I book a charter?
Book 24 hours ahead where you can. Captains have to be scheduled, and around cruise calls and public holidays the popular crossings fill first.
Cruise ships
How do I see which cruise ships are arriving?
The cruise schedule lists arrivals and departures for St. Kitts with dates, ports and times, so you can plan transfers, tours and ferry connections around a call.
Are the cruise arrival times accurate?
They come from the port schedule and update through the day, but times can shift with sea conditions and port operations.
How do I get around on a cruise day?
You can rent a car for the day or book a private boat charter to reach Nevis or a beach on your own time.
Flights & airports
Which airports serve St. Kitts and Nevis?
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) near Basseterre in St. Kitts, and the smaller Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV) in Nevis. Live arrivals and departures are on the flights page.
How do I get from St. Kitts airport to Nevis?
Travel from the airport to Basseterre and take the ferry to Charlestown, or book a private water taxi for a door-to-door crossing.
The SKN Transit app, tickets & contact
Where can I download the SKN Transit app?
SKN Transit is free on the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android. It carries the live schedules, the ferry map and service updates.
Can I buy ferry tickets in the app?
In-app ticket sales are in development and will arrive with a coming release. For now, tickets are bought at the terminal.
Does the app work offline?
You need a connection for the first load so it can fetch the latest schedules. After that, the most recent schedules stay available for quick offline viewing.
How do I contact SKN Transit?
Email contact@skntransit.com or use the contact page. We reply within 24 hours.