Neil Island to Havelock Ferry: Timings, Fare & Booking Guide (2026)

The Neil Island to Havelock ferry covers 18 km of open sea in 45-75 minutes — but here’s what most guides won’t tell you: this is the thinnest private-ferry leg in the Andamans. In the 2025-26 season, effectively one sailing carried it: MV Makruzz Pearl, departing Bharatpur Jetty at 10:30 AM. And during the monsoon months, private service on this leg often disappears entirely.

The short version:

Check today’s Neil to Havelock availability — live seats across all operators at BookYourFerry.com

How Far Is Neil Island from Havelock?

Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) sits about 18 km — 10 nautical miles — south-west of Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), both part of Ritchie’s Archipelago. It’s the shortest inter-island hop in the Andamans, and the crossing stays in relatively sheltered water compared with the longer Port Blair legs.

Journey time depends entirely on the vessel. Makruzz’s catamarans do it in about 45 minutes. Green Ocean’s conventional hulls take 60-75 minutes when they operate this direction. So the “how long” answer is: under an hour on the fast boats, a little over on the slow ones.

Don’t confuse this with the reverse run. The Havelock to Neil Island ferry has up to 5 daily departures in season — this direction has far fewer. More on why below.

Who Actually Runs Neil to Havelock? (What Our Booking Data Shows)

On paper, four private operators serve the Andaman ferry network. In practice, this specific direction is close to a one-boat route.

Here’s what our own platform records show for the 2025-26 season (September through March): every confirmed Neil Island to Havelock booking — 28 of them — was the same sailing: MV Makruzz Pearl at 10:30 AM. Not one confirmed Nautika or ITT Majestic ticket on this leg. Green Ocean sells it in some periods, but it didn’t appear in our confirmed bookings for the season.

Why so thin? Vessel economics. Ferries overnight at Port Blair, Havelock, or Neil, and mornings are spent repositioning toward the high-demand Port Blair-Havelock corridor. A boat sitting at Neil after the morning arrivals mostly wants to run direct to Port Blair — where three operators compete every day — not backtrack to Havelock. The Pearl’s mid-morning hop is the exception that survives because it slots neatly into Makruzz’s triangle rotation.

What this means for you is simple. But it matters: if the ~10:30 AM sailing doesn’t fit your plan — or sells out — there is usually no second private ferry that day.

Neil Island to Havelock Ferry Timings (2026)

Season timings (October to May)

Timetables in the Andamans shift between seasons, and operators adjust vessel rotations. Treat the 10:30 AM as the anchor — it held all season in our booking records — but confirm the exact time for your date on the live schedule before you build a day around it.

Monsoon timings (June to September): often none

This is the part that catches people out. We checked live inventory across all four operator systems while updating this guide in July 2026: zero private sailings listed from Neil to Havelock — while the reverse Havelock to Neil direction was still running its reduced monsoon schedule.

So a Neil → Havelock hop in the monsoon window can’t be assumed. Your options shrink to the government ferry (below) or re-routing. If you’re planning a June-September island circuit, do Havelock first, then Neil, then the direct Neil to Port Blair ferry home — that sequence uses only legs that keep running through the monsoon.

Neil Island to Havelock Ferry Price

Fares on this leg mirror the reverse direction — Andaman operators price a route the same both ways, within about Rs 50-100.

Two seasonal loadings to budget for. Peak season (mid-December to mid-January) adds Rs 100 per ticket. And a temporary fuel surcharge of Rs 300-325 per person has applied on Makruzz, Nautika, and Green Ocean since March 2026 — worth checking whether it’s still in force when you book.

Infants under 1 travel free on Makruzz (Rs 105 documentation charge). Children above 2 pay full fare — no child discounts on any Andaman operator.

Compare live fares and lock your seat on the Neil to Havelock leg at BookYourFerry.com — all operators, one search.

How to Book the Neil to Havelock Ferry

1. Search your date on BookYourFerry.com — live seats across Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, and ITT Majestic, so you’ll see exactly what’s sailing that day.
2. Book early in peak season. One main sailing means limited seats. 2-3 weeks ahead for October-May, 3-4 weeks for the December-January rush.
3. Enter passenger details exactly as on your photo ID — names are checked at the jetty.
4. Print your ticket. Every operator rejects mobile screenshots. No printer on Neil? Sort it before you leave Havelock or Port Blair, or ask your hotel.
5. Reconfirm one day before travel — Makruzz asks for it (03192-236677), and it’s doubly worth doing on a one-sailing route.

Private ferry inventory opens up to 60 days out. If your dates are fixed, there’s no upside to waiting.

Check-in at Bharatpur Jetty

Bharatpur Jetty sits beside Bharatpur Beach on Neil’s north coast — most guesthouses are 5-15 minutes away by scooter or auto.

• Arrive 45-60 minutes before departure. Counters close 15-30 minutes out. In peak season, make it 75-90.
• Carry the printed ticket plus original photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, or voter ID). Foreign nationals need passport + RAP permit.
• Luggage limits: 25 kg on Makruzz. Bags are stowed in the hold and X-rayed — keep valuables and anything fragile in your cabin bag. Hard-shell luggage survives Andaman baggage handling best.
• Single-use plastic is banned across the islands — don’t bring it to the jetty.

Your Last Morning on Neil: Timing It Right

A 10:30 AM departure gives you one usable morning slot, and it happens to suit Neil’s best sight.

The Natural Rock Bridge is a low-tide attraction — its coral arch and tidal pools only show properly when the water pulls back. If low tide falls early morning on your travel day, you can walk it at first light, grab breakfast, and still make check-in comfortably. Check tide timings the evening before.

And return the scooter before you head to the jetty, not on the way — rental shops open around 8:00-8:30 AM, and settling the deposit can eat 20 minutes you’d budgeted for check-in. Planning more island time instead? Our Neil Island guide covers the 3-point tour and beach timings.

Arriving at Havelock: Onward Connections

The Pearl puts you at Havelock Island Jetty around 11:15 AM — early enough to make the same day count.

Continuing to Port Blair? Makruzz runs Havelock to Port Blair sailings at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM. The 12:00 PM is tight but doable since you’re already inside the jetty complex — buy both legs in advance and tell staff you’re connecting. The 4:00 PM is the relaxed choice: drop bags at a beach shack, have lunch, catch the afternoon boat. Full options on the Havelock to Port Blair ferry page.

Staying on Havelock? Hotel pickups meet the late-morning arrivals, and you’ll be at Radhanagar Beach well before the 4:30 PM sweet spot for sunset positioning. Two or three nights is the standard stay — the Havelock Island guide covers beach-by-beach timing.

A connection warning that applies year-round: never chain this ferry to a same-day flight out of Port Blair. You’d need the Neil boat on time, the connection made, and the second crossing smooth — three things weather can break at once. Keep 4-5 hours of buffer before any flight, which in practice means overnighting in Port Blair.

Which Order Should You Do the Islands In?

Because this leg is thin — and vanishes in monsoon — the direction you loop the islands actually matters.

October to May (season): either order works. Port Blair → Havelock → Neil → Port Blair is the classic, using the well-served Havelock to Neil hop and Neil’s three daily direct boats back. The reverse (Neil first, Havelock second) leans on this route’s single 10:30 AM sailing — fine, but book it the moment dates are fixed, because there’s no fallback boat that afternoon.

June to September (monsoon): do Havelock first, full stop. The Havelock → Neil direction keeps a reduced schedule through the monsoon while Neil → Havelock frequently isn’t offered at all. Havelock-first means every leg of your circuit — out, hop, and home — stays on routes that keep sailing.

No Private Ferry? The Government Option

The Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) runs government vessels year-round, monsoon included — they’re the standard fallback when private boats don’t sail. Inter-island government sailings connect Neil and Havelock on select days — frequency changes with season, so check the STARS portal for the current week’s sailings rather than assuming a daily service.

Know the trade-offs before relying on it. Booking opens only 2 days before travel on the STARS portal (dss.andaman.gov.in) at 9:00 AM sharp, the tourist quota routinely sells out within 10-15 minutes, fares are Rs 300-700, and tickets are non-refundable. It’s a genuine budget option — Rs 1,000+ cheaper than private — but a stressful one to build an itinerary on. Our government ferry guide walks through the STARS booking process step by step.

FAQ: Neil Island to Havelock Ferry

Is there a direct ferry from Neil Island to Havelock?

Yes — a direct private sailing runs in season, primarily Makruzz’s MV Makruzz Pearl at about 10:30 AM from Bharatpur Jetty, taking 45 minutes. In the monsoon (June-September) this leg is often suspended, so always confirm live availability for your date before planning around it.

What time does the Neil to Havelock ferry leave?

Around 10:30 AM — that departure held consistently through the 2025-26 season on Makruzz Pearl, per our booking records. Andaman timetables do shift between seasons, so verify the exact time for your travel date when you book rather than assuming it.

How long does the ferry from Neil to Havelock take?

45 minutes on Makruzz’s catamarans for the 18 km crossing. Green Ocean’s conventional vessels take 60-75 minutes when they operate the direction. Add jetty formalities either side and door-to-door you’re looking at roughly two hours.

How much does the Neil Island to Havelock ferry cost?

Makruzz Premium runs Rs 1,500-1,800 plus Rs 50 Port Service Fee, with 18% GST on the base fare. Mid-December to mid-January adds a Rs 100 peak surcharge, and a temporary Rs 300-325 fuel surcharge has applied since March 2026 — check its status when booking.

Does the Neil to Havelock ferry run during monsoon?

Often it doesn’t. When we checked live inventory in July 2026, no private operator listed the direction at all, while Havelock to Neil kept a reduced schedule. Government ferries continue year-round on select days. For June-September trips, sequence your islands so you don’t depend on this leg.

Can I book the Neil to Havelock ferry on the same day?

Risky. With effectively one private sailing, same-day seats depend on what’s left after advance bookings — fine in quiet months, a gamble from December to January. Private inventory opens 60 days ahead; booking even 3-4 days early removes most of the risk for little effort.

What is the luggage allowance on this route?

Makruzz allows 25 kg per passenger. Bags travel in the hold — X-ray screened, inaccessible during the crossing — so keep documents, valuables, and medicines in your cabin bag. Use hard-shell cases with bright tags; baggage handling at island jetties is rough on soft luggage.

Doing the full circuit? Read the Havelock to Neil Island ferry guide for the outbound leg, the Port Blair to Havelock ferry for getting out there, and the Andaman ferry booking guide for the system end to end. And if plans change, the cancellation policy explains exactly what a date change costs.

Updated July 2026. Fares and timings verified against live operator inventory and BookYourFerry booking records for the 2025-26 season.