Looking for the STARS login or government ferry booking portal? Use the STARS portal or follow the current ticketing link from the official Directorate of Shipping Services website. BookYourFerry is an independent private-ferry booking platform, not the government portal.
STARS is used for government ferry ticketing in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This guide explains where to check registration, released sailings, passenger eligibility and booking status. Use current DSS notices for release windows and fares; this page does not promise a fixed opening time or tourist-seat quota.
What Is STARS E-Ticketing?
STARS is the e-ticketing portal for government (DSS) ferries in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. It is separate from the private operators Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean and ITT Majestic. Use the service and vessel shown in the current DSS notice rather than assuming a particular ship or cabin is available.
Two things make STARS worth understanding:
- Government routes are checked separately. Confirm the exact direction, travel date and passenger eligibility on DSS/STARS. Baratang should not be described as government-only: see our Makruzz Baratang route and cave-itinerary guide for released private options.
- Port Blair → Neil needs careful planning. BookYourFerry does not offer a direct private search in this direction. Check a government sailing independently, or plan the two private legs explained in our Port Blair to Neil guide.
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: Start with the STARS link on the official DSS site and follow its account-registration instructions. Set up your account and check that you can log in before the announced release.
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.
Using the portal: Have passenger details ready and follow the current on-screen instructions. If it is slow or a payment times out, check your booking and payment status before trying another payment.
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 — use the dates released for your route and passenger category, following the current notice.
- 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).
- Review the total and ticket conditions, then pay — confirm the date, route, passenger category and cancellation/transfer conditions shown for your ticket.
- 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: Check the Current Release Notice
This is the single most important thing to understand, and it’s where most travelers get caught out:
Check the current DSS/STARS release notice for your route and passenger category. This guide does not verify a universal opening hour, daily operating window or number of days in advance.
Do not calculate your booking date from an older two-day rule. Read the current release notice for the sailing you want; private operators have separate inventory-release schedules.
Be ready before the announced release with your login, route, date, passenger category and details. A release notice does not guarantee availability.
The Tourist Quota Reality (Read This Before You Rely on STARS)
Tourist availability depends on the current passenger allocation and demand. Check the applicable category and available seats; we have not verified a fixed quota size or sell-out interval.
What that means in practice:
- Even when ready at the announced release, you may not secure a seat.
- 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 historical reference |
| Tourist | Rs 630–920 historical reference |
| General | Rs 300–700 |
These are older category-specific references, not verified current totals. Check DSS/STARS for the applicable tourist or resident fare, eligibility and any fees; do not infer government-ticket charges from BookYourFerry’s private checkout. For private-ferry comparisons, 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 — check other released sailings or a suitable private option; do not assume additional seats will appear.
- Portal timeout / slow site — follow the current portal guidance and check booking/payment status before submitting another payment.
- Wrong quota selected — picking local/general as a tourist. Always select the tourist quota.
- Payment failure — check the booking and payment status before retrying. Do not assume a seat remains held or pay twice without checking the portal’s instructions.
- Account not ready — complete registration and verify that you can log in before the announced release.
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 to compare a current government tourist quote with private final totals and can keep your itinerary flexible.
- Private ferries are cancelled by weather and the government boat is still sailing.
Use a private ferry when:
- You want to book a released sailing in advance and hold an issued ticket; operational changes remain possible.
- 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 unavailable, or dates you cannot change? Check private-ferry availability at BookYourFerry.com. After payment, check your booking status and issued ticket before treating the journey as confirmed.
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.andamannicobar.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?
Start at the official DSS site, follow its STARS link and current registration/login instructions. Check your account before the announced release so account problems do not delay booking.
When do government ferry tickets open on STARS?
Check the current DSS/STARS release notice for your route and passenger category. We have not verified a universal release hour or advance-booking window; do not rely on older fixed-time instructions.
Why does the tourist quota sell out so fast?
Tourist availability depends on the current allocation and demand. A seat is not guaranteed even if you are ready at release. Check released options and keep an alternative itinerary; this guide does not verify a specific sell-out interval.
Can I get a refund on a STARS government ferry ticket?
Check the current DSS/STARS conditions for your selected ticket and reason for cancellation. This guide has not verified the current refund or transfer rules. Confirm the applicable conditions before paying.
Which is better, government ferry or private ferry?
For routes outside the private ferry network, consult current DSS services. For the Port Blair–Havelock–Neil circuit, compare available private sailings and any current DSS tourist quote; no departure is guaranteed to operate.
Portal details, timings and quotas reflect the 2026 season and can change — always confirm on the official dss.andamannicobar.gov.in portal before you travel.
Planning the tourist triangle? Compare available private operators for your dates. Check the final total and ticket conditions, and wait for the issued ticket and confirmed booking status.