STARS E-Ticketing Andaman 2026: Login, Booking & Tourist Quota Guide
STARS is the Andaman government’s online ferry ticketing system — Ship Ticketing And Reservation System — run by the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS). It’s how you book the government ferries that reach islands no private operator serves: Neil direct, Long Island, Rangat, Diglipur, Baratang. It’s also the portal that frustrates more travelers than anything else in the Andamans, because the tourist quota is tiny and the booking window is unforgiving.
This guide covers the portal honestly: how to register and log in, how to book a ticket step by step, exactly when the tourist quota opens (and how fast it vanishes), why bookings fail, and when the government ferry is worth the hassle versus a private ferry you can book in a minute.
What Is STARS E-Ticketing?
STARS is the official e-ticketing portal for government (DSS) ferries in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, hosted at dss.andaman.gov.in. It is not a private booking site and it does not sell Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean or ITT Majestic tickets — those are separate private operators. STARS handles only the government vessels: MV Kalighat, MV Bambooka, MV Nalanda, and the Coral Queen (the best-maintained of the fleet, with proper bunks and cabins).
Two things make STARS worth understanding:
- It’s the only way to reach the remote islands. Long Island, Rangat, Diglipur and Baratang have no private ferry — the government boat is the sole option.
- It’s the only direct Port Blair → Neil Island ferry. No private operator currently runs that route direct, so if you want to skip the Havelock connection, STARS is it.
For the popular Port Blair–Havelock–Neil tourist triangle, though, most travelers use private ferries — and once you see how the quota works, you’ll understand why.
STARS Portal Login & Registration
Before you can book anything, you need an account on the portal.
To register: go to dss.andaman.gov.in, open the STARS e-ticketing section, and create an account with your mobile number and email. You’ll verify with an OTP. Keep the login credentials handy — you do not want to be creating an account at 9:00 AM on booking day when seconds matter.
To log in: use your registered mobile number/email and password. If you’ve forgotten the password, reset it the day before you plan to book, not on the morning of — password-reset emails can lag, and you can’t afford the delay during the quota rush.
A note on the portal itself: it’s a government site, not a polished commercial app. It can be slow, it occasionally times out under load (especially right at 9:00 AM), and the interface is basic. Register early, log in ahead of time, and have your passenger details typed out and ready to paste.
How to Book a Government Ferry on STARS: Step by Step
Once you’re logged in:
- Select your route — e.g. Port Blair to Havelock (Swaraj Dweep), Port Blair to Neil (Shaheed Dweep), or a remote-island route.
- Pick the travel date — remember bookings open only 2 calendar days ahead (more on this below).
- Choose the quota — this is the critical step. Select the tourist quota if you’re a visitor; the local/general quotas are for residents and won’t apply to you.
- Enter passenger details — names, ages, and ID (carry the same government photo ID you booked with; it’s checked at the jetty).
- Pay online — complete payment to lock the seat. Government ferry tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, so double-check the date and route before you pay.
- Save your e-ticket — download or screenshot it. You’ll show it, with your ID, at Phoenix Bay Jetty.
If the online portal defeats you, there are physical counters: Phoenix Bay Jetty (6:00 AM–1:00 PM) and Aberdeen Jetty (2:00 PM–5:00 PM). Expect queues, and the same quota limits apply.
When STARS Booking Opens: The 2-Day Rule
This is the single most important thing to understand, and it’s where most travelers get caught out:
Government ferry bookings open at 9:00 AM sharp, exactly 2 calendar days before travel. E-ticketing is available roughly 00:30 to 23:30, but the tourist quota releases at 9:00 AM on the 2-days-prior date.
So to travel on the 20th, you book at 9:00 AM on the 18th. Not earlier — there is no advance booking beyond 2 days. You cannot plan a government ferry weeks ahead the way you can with private operators (who take bookings up to 60–90 days out).
Set an alarm. Be logged in by 8:55 AM. Have the route, date, quota and passenger details ready to go the instant the clock hits 9:00.
The Tourist Quota Reality (Read This Before You Rely on STARS)
Here’s the honest truth the government portal won’t tell you: the tourist quota is tiny and it sells out in 10–15 minutes. During the December 20 – January 5 peak, it’s gone in 5–10 minutes. The vessels hold 400–500 people, but the overwhelming majority of seats are reserved for local residents — tourists compete for a small slice.
What that means in practice:
- Even logged in and ready at 9:00 AM sharp, you may not get a seat, especially in peak season.
- If your whole trip depends on a specific government ferry on a specific day, you’re taking a real risk.
- The remote-island routes (Long Island, Rangat, Diglipur) have more tourist availability than the tourist-triangle routes, simply because fewer visitors want them.
This is why seasoned Andaman travelers treat the government ferry as a bonus, not a plan — and book private ferries as their reliable backbone.
Government Ferry Prices on STARS
Government fares are a fraction of private ones — that’s the entire appeal:
| Passenger type | Fare (approx) |
|---|---|
| Local resident | Rs 95–170 + PSF |
| Tourist | Rs 630–920 + PSF |
| General | Rs 300–700 |
PSF (Passenger Service Fee) is added on top. Compare that to Rs 1,100–1,800 for a private ferry on Port Blair–Havelock, and you can see why the quota is so contested. For the full private-vs-government cost picture, see our Andaman ferry prices guide.
Government Ferry Routes & Vessels
STARS covers routes private operators do and don’t:
Tourist-triangle routes (compete with private ferries):
- Port Blair → Havelock (Swaraj Dweep) — 2 to 2.5 hours
- Port Blair → Neil (Shaheed Dweep) — the only direct option on this route
- Neil and Havelock return legs
Remote routes (government-only — no private alternative):
- Port Blair → Long Island (about 3 times a week)
- Port Blair → Rangat (4–5 times a week)
- Port Blair → Diglipur (130 nautical miles, ~6h 15m, twice a week)
- Baratang via Middle Strait
The fleet — MV Kalighat, MV Bambooka, MV Nalanda and the Coral Queen — runs year-round, including monsoon, which is another reason the government service matters: when rough weather cancels private sailings, the government boats often still run. Full timings sit alongside every private departure in our Andaman ferry schedule.
Why STARS Bookings Fail (And What to Do)
The most common reasons travelers can’t book:
- Quota sold out — you logged in at 9:03 and it was already gone. The fix is being ready before 9:00, or accepting the government ferry may not be available for your date.
- Portal timeout / slow site — heavy load right at 9:00 AM. Refresh, stay logged in, and keep trying; don’t restart the whole login.
- Wrong quota selected — picking local/general as a tourist. Always select the tourist quota.
- Payment failure — the seat isn’t held until payment completes, and in a 10-minute window a failed payment usually means you’ve lost it. Use a reliable payment method you’ve tested.
- Account not ready — trying to register at 9:00 AM. Register and log in the day before.
If the government ferry falls through — and for peak-season tourist-triangle travel, it often does — you have a fast, reliable alternative.
Government vs Private: When to Use Which
Use the government ferry (STARS) when:
- You’re going to a remote island (Long Island, Rangat, Diglipur, Baratang) — you have no choice, and that’s fine.
- You want the cheapest possible fare and your dates are flexible enough to absorb a failed booking.
- Private ferries are cancelled by weather and the government boat is still sailing.
Use a private ferry when:
- You want a guaranteed seat you can book weeks ahead with a confirmed time.
- You’re on a fixed itinerary where missing a ferry wrecks the plan.
- You value AC seating, comfort, and a 90-minute crossing over a 2.5-hour one.
For the Port Blair–Havelock–Neil triangle that 90% of visitors travel, the honest recommendation is simple: book private ferries as your reliable backbone, and treat a government seat as a cheap bonus if you happen to win the quota. Our government vs private ferry guide breaks down the trade-offs in full, and if Neil is on your list, the Port Blair to Neil Island guide covers both the direct government boat and the via-Havelock private route.
Quota sold out, or dates you can’t risk? Private ferries on all four operators are bookable in under a minute with live seat maps and instant confirmation — check availability at BookYourFerry.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is STARS e-ticketing in Andaman?
STARS (Ship Ticketing And Reservation System) is the Andaman government’s official online portal for booking Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) government ferries, at dss.andaman.gov.in. It covers government vessels only — private operators like Makruzz and Nautika are booked separately. STARS is the only way to book remote-island routes and the only direct Port Blair–Neil ferry.
How do I log in to the STARS portal?
Go to dss.andaman.gov.in, open the STARS e-ticketing section, and register once with your mobile number and email (verified by OTP). After that, log in with those credentials. Register and log in the day before you plan to book — you don’t want account issues during the 9:00 AM quota rush.
When do government ferry tickets open on STARS?
Tickets open at 9:00 AM sharp, exactly 2 calendar days before travel — to sail on the 20th, you book at 9:00 AM on the 18th. There’s no advance booking beyond 2 days. E-ticketing runs roughly 00:30 to 23:30, but the tourist quota releases at 9:00 AM.
Why does the tourist quota sell out so fast?
Government vessels reserve most seats for local residents, leaving a small tourist quota that sells out in 10–15 minutes (5–10 minutes during the Dec 20–Jan 5 peak). Even logged in and ready at 9:00 AM you may miss out, which is why most travelers rely on private ferries and treat a government seat as a bonus.
Can I get a refund on a STARS government ferry ticket?
No. Government ferry tickets booked on STARS are non-refundable and non-transferable. Confirm your date, route and passenger details before paying, because there’s no changing or refunding the ticket afterward.
Which is better, government ferry or private ferry?
For remote islands, the government ferry is your only option. For the Port Blair–Havelock–Neil tourist triangle, private ferries are more reliable — guaranteed seats, advance booking, AC comfort, faster crossings — while government ferries are far cheaper but hard to secure. Use private as your backbone and government as a cheap bonus when the quota allows.
Portal details, timings and quotas reflect the 2026 season and can change — always confirm on the official dss.andaman.gov.in portal before you travel.
Planning the tourist triangle? Skip the 9 AM quota scramble — compare all four private operators and book in a minute with live seat maps and instant confirmation.