Andaman Govt Ferry Booking 2026: STARS Portal + Private

To book a ferry in Andaman, you have four real options: book directly with one of the four private operators (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic), book through a comparison platform that covers all of them, book the government ferry through the STARS e-ticketing portal, or book through IRCTC. The right choice depends on your route, budget, and how flexible your dates are.

This walkthrough covers booking channels, passenger details, payment, ticket issuance and checks before boarding. BookYourFerry’s guide separates historical references from current checkout information; always review your selected ticket conditions.

If you just want the short answer, jump to “The Short Version” below. If you want to understand every option before deciding, read straight through.

Compare prices across all 4 operators in one place at BookYourFerry.com

The Short Version

Most travellers should follow these four steps:

1. Decide your route and date — Port Blair to Havelock is the most common; fast private sailings take about 90 minutes, while daily frequency varies
2. Compare final totals across participating operators — select the route, date and class before comparing prices.
3. Pay online with credit/debit card, UPI, or netbanking, then check the booking status and issued ticket
4. Prepare your ticket and required ID — follow the selected operator’s instructions and carry a printed backup

Complete the booking online, then check that an operator ticket has been issued. Payment success alone is not a confirmed ferry booking; contact support if the ticket is missing.

The longer version below covers what to do if you’re booking the government ferry, what documents foreigners need, when to book ahead, and how to handle cancellations and refunds.

Where to Book Andaman Ferry: All Channels Compared

There are four distinct ways to book an Andaman ferry. Each has trade-offs, and which one is right depends on what you value.

For private ferries, compare available operators and book online in one place. Check the booking status and issued ticket after payment; payment success alone is not a confirmed ferry ticket.

Compare private booking channels using the final total and ticket conditions. Government services have separate passenger categories and release arrangements; confirm those with DSS/STARS before planning around them.

Where should YOU book?

If you’re not sure: start with a comparison platform to see all your options, then decide if it’s worth booking direct with one operator. Compare-then-decide is faster than checking four operator sites manually.

Step-by-Step: Booking Private Ferries (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic)

Booking through a comparison platform like ours follows the same flow regardless of which operator you eventually pick. Booking direct on each operator’s site is similar but uses different field names.

Step 1: Search

Enter three things:

• From — Port Blair, Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), or Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep)
• To — your destination
• Date — your travel date, subject to the inventory currently released

You’ll see a list of all available ferries that day with departure times, durations, classes, and prices.

Step 2: Compare

The following historical Port Blair to Havelock fare examples are not live quotes. Compare the current checkout total, including port and fuel charges, for your selected departure:

Compare available early and later sailings for your date. The historical Rs 1,250 references do not guarantee an available fare or best-value departure.

If budget matters most, compare economy-class final totals for your dates. If considering a premium class, verify the actual vessel and included amenities; historical prices do not establish the current upgrade cost.

Step 3: Select seats and add passenger details

Click “Book” on your chosen ferry. You’ll need to enter for each passenger:

• Full name — exactly as it appears on your photo ID. This is the most common booking mistake, and it’s strictly enforced
• Age and gender
• ID type and number — Aadhaar, passport, driving license, or voter ID for Indians; passport for foreigners
• Contact number — for WhatsApp confirmation (use the country code if booking from abroad)

Seat selection and allocation depend on the operator and sailing. Follow the options shown in the booking flow and check the issued ticket; this guide does not promise a seat-allocation notification deadline.

Step 4: Pay

Payment options vary by platform:

• Credit/debit card — Visa, Mastercard, Rupay all accepted. Use credit cards over debit cards if possible — easier dispute resolution if something goes wrong
• UPI — fastest method for Indian travellers
• Net banking — slowest but works
• Wallets — Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay supported on most platforms
• International cards — check which cards and currencies the payment gateway supports; your card issuer may apply conversion charges

The Port Service Fee is a government fee levied by the Port Authority at Rs 50 per ticket (BookYourFerry team confirmation, 16 September 2026). Our private checkout includes it per passenger, per leg. Review the selected fare, displayed fees and discounts before payment; pricing on other booking channels needs a separate comparison.

Step 5: Get confirmation

Check for the issued operator ticket and booking reference using the contact details supplied at checkout. Save the ticket offline and check the passenger names, route, date and departure time.

If the ticket is missing, check spam and contact support with your payment reference before paying again. Delivery channels and processing time can vary.

Step 6: Print the ticket

Follow the selected operator’s current ticket-format and ID instructions. Carry an accessible ticket copy and a printed backup; this guide does not establish universal acceptance or rejection of mobile tickets.

Search and book all 4 Andaman ferry operators in one place at BookYourFerry.com

Step-by-Step: Booking Government Ferry via STARS Portal

The Directorate of Shipping Services runs a separate government ferry network. Older Port Blair–Havelock references of Rs 400-700 are historical and unverified for current tourist categories and fee inclusions. Obtain a current DSS/STARS quote rather than assuming a fixed saving against private fares.

The government portal has a separate booking process — our STARS e-ticketing guide explains login, checking current release notices and troubleshooting.

Everything about the government boats — DSS schedules, STARS quotas, and when they beat private ferries — lives in our government ferry Andaman guide.

Government ferries use the STARS e-ticketing portal: dss.andamannicobar.gov.in/eticketing

Why bother with STARS?

• Half the price of private ferries — sometimes less
• Reliable through monsoon — government ferries sail when private operators cancel
• Direct PB→Neil Island route — the only operator currently doing this (private operators don’t run direct PB→Neil)
• Real local schedule — early morning slots private ferries don’t run

Why most travellers can’t actually book government

• Check the current release date and time for your route and passenger category.
• Confirm tourist eligibility and actual available seats.
• Do not rely on a fixed sell-out interval.
• Follow the current ticket-format and identification instructions.
• International travellers should verify current documentation requirements with the relevant authority.

How to book on STARS portal

If you want to try, the process is:

1. Visit dss.andamannicobar.gov.in/eticketing
2. Register with mobile number and OTP verification
3. Check the current route/category release notice and follow its opening date and time
4. Search the route and date — the page often takes 30-60 seconds to load during peak booking minutes
5. Select seats if any are available — the screen refreshes constantly as people book
6. Review the total and complete payment following the current portal instructions; check status before retrying a failed payment
7. Save the issued ticket and follow its format/boarding instructions; carry a printed backup

Government ferry travel tip

Keep a fallback itinerary until your government ticket is confirmed. Compare a current DSS/STARS quote with available private final totals; neither a fixed release window nor a particular saving is established by older guide copy.

When to Book: Timing the Booking Window

Booking too early isn’t a problem. Booking too late definitely is. Here’s the timing that matches what we see across thousands of bookings.

Timing hinges on the sailings themselves — the full Andaman ferry schedule lists every operator’s departures so you can lock a slot before you book.

Private operators

Search your dates to see which sailings have been released. If you book a suitable available option early, you secure that booking, not a guaranteed lowest fare; prices and release windows can change.

Check morning options early if they are important to your itinerary. No fixed sell-out deadline is verified for a particular sailing or season.

Government ferry

Check the current DSS/STARS release notice for your route and passenger category. Do not rely on a universal two-day or 48-hour rule.

Why earlier matters more during peak season

For busy holiday dates, search early and confirm every leg before fixing non-refundable onward plans. A preferred class or departure may be unavailable; there is no reliable universal sell-out deadline.

What You Need: Documents, ID & Foreign Traveller Requirements

The document requirements are strict and consistently enforced. Don’t board without these.

For Indian travellers

For foreign travellers

Foreign nationals need three things:

Special cases: Citizens of Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan need prior Ministry of Home Affairs approval — not just the standard RAP.

The RAP is free but the line at the airport can be 30-45 minutes during peak season. Plan a 90-minute buffer between landing and your first ferry. Print extra passport copies — you’ll need them at multiple jetties.

Photo ID name match

This trips up more people than any other rule. The ticket name must match your photo ID exactly. Common gotchas:

• Middle names included on Aadhaar but missing from booking → boarding refused
• Diminutive name on booking (“Raj”) vs full name on ID (“Rajesh Kumar”) → boarding refused
• Spelling differences between Aadhaar and passport → use whichever matches your booking
• Married/maiden name mismatch → use whatever’s on the ID you’ll bring

Edit your booking before travel if you spot a mismatch — name corrections are typically allowed up to 24-48 hours before departure for a small fee. After that, it’s a cancellation + rebook.

Pricing & Hidden Fees

What you actually pay vs the headline price differs by a few line items. Knowing them upfront avoids the “wait, why is the total higher?” moment at checkout.

Standard add-ons across all private operators

• Port Service Fee (PSF): Rs 50 per ticket, levied by the Port Authority and included in BookYourFerry’s private checkout per passenger, per leg.
• Fuel surcharge: Review the operator-specific charge shown at checkout along with the selected fare.
• Seasonal pricing: Check the actual sailing date; do not add a historical surcharge again if it is already reflected in the quote.
• Other booking channels: Compare final payable totals and terms on the same basis; this guide does not establish another platform’s fees.
• GST: Invoice-level tax inclusion is unverified in these historical references. Review the final checkout total and do not add an assumed tax percentage; ask support for invoice details.

Class differences within an operator

Same operator, same date, same route — the class you pick changes the price by 2-3×. The pattern across operators:

• Cheapest class = lower deck, basic seating, no included meals
• Mid class = upper deck or premium seating, sometimes panoramic views, no meals
• Top class = forward upper deck, plush seating, complimentary refreshments on Royal/Pro Business only

Specifically, Makruzz Royal includes a sandwich + drink (only Royal class on any operator includes food). Nautika Pro Business includes barista coffee. Everyone else: buy from the onboard cafeteria for Rs 50-100.

Foreign traveller pricing

Some platforms display different prices for foreign passport holders. The actual ticket price is identical — what differs is currency conversion fees on international cards. Check the displayed currency before paying.

For full pricing details across all operators and classes: see our Andaman Ferry Prices Guide.

Cancellation, Reschedule & Refunds

For BookYourFerry bookings: our published passenger cancellation policy states that an operator cancellation for weather or technical reasons qualifies for a 100% refund including all fees, or a free reschedule. This guide does not change that BYF commitment. Operator-direct and government ticket conditions are separate and need confirmation.

Read BookYourFerry’s published passenger cancellation policy separately from the selected operator’s ticket conditions. Ask support to confirm deadlines, deductions, refundable fees, processing time and any rescheduling or operator-cancellation alternatives. Operator-direct terms still need confirmation; BYF bookings follow the published policy.

Government ticket terms must be checked separately with DSS/STARS. Contact support before changing a booking; do not assume that a date change is free or that every fee will be refunded.

Common Booking Mistakes Travellers Make

Before paying, double-check these common booking mistakes:

1. Booking same-day flight after the ferry

Don’t book a flight out of Port Blair on the same day as your return ferry. Buffer minimum 4-5 hours between ferry arrival at Port Blair and your flight. Better: stay overnight in Port Blair before flying.

The reason: ferries can run 30-90 minutes late even in peak season. Add 30-45 minutes for disembarking and getting through Haddo Jetty traffic. Then airport check-in time. Cutting it tight = stranded with a missed flight.

2. Mobile/screenshot ticket instead of printed

Follow the selected operator’s current ticket-format and ID instructions. Carry an accessible ticket copy and a printed backup; this guide does not establish universal acceptance or rejection of mobile tickets.

3. Photo ID name mismatch

Booking under “Raj” but ID says “Rajesh” → refused. Always book using the full name as it appears on the photo ID you’ll carry.

4. Not arriving early enough

All operators close their boarding counters 15-30 minutes before departure. Counters close even earlier in peak season. Arrive at Haddo Jetty 60 minutes before departure (75-90 minutes during Dec-Feb peak).

5. Booking Nautika and getting the wrong vessel

Nautika has two operational vessels — Nautika and Nautika Pro Business Class. The Pro is significantly more premium (and expensive). When booking, confirm the vessel name in your confirmation email. If you booked the Pro, the e-ticket should say “Nautika Pro” — if it just says “Nautika”, you got the original.

6. Forgetting to reconfirm Makruzz

Follow your ticket’s current reconfirmation instructions. Ask the operator or support if unclear; no universal deadline or penalty is established here.

7. Carrying single-use plastic

Single-use plastic is banned across the Andaman Islands — including ferry terminals. Plastic water bottles get confiscated at security check. Bring a reusable bottle.

8. Booking same name for two passengers

If you’re booking two travellers, each gets their own passenger entry with their own name + ID. Booking “Family of 4” under one name doesn’t work — every passenger needs their own ticket and ID.

9. Skipping the e-ticket print at the airport

Travellers flying into Port Blair sometimes plan to print the ticket “in town” before heading to Haddo Jetty. There’s no convenient print shop between the airport and the jetty. Print at the airport business centre or use the cyber café at the jetty itself. Don’t assume there’s an option in between.

10. Booking refundable fares only when they matter

Check the actual cancellation conditions and price of any flexible option. Flexibility may matter more when:

• Travelling June-September (monsoon cancellation risk)
• Tight onward connection (flight, train, hotel)
• Trip booked 30+ days ahead (more chance of changes)

Choose only after comparing the actual fare conditions; a label such as flexible or refundable does not establish which fees can be returned.

Booking from Abroad: Foreign Traveller Notes

Most of the booking process works the same for international travellers. A few things to know specifically.

Currency and payment

• All major comparison platforms accept international Visa/Mastercard
• Check the displayed payment currency and any issuer conversion charge before paying
• Conversion is at your card’s rate (typically 2-3% above mid-market)
• UPI is India-only — international travellers can’t use it
• Some operators offer payment via Razorpay International — this works with most foreign cards

Email confirmation timing

Wait for your issued operator ticket and booking reference. If it is missing, check spam and contact support with the payment reference before booking again.

RAP timing

Foreign travellers must collect their Restricted Area Permit at Port Blair Airport on arrival. The line is 30-45 minutes during peak season. Plan your arrival accordingly:

• If your flight lands at 11 AM, don’t book a 1 PM ferry from Haddo Jetty
• 90-minute buffer is the minimum; 2 hours is safer

Language at the jetty

Counter staff at all four operators speak English. The service quality varies — Makruzz and ITT Majestic counter staff are more consistently English-fluent. If your booking has any complications, having the email confirmation printed in English (most platforms default to this) helps.

Pre-trip recommendations

• Travel insurance — covers ferry cancellations specifically (rare to claim but cheap)
• Local SIM with WhatsApp — most operators send confirmations and updates via WhatsApp
• Cash for the cyber café — Rs 20/page printing if you forget your ticket
• Light layer — AC cabins are cool. Not Arctic, but a thin cardigan helps

After Booking: What Happens Next

You’ve paid, you have the e-ticket. Here’s the timeline from booking confirmation to actually being on the ferry.

Immediately after booking

• Email + WhatsApp with the e-ticket (PDF attachment)
• SMS with booking reference (optional, not all platforms)
• Your booking is confirmed but seat allocation may not be final yet

48 hours before departure

• Many operators send seat allocation via SMS, WhatsApp, or email
• Makruzz specifically opens seat selection 48 hours before departure
• Check this notification — sometimes seats change without it being obvious

24 hours before departure

• Check whether your selected operator requires reconfirmation before travel
• For all operators: double-check the e-ticket print is legible and hasn’t smudged
• Confirm transportation to Haddo Jetty (15-20 minutes from Port Blair Airport by taxi)

Departure day

• 75-90 minutes early during Dec-Feb peak season
• 60 minutes early during regular periods
• Bring printed ticket + photo ID + RAP (foreigners)
• Pack heavy items in hard-shell luggage (operators throw bags during loading)
• Avoid single-use plastic — banned territory-wide

At the jetty

1. ID + ticket check at the operator counter (15-20 minutes before boarding closes)
2. Luggage drop — handed to ground crew, stored in hold (no access during journey)
3. Boarding — vessel-specific. Makruzz boards via QR scan, others by manual ticket check
4. Find your seat — if assigned, the seat number is on the ticket. If unassigned, first-come-first-seated within your class
5. Departure — seas are calmer at morning slots. The crossing is approximately 90 minutes for fast catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, ITT) or 2-2h 15m for Green Ocean

After arrival

Pickup transfers, hotel transport, and onward ferries can be booked separately. If your trip is PB → Havelock → Neil → PB, book all three legs in advance — connecting ferries don’t always have last-minute availability.

Plan your full Andaman trip ferry-by-ferry at BookYourFerry.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question this page didn’t answer? Try the 50 Andaman ferry FAQs.

How do I book a ferry in Andaman?

Search your route and date on BookYourFerry, compare available private sailings and final prices, enter passenger details and follow the checkout instructions. For government ferries, start at the official DSS site for its STARS link and current release notices.

Can I book Andaman ferry tickets online?

Yes. BookYourFerry supports online bookings for Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic, subject to released inventory. Government tickets are booked separately through DSS/STARS. Check the current release window and availability for the specific sailing.

How do I book government ferry in Andaman?

Start at the official DSS site, follow its STARS link and check the current route/category release notice. Confirm tourist eligibility, available dates, fare inclusions and payment instructions. No fixed advance window, sell-out interval or price ratio is verified here.

How early should I book Andaman ferry tickets?

If your itinerary is fixed, search available dates early, especially around holidays. Suggested lead times are planning buffers, not verified release windows or sell-out deadlines. Compare current totals and confirm cancellation terms; booking earlier does not guarantee a lower price.

What documents do I need to board an Andaman ferry?

Check the selected operator’s current ID and ticket-format requirements. Names must match the booking details. International travellers should verify documentation and any applicable permit requirements with the relevant authority; this guide does not establish current entry rules. Carry a printed ticket backup.

Can I cancel or reschedule an Andaman ferry ticket?

Read BookYourFerry’s published passenger cancellation policy separately from the selected operator’s ticket conditions. Ask support to confirm deadlines, deductions, refundable fees, processing time and any rescheduling or operator-cancellation alternatives. Operator-direct terms still need confirmation; BYF bookings follow the published policy.

What is STARS e-ticketing portal?

STARS is the government-ferry booking system linked from the official DSS site. Check current route/category eligibility, release notices, fares and ticket conditions there; government bookings are separate from BYF’s private checkout.

Do I need a printed ticket for Andaman ferries?

Follow the selected operator’s current ticket-format and ID instructions. Carry an accessible ticket copy and a printed backup; this guide does not establish universal acceptance or rejection of mobile tickets.

Are Andaman ferry tickets refundable?

Refund eligibility depends on the selected ticket and the reason and timing of cancellation. Read BookYourFerry’s published passenger cancellation policy separately from operator-specific conditions; ask support which deductions and fee components apply. Government conditions require DSS/STARS confirmation.

Which is the best site to book Andaman ferries?

A comparison platform lets you compare available private operators in one place. Check operator-direct sites if you want to compare their final totals and ticket conditions; do not assume a discount or price advantage. Government services use the separate DSS/STARS process. Compare the confirmed fare, eligibility and booking conditions for your actual journey.

Claims corrected 16 September 2026. Older fare and policy references are not a new verification; check live inventory, the displayed checkout total and current ticket terms before paying.

Compare Andaman ferry prices across all 4 operators in one place at BookYourFerry.com