Port Blair to Havelock Ferry: Operators, Time & Price

My short answer: compare Makruzz, Nautika and Green Ocean for the private crossing, and check the DSS government ferry separately. I would choose the direct sailing that protects the first day on Havelock, then compare the final fare, reporting deadline, baggage rule and cancellation terms. The brand comes second.

The Tourism Department currently describes the private high-speed crossing as about 90 minutes and the government ferry as about 2.5 to 3 hours. Government vessels also follow a different booking and reporting process. None is automatically the best choice for every date.

Choice	What its own source currently shows	Who should compare it
Makruzz	Its published route table lists five Port Blair to Havelock slots, each scheduled for 90 minutes. The page is headed 2025–2026, so the date-specific result still matters.	Travellers who want several private sailing times to compare.
Nautika	Its route page lists a 90-minute crossing, three seating classes and a 15 kg baggage limit. Its FAQ and terms disagree on the final boarding cutoff.	Travellers whose date and preferred time appear in its live inventory.
Green Ocean	Its direct portal includes the Port Blair to Havelock sector and shows fares after a travel date is entered.	Travellers comparing current class, schedule and total-fare choices.
DSS government ferry	The official portal provides voyage, fare and berth-availability searches. DSS asks passengers to report two hours before sailing and closes embarkation 30 minutes before departure.	Travellers prepared to use the separate government booking process and its earlier reporting time.

Route and rule check: 13 September 2026. Sources: Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and the Directorate of Shipping Services. Timings and availability can change, so use the confirmation for your travel date.

Which ferry would I book?

For most first-time trips, I would start with the earliest direct private sailing that leaves a comfortable airport or hotel buffer. Arriving on Havelock earlier is usually more useful than paying for a higher seat class on a later ferry.

Then I would compare Makruzz and Nautika on the exact date. Both operator pages describe a 90-minute Port Blair to Havelock crossing. Green Ocean belongs in the same live-price check because it sells this sector directly. If the private timings do not work, I would check DSS rather than assume there is no government option.

I would not call Makruzz, Nautika or Green Ocean universally smoother. Sea conditions, vessel assignment and seat position can change the experience. A premium seat also does not guarantee a calmer crossing.

How much does the ferry cost?

There is no honest single fare for this route. The amount changes by operator, date, vessel and class. As a concrete example, a direct Makruzz search checked on 10 September showed ₹1,500 per adult in Premium class for Port Blair to Havelock on 15 September 2026. That is a dated example, not a usual price or a promise of availability.

Green Ocean's portal separately displays a ₹300 fuel surcharge field in addition to its adult fare field. Makruzz's terms list a ₹50 passenger service fee and a ₹100 peak-season supplement from 1 December to 31 January. This is why the final payable amount is more useful than a search-result fare.

For a fair comparison, record the total for the same date and passenger count. Add every mandatory charge, then compare the change and refund rules. For DSS, use the official voyage enquiry because government fares and berth availability are handled separately.

What are the current ferry timings?

Makruzz's published route table shows Port Blair departures at 06:00, 08:00, 08:30, 11:30 and 14:00, each reaching Havelock 90 minutes later. Nautika's route page shows two 90-minute Port Blair to Havelock slots. These are useful comparison points, not a timetable to copy blindly.

The Makruzz page is labelled 2025–2026, while the Nautika table has confusing arrival and departure headings. DSS publishes date-specific voyages through its enquiry tool. Check live inventory for the exact day, then trust the departure time and jetty printed on the final ticket.

The booking order that avoids most mistakes

Fix the route and date. Search Sri Vijaya Puram or Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep or Havelock. The two name pairs describe the same origin and destination.
Open each operator's own date search. Compare Makruzz, Nautika and Green Ocean directly. Check DSS separately because it uses the government STARS and voyage-enquiry system.
Choose the sailing time. Protect the airport connection and the first useful Havelock day before comparing classes.
Compare the final total. Use the same passengers and date, including mandatory fees.
Read the ticket rules. Confirm the jetty, reporting time, baggage allowance, ID requirement and cancellation terms.
Save the final ticket offline. Do not rely on mobile data at the terminal.

Reporting time and baggage are not the same

Operator	Published reporting rule	Published baggage point
Makruzz	Report one hour before departure; check-in closes 15 minutes before and boarding closes 10 minutes before.	25 kg registered baggage allowance. Large baggage goes in the hold.
Nautika	Its FAQ says arrive 45 minutes early and boarding closes 15 minutes before. Its terms say boarding closes 20 minutes before.	15 kg stated on its FAQ; excess is listed at ₹100 per kg.
Green Ocean	A first-party ticket page says report one hour before, with check-in closing 20 minutes before and boarding 10 minutes before.	Confirm the allowance on the ticket because a clear current public limit was not found.
DSS	Report two hours before; embarkation closes 30 minutes before.	Check the current government ticket terms for the vessel and sector.

The Nautika pages conflict on the boarding cutoff. I would arrive at least one hour early and follow any stricter instruction on the ticket. Do not treat that buffer as permission to ignore a changed reporting message.

Can you catch a ferry after landing in Port Blair?

Sometimes, but the scheduled flight landing is only the first line of the calculation. Allow for baggage collection, the road transfer, ferry reporting time and a possible flight delay. The airport and ferry jetty are separate.

If missing the planned ferry would leave no suitable later sailing, stay the first night in Sri Vijaya Puram. On the return, a Sri Vijaya Puram night before an important mainland flight removes the sea crossing from departure day. Use the Port Blair airport arrival guide for the full connection decision.

Which jetty should you use?

Do not search for a generic "Port Blair ferry terminal" and assume the result is correct. Inter-island sailings use different terminals, including Haddo and Phoenix Bay. The final ticket must name the reporting point.

On Havelock, the ferry arrives at the island's main jetty. Keep your hotel name and transfer plan offline. A ferry change can also alter the arrival time, so avoid paying for a tightly timed activity immediately after the crossing.

If you are travelling with children or limited mobility

Ask the operator about boarding assistance before paying, not after reaching the jetty.
Confirm whether stairs, gangways or vessel changes affect the passenger who needs help.
Keep medicines, documents and essential child items in hand baggage, within the operator's rules.
Choose the time and transfer margin before paying for a premium class.
Do not assume an onboard meal, accessible toilet or particular seat unless it is confirmed for the assigned vessel.

What happens when a sailing changes?

DSS says sailings are subject to weather and technical conditions. Makruzz's terms also allow schedule changes for operational, weather or technical reasons. Treat the first activity after arrival as movable and keep the night before the mainland flight in Sri Vijaya Puram when the flight matters.

If a private operator changes a sailing, use the process on that ticket. If DSS changes a voyage, check its official voyage and refund enquiry. Rules differ, so another passenger's booking channel is not evidence for your ticket.

Frequently asked questions

Is Makruzz or Nautika better?

Neither is automatically better. Both publish a 90-minute Port Blair to Havelock crossing. Choose between their live sailings by departure time, final fare, class, baggage and change rules. Nautika publishes a lower baggage limit than Makruzz, while Makruzz currently publishes more route slots.

Is Green Ocean a good alternative?

It is a real direct option for the Port Blair to Havelock sector and belongs in the same-date comparison. Its portal exposes the fare only after the date is entered, so compare the full payable amount and vessel details rather than assuming it is cheaper.

Can tourists use the government ferry?

DSS provides an online passenger booking and voyage-enquiry system. Availability, fare and sailing details are date-specific. The current published rule requires the original identity document used for booking.

Should I book ferry tickets in advance?

Once the route and hotel dates are firm, booking ahead removes a major itinerary uncertainty. It does not remove weather or technical risk. Recheck the sailing close to travel and keep the ticket offline.

Continue planning

Use the Andaman ferry planning guide for the full island sequence, the Havelock Island guide for the number of nights and stay areas, and the Andaman itinerary to protect your arrival and departure days.

Sources checked

Last checked: 13 September 2026. The ₹1,500 Makruzz example was captured on 10 September for travel on 15 September 2026. Recheck the live sailing, final fare, terminal and rules before payment.