Port Blair to Havelock Ferry: Time and Booking Guide

The practical answer: ferries run from Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) to Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island), but there is no dependable year-round timetable to copy into an itinerary. The Directorate of Tourism currently describes private high-speed crossings as about 1.5 hours and government ferries as about 2.5 to 3 hours. Your confirmed ticket is the final source for departure time, reporting time and jetty.

Information checked on 18 August 2026 against current A&N Administration and Directorate of Shipping Services pages.

Which ferry should you choose?

I would choose the sailing that gives the itinerary the safest timing, then compare the class, baggage and change rules. The words “cruise”, “ferry” and “boat” are often used loosely for the same passenger journey, so the label matters less than the confirmed schedule.

Choose a private high-speed ferry when

• a shorter crossing makes the rest of your day easier;
• you want a bookable seat and class shown before payment; or
• its departure time creates a better buffer after your flight or before your next hotel check-in.

Consider the government ferry when

• its published sailing suits your date better;
• you are comfortable following the DSS ticketing and early-reporting process; and
• you have checked the latest voyage status rather than relying on an old timetable.

Government and private services can use different vessels and rules. Avoid choosing only by a quoted headline fare. Compare the final amount, travel time, reporting deadline, baggage allowance, cancellation terms and the departure jetty.

How to check timings without using a stale timetable

1. Search both place names. Use Sri Vijaya Puram or Port Blair as the origin, and Swaraj Dweep or Havelock as the destination.
2. For government services, use the official DSS tools. Check the DSS voyage enquiry and recent shipping notices.
3. For a private ferry, verify on its own official channel. Confirm the sailing date, route, class, reporting time and terminal before paying. I do not recommend choosing through an advertisement or an unverified reseller listing.
4. Recheck close to travel. A screenshot taken weeks earlier is not a boarding document. Keep the final ticket and any updated message available offline.

The DSS website also provides voyage status, berth availability and PNR enquiry. That is more useful than a fixed “first and last ferry” table, because schedules can change.

How much connection time should you keep?

A same-day airport-to-ferry transfer can work only when the flight arrival, baggage collection, road transfer, reporting deadline and possible delay all fit comfortably. The airport and ferry terminal are separate, and a late flight does not hold the ferry.

My planning rule is simple: do not book a tight connection merely because the scheduled times fit on paper. If the day’s last suitable ferry is the only one you can catch, staying the first night in Sri Vijaya Puram is the safer plan. On the return, staying in Sri Vijaya Puram the night before an important mainland flight removes a weather-dependent sea crossing from the day of departure.

This is an itinerary recommendation, not an operator rule. Travellers with children, older family members, checked baggage or separate non-refundable bookings should use a larger buffer.

Booking checklist

• Passenger names match the identity documents exactly.
• The date and direction are correct: Sri Vijaya Puram to Swaraj Dweep.
• The departure jetty is written on the confirmation.
• The reporting and gate-closing times are understood.
• The final price includes the selected class and all mandatory charges.
• Baggage, cancellation and rescheduling rules suit your plans.
• You have a saved offline copy of the ticket and booking reference.

For DSS e-tickets, the Directorate says the original identity document used for booking must be presented at embarkation. Its terms list government-issued photo ID for general passengers and a passport plus Restricted Area Permit for foreign nationals on services between Sri Vijaya Puram and nearby islands. Check the current DSS terms before booking because documentation rules can change.

On the day of travel

• Read the ticket again before leaving for the jetty. Phoenix Bay and Haddo are not interchangeable.
• Follow the operator’s own reporting time. For DSS, the current published instruction is 2 hours before sailing, with embarkation closing 30 minutes before departure.
• Carry the original ID linked to the booking and keep the ticket accessible without mobile data.
• Follow crew instructions and do not plan around an assumed on-board meal or other facility unless it is stated for your vessel.
• If you are prone to motion sickness, get suitable medical advice before the trip rather than trying a new medicine at the jetty.

What happens if the ferry changes or is cancelled?

DSS explicitly states that sailings are subject to weather and technical reasons. Private services can also be affected by operational conditions. If a sailing changes, use the contact and change process on your own ticket. Do not rely on another passenger’s operator or booking channel to solve a separate booking.

Keep the first activity on Swaraj Dweep flexible after arrival. More importantly, avoid placing a sea crossing immediately before a mainland flight or another expensive, fixed departure.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Port Blair to Havelock ferry?

The Directorate of Tourism currently gives about 1.5 hours for a private high-speed service and about 2.5 to 3 hours for a government ferry. Your booked sailing may differ by vessel and route.

Where does the ferry leave from?

Inter-island ferries use Phoenix Bay Jetty and Haddo Jetty in Sri Vijaya Puram. The correct terminal depends on the service, so use the location printed on your ticket.

What time is the first or last ferry?

There is no single timetable I would treat as valid for every date. Check live inventory for your date and, for government services, the official DSS voyage enquiry and current shipping notices.

How much does a ticket cost?

There is no one reliable route fare because the amount changes by service, vessel, class and date. Compare the final payable price alongside baggage and change terms. I have omitted old fare ranges because they can mislead.

Can I travel to Havelock on the day my flight lands?

Possibly, but only with a comfortable buffer after the scheduled landing and before the ferry reporting deadline. If a delay would leave no suitable later sailing, stay in Sri Vijaya Puram for the night.

Continue planning

For other island routes and the wider decision process, read the Andaman ferry planning guide. After choosing your sailing, compare where to stay on Swaraj Dweep and the main Havelock beaches.

Official sources

• Directorate of Tourism: Swaraj Dweep travel information
• Directorate of Tourism: inter-island connectivity
• Directorate of Shipping Services: current passenger notices
• DSS voyage and PNR enquiry
• DSS identity-document and ticket terms