Port Blair to Neil Island Ferry 2026: Why There’s No Direct Private Service (And 3 Ways to Actually Get There)
The Port Blair to Neil Island ferry is the trickiest route in the Andamans right now — because no private operator currently runs it directly. Makruzz launched a direct Port Blair → Neil service in September 2025, ran it for a few months, then quietly discontinued it. As of 2026, your only direct private option is gone. Government ferry runs the route once a day with limited tourist seats. Everyone else routes via Havelock.
Quick answer if you’re in a hurry: Most travelers should book the 6:30 AM Makruzz Premium to Havelock + 2:30 PM Green Ocean Premium from Havelock to Neil combo (~Rs 2,400 total, ~6 hours including layover). The government ferry (~Rs 725, 90-120 min direct) is cheaper but tourist quota sells out in 5-15 minutes on the STARS portal. Compare current availability on BookYourFerry.
What changed: Until September 2025, Makruzz Pearl ran a direct Port Blair → Neil → Havelock circuit. That service is currently discontinued — Pearl now runs Port Blair → Neil only as a stop on her Havelock-bound route, not as a terminating destination. No other private operator has stepped in to fill the gap.
TL;DR Key Takeaways:
- No direct private ferry currently runs Port Blair → Neil Island (as of 2026)
- Only the government ferry (via STARS portal) goes direct, ~Rs 675 fare, 90-120 minutes
- Government tourist quota opens 2 days before sailing, sells out in 5-15 minutes during peak season
- Private alternative: route via Havelock (4 operators run this leg), total ~Rs 2,500-4,500 per person
- Most travelers end up doing the via-Havelock route because government quota is hard to land
- The reverse direction (Neil → Port Blair) is fully serviced by all 4 private operators — see our Havelock to Port Blair ferry guide for return-direction sibling
| Route Option | Operator | Total Cost (per pax) | Total Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct govt ferry | DSS via STARS portal | Rs 675 + Rs 50 PSF | 90-120 min | Tight budgets, flexible bookings |
| Via Havelock (one-day) | 4 private operators | Rs 2,400-4,500 | 4-7 hours total | Most travelers — schedule certainty |
| Via Havelock (overnight) | 4 private operators | Rs 2,400-4,500 + 1 night hotel | 24+ hours | Travelers who want to spend a day on Havelock anyway |
| Private charter | Private boat operator | Rs 15,000-30,000+ | 90-120 min | Groups, special occasions only |
Check current Port Blair → Neil routing options on BookYourFerry →
Why There’s No Direct Private Ferry from Port Blair to Neil Island
This is the question most travelers ask first, and the answer surprises people. The short version: it’s an economics decision by the operators, not a regulatory one.
For most of 2024 and early 2025, no private operator ran direct Port Blair → Neil. Travelers either routed via Havelock or used government ferries. In September 2025, Makruzz launched a direct Port Blair → Neil service using their Pearl vessel, the same one that runs the Port Blair → Neil → Havelock circuit. The new service ran for a few months but was discontinued by early 2026 — passenger volumes apparently didn’t justify a dedicated daily slot, and the via-Neil-to-Havelock route was earning more per sailing.
Makruzz hasn’t publicly committed to restarting the direct service. Industry chatter in Port Blair suggests it may return seasonally during peak December-February months, but nothing official as of mid-2026. If you’re reading this six months from now, check live availability on BookYourFerry — we update operator routes as soon as schedules change.
The other three private operators (Nautika, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic) have never offered direct Port Blair → Neil. Their vessels run the standard PB → Havelock route plus the Havelock → Neil route as separate legs, with you transferring between them.
Worth noting: direct Neil → Port Blair service runs daily on all four private operators. The return direction has full coverage; the outbound from Port Blair doesn’t. That’s not a typo — it’s an actual asymmetry in how the Andaman ferry network operates. Vessels overnight at Havelock or Neil and return to Port Blair direct in the morning. Outbound from Port Blair, they prioritize the Havelock route because demand is higher.
Option 1: Government Ferry via STARS Portal
The direct government ferry from Port Blair to Neil Island is your only direct option in 2026. It’s operated by the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) under the Andaman administration. Tourist fare is approximately Rs 675 plus the Rs 50 Port Security Fee (PSF), so you’re paying roughly Rs 725 per person total. Journey time is 90 to 120 minutes — slower than private catamarans but matching private speed roughly.
The catch is real: government ferries are primarily designed for local Andaman residents. Tourist seats are quota-limited, and during peak season (December-February), the tourist quota sells out within 5 to 15 minutes of the booking window opening. The window opens exactly 2 days before sailing on the STARS portal. If you’re not logged in and clicking refresh at 10:00 AM IST on the dot, you’ll probably miss it.
Step-by-step to actually land a seat:
- Register on STARS portal at least one week before your trip — account verification takes 24-48 hours
- Verify your travel date lands on a sailing day (government ferry doesn’t run every day; check the published schedule)
- Be logged in by 9:55 AM IST two days before sailing
- Refresh repeatedly from 10:00 AM — tourist quota releases at that exact moment
- Book within 5 minutes — peak-season quota is often gone within that window
- Save the e-ticket immediately — STARS sometimes has trouble re-issuing tickets
For step-by-step screenshots and the full STARS booking walkthrough, see our government ferry Andaman guide. It covers the registration flow, common booking errors, and what to do if the site crashes mid-booking (which happens during peak times).
Cancellation reality on government ferries: they’re non-refundable. If you book the government ferry and miss it for any reason, the money’s gone. No rebooking, no partial refund, no exception for weather-related personal delays.
Option 2: Via Havelock — The Practical Route Most Travelers Use
For most travelers, the realistic Port Blair → Neil routing is via Havelock. You take a private ferry from Port Blair to Havelock, then a second private ferry from Havelock to Neil Island. Two tickets, one connection.
This is the route that actually scales for international and domestic travelers who plan their trip more than 2 days ahead — because private ferry seats are bookable up to 60 days in advance on operator websites and BookYourFerry, whereas government ferry seats open just 2 days prior.
How it works practically:
The Port Blair → Havelock leg takes 90 minutes (private catamarans at 28-32 knots). Departures concentrate between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM across the four operators, with 13-16 sailings total during peak season. See our Port Blair to Havelock ferry guide for the full schedule and operator comparison.
The Havelock → Neil Island leg takes 45-75 minutes depending on operator. Most operators run mid-morning to mid-afternoon departures — see our Havelock to Neil Island ferry guide for current schedules.
Two scheduling realities to plan around:
First, you cannot book back-to-back same-morning sailings reliably. Even the earliest Port Blair → Havelock arrival (around 8:00 AM) doesn’t connect to the earliest Havelock → Neil departure (around 9:25 AM) with safe buffer. The boarding gate at Havelock closes 15 minutes before sailing, and you need 10-15 minutes to retrieve checked luggage from the first ferry plus walk to the connection counter. Realistic same-day connection: arrive Havelock by 8:30 AM, connect to the 11:30 AM Makruzz Premium or 2:30 PM Green Ocean.
Second, the typical via-Havelock day looks like: 6:30 AM PB→HL ferry → arrive Havelock 8:00 AM → wait 3 hours → 11:30 AM HL→Neil ferry → arrive Neil 12:30 PM. Total elapsed time about 6 hours. Use the layover to grab breakfast at Havelock jetty area, see a beach if time allows, then head back to the jetty for the onward ferry.
Cost breakdown for the via-Havelock route:
| Leg | Cheapest Operator | Cheapest Fare | Best-Value Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Blair → Havelock | Green Ocean Economy | Rs 1,100 | Makruzz Premium Rs 1,250 |
| Havelock → Neil Island | Green Ocean Economy | Rs 1,350 | Makruzz Premium Rs 1,400 |
| Combined | Rs 2,450 | Rs 2,650 (recommended) |
Add the Rs 50 PSF per departure (charged twice — once at Port Blair, once at Havelock) plus any fuel surcharges currently applied by your operator. Most private operators charge Rs 300-350 per person per trip as a fuel surcharge in 2026; ITT Majestic removed theirs on 25 May 2026, making it the no-surcharge option.
A practical caveat on combined tickets:
If you book outbound + return together on BookYourFerry, you can route Port Blair → Havelock → Neil as a single transaction with linked PNRs. If anything cancels (weather, technical), you get unified rebooking support across both legs. Booking the two legs separately on different operator sites means two separate cancellation policies and two separate refund processes if anything goes wrong.
Option 3: Private Charter Boat (Rare and Expensive)
The third option exists but it’s not realistic for most travelers. A private charter boat from Port Blair to Neil Island costs Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 depending on boat size, season, and operator. Some Port Blair-based tour companies offer this for groups of 8-12 people, where the per-person cost can come down to Rs 1,500-3,000 if the group is full.
When charter makes sense:
- Large group (8+ people) with synchronized travel needs
- Special occasion like a destination wedding or honeymoon where direct travel matters
- Schedule emergency where neither government nor via-Havelock options work for your dates
Charter boat operators in Port Blair don’t have a standardized booking portal. You’ll need to contact them directly through hotel concierge networks or local tour operators. Expect 24-48 hour booking lead time and full upfront payment.
Port Blair to Neil Island Distance, Time, and Fare Comparison
The actual sea distance from Port Blair (Haddo Jetty) to Neil Island (Bharatpur Jetty) is roughly 65-75 km depending on the route taken. Direct routing covers the distance in 90-120 minutes at typical government ferry cruising speeds. The via-Havelock route covers a longer total distance because Havelock sits north-northwest of Neil, but each leg is shorter individually.
| Route | Distance | Operator Speed | Total Time (excl. layover) | Lowest Fare (per pax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Govt ferry direct | ~70 km | 12-13 knots | 90-120 min | Rs 725 (inc. PSF) |
| Via Havelock (Makruzz Premium) | ~110 km combined | 28-32 knots | 135-180 min ferry time | Rs 2,650 (inc. PSF × 2) |
| Via Havelock (Green Ocean Economy) | ~110 km combined | 13-15 knots | 200-240 min ferry time | Rs 2,450 (inc. PSF × 2) |
| Private charter | ~70 km direct | Varies | 90-150 min | Rs 15,000+ (boat hire) |
Fares as of May 2026. Add fuel surcharges where operator applies them — Makruzz, Nautika, and Green Ocean still charge Rs 300-350 per person per trip; ITT Majestic removed surcharge on 25 May 2026.
The Port Blair to Neil Island distance question gets asked a lot, partly because Google Maps shows the road distance (which is irrelevant — there’s no land route) and partly because travelers want to estimate fuel costs for private boats. The sea distance varies slightly based on the exact route a captain takes around the smaller islands en route, but 65-75 km is the realistic range.
When Does Makruzz Restart Direct Port Blair to Neil Service?
There’s no official announcement as of mid-2026. The September 2025 launch was a pilot, and the discontinuation suggests passenger volumes weren’t sufficient for daily operation.
Industry chatter in Port Blair suggests the route may return seasonally — specifically during the December-February peak window when total Neil Island visitor numbers spike. If Makruzz restarts the service, it would most likely use the Pearl vessel (250-seat Premium-only) running a single morning departure.
If you’re planning a trip more than 60 days ahead, check Makruzz’s official site and BookYourFerry’s Andaman ferry schedule guide closer to your travel date. We update operator routes within 48 hours of any announcement.
Worth knowing: Pearl currently still passes through Neil on her Port Blair → Neil → Havelock loop. You technically COULD board Pearl at Port Blair and disembark at Neil instead of continuing to Havelock. We don’t recommend this approach — it’s not a published service, the ticketing system may charge you for the full Havelock journey, and there’s no guaranteed disembarkation at Neil if the captain decides to skip the stop for weather or load reasons.
Which Option Should You Pick for Port Blair to Neil Island?
The right choice depends on three factors: your trip start date timing, your budget, and how much hassle you’re willing to absorb. Here’s an honest decision tree.
Book the government ferry if:
- You’re a solo traveler or couple on a tight budget where Rs 725 vs Rs 2,650 matters
- You’ll be in Port Blair at least 3 days before your Neil arrival date (so you can grab the 2-days-prior STARS booking window)
- You have flexible enough plans that missing the booking window means you can shift the trip
- You’re comfortable with non-refundable tickets and same-day-of-sailing risk
Book the via-Havelock route if:
- You want booking certainty more than 2 days ahead
- You’re traveling December-January peak season when government quota is impossible
- Your itinerary has Havelock as a planned stop anyway (then the layover becomes useful)
- You’re on tight time and want maximum schedule flexibility (private ferries have more daily options)
- You’re traveling with kids or older parents who don’t want a 5+ hour cumulative journey day — split it across two days with an overnight on Havelock
Consider charter only if:
- You’re a group of 8+ people and the per-head cost works out
- You’re booking a destination wedding or special occasion where direct, private transit matters
- Money isn’t the primary constraint
For most travelers booking solo or as a couple more than 1 week ahead, the via-Havelock route is the realistic answer. It’s why nearly every BookYourFerry booking for the PB-to-Neil corridor in 2026 is a two-leg via-Havelock combo.
How to Book Government Ferry to Neil Island Step-by-Step
If you’re going for Option 1 (the direct government ferry), here’s the booking process in concrete steps. The full deep-dive lives in our government ferry Andaman guide, but here’s the essentials.
One week before your trip:
- Register an account on the STARS portal
- Wait for OTP verification (sometimes delayed by 30-60 minutes on first registration)
- Complete profile with passenger name + valid ID number matching the document you’ll carry
Two days before sailing:
- Check the Government Ferry schedule for your travel date — confirm a sailing exists
- Be logged into STARS by 9:55 AM IST (do not assume you can log in at 9:59 AM and click at 10:00 — verification can take 30-60 seconds)
- At 10:00 AM IST, the tourist quota releases — refresh the booking page repeatedly
- Select the Port Blair → Neil sailing, enter passenger details, complete payment within 5 minutes
- Save the PDF e-ticket immediately
Day of sailing:
- Arrive at Haddo Jetty 60-75 minutes before departure (government ferries close gates 30 min before)
- Carry printed e-ticket plus original government photo ID (Aadhaar/passport/voter ID)
- Foreign nationals need passport plus the Restricted Area Permit obtained at Port Blair airport
- PSF (Rs 50) is collected at the jetty entrance in cash — bring exact change to skip the queue
Common booking failure modes:
If the STARS site crashes (it has crashed during peak times), there’s no real recovery path — you’ve missed your slot. Backup plan: have a private via-Havelock booking ready as fallback. Some travelers book the via-Havelock private route first as insurance, then if government quota lands they cancel the private (private operators allow cancellation 48+ hours ahead for Rs 250 per person).
Port Blair to Neil Island Ferry FAQ
Is there a direct ferry from Port Blair to Neil Island?
Yes, but only the government ferry. No private operator currently runs direct Port Blair → Neil service in 2026. Makruzz launched a direct service in September 2025 but discontinued it. Government ferry runs the route once a day with tourist fare around Rs 725 (including Rs 50 PSF), journey time 90-120 minutes. Tickets via STARS portal, opens 2 days before sailing.
Why don’t private ferries run directly from Port Blair to Neil Island anymore?
Makruzz launched the direct Port Blair → Neil route in September 2025 but discontinued it in early 2026, likely because passenger volumes didn’t justify a dedicated daily slot. The via-Havelock-to-Neil routing earned more per sailing. No other private operator has filled the gap. The route may return seasonally during peak December-February months but nothing’s been announced as of mid-2026.
What’s the cheapest way to get from Port Blair to Neil Island?
Government ferry at roughly Rs 725 total (including Rs 50 PSF) is the cheapest, but tourist quota sells out fast on the STARS portal during peak season. Among private options, the via-Havelock route on Green Ocean Economy comes to about Rs 2,450 per person before fuel surcharges. Private charter boats start at Rs 15,000 for the boat hire — only economical for groups of 8+ people.
How much does the Port Blair to Neil Island ferry cost?
Government ferry: Rs 675 + Rs 50 PSF = Rs 725 total per adult. Via-Havelock private route: Rs 2,400-4,500 depending on operator and class combination, including PSF charged twice (once at PB, once at Havelock) and current fuel surcharges. Private charter: Rs 15,000-30,000 for the boat regardless of passenger count. Children above 2 years pay full fare on private ferries; government ferry has reduced child fares.
What’s the journey time from Port Blair to Neil Island?
Government ferry direct: 90-120 minutes. Via-Havelock route on private ferries: 90 minutes (Port Blair → Havelock) + 45-75 minutes (Havelock → Neil) plus a layover of 1-3 hours at Havelock jetty, so 4-6 hours total elapsed time. Private charter direct: 90-150 minutes depending on vessel speed and sea conditions.
Can I book government ferry from Port Blair to Neil Island online?
Yes, exclusively through the STARS portal at stars-andaman.in. The booking window opens 2 days before sailing at 10:00 AM IST. You must register an account at least 24-48 hours before your first booking to complete verification. Tourist quota is limited and sells out within 5-15 minutes during peak season (December-February). Private ferries are bookable up to 60 days ahead on BookYourFerry or operator websites.
What’s the distance from Port Blair to Neil Island?
The direct sea distance from Port Blair to Neil Island is approximately 65-75 km (35-40 nautical miles), depending on the exact route a vessel takes around smaller islands. There’s no road or land route — both islands are separated by open Bay of Bengal water. The via-Havelock private route covers about 110 km combined (PB→Havelock ~70 km + Havelock→Neil ~18 km), so you’re actually traveling further if you route via Havelock — just at faster catamaran speeds.
Should I go via Havelock or take the government ferry to Neil Island?
If your trip starts more than 2 days from today and you can land a STARS booking, government ferry saves you about Rs 2,000 per person versus the via-Havelock route. If you’re booking more than 2 days ahead or want schedule certainty, the via-Havelock private route is the realistic answer — it’s why most travelers default to it. December-February peak season practically requires the via-Havelock route because government tourist quota is gone within minutes of release.
Plan Your Port Blair to Neil Island Journey Today
The Port Blair to Neil Island ferry route requires planning around a service gap most travelers don’t expect. No direct private ferry runs the route currently. Government ferry is the only direct option but limited by tourist quota. Routing via Havelock costs more but offers schedule certainty and better booking lead time. Pick the option that matches your trip dates and risk tolerance — there’s no single right answer.
Compare current Port Blair → Havelock → Neil routing options on BookYourFerry →
Have questions about a specific date, want to bundle outbound and return legs into one booking, or curious whether Makruzz has restarted direct service? See our complete Andaman ferry booking guide or check the route-specific Havelock to Neil Island ferry and Havelock to Port Blair ferry pages for connecting-leg details.