Sea Bridge Ferry: Nevis to St. Kitts with Your Car in Tow
The drive-on, drive-off shortcut across The Narrows
Why Go
Skip the awkward car-swap dance in BasseterreΓÇöSea Bridge is the one ferry between Nevis and St. Kitts that lets you roll your own wheels onto the deck, cross the two-mile channel in about 25 minutes, and be exploring the other island before your rental company even notices you're gone.
The Experience
Launched in 2007, this 135-foot drive-on/drive-off vessel is Nevis's practical lifeline for anyone who wants their vehicle on both islands without the headache of double rentals. You'll queue at the ramp at Cades Bay on the northwest coast of Nevis, watch the crew slot up to 35 cars nose-to-tail like a Caribbean Tetris game, then head topside for open-air views of Mount Liamuiga looming ahead and the Nevis Peak fading behind. The crossing takes 20 to 30 minutes over The Narrows, the shallow strait where sea turtles and the occasional pod of dolphins share the water with you. Landing is at Majors Bay on St. Kitts's remote southeast peninsulaΓÇöno port town, no taxi hustle, just your car engine turning over and the SE Peninsula road unspooling toward Cockleshell and Basseterre.
What to Try
Book a morning crossing with your rental jeep and make a full day-trip of itΓÇödrive off at Majors Bay, follow the SE Peninsula road up to Timothy Hill for the postcard shot of both islands framed together, then loop through South Friars Bay for lunch before catching a late-afternoon return. If you're moving between hotels, this is by far the least painful way to shuttle luggage, coolers, dive gear, or a stocked-up grocery run from Basseterre back to your Nevis villa.
Insider Tip
Check your rental contract before you drive up to the rampΓÇömost car-hire companies in St. Kitts and Nevis specifically prohibit taking their vehicles across the Sea Bridge, and the crew will ask. If yours is one of them, call ahead to Sea Bridge (869-662-7002) about a signed waiver, or use the passenger ferry from Charlestown and rent a second car on the other side. Also: arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure. Loading is first-come, first-served and the deck fills fast on weekends when locals cross for family visits.
The Practical Stuff
Departs Cades Bay, Nevis (about 15 minutes' drive north of Charlestown) to Majors Bay on the SE Peninsula of St. Kitts. Crossing takes 20ΓÇô30 minutes; up to six round trips daily, more on weekends and peak season. Fares run roughly EC$75 per car and EC$20 per passenger one way (cash EC preferred). No advance online bookingΓÇöcall 869-662-7002 to confirm the day's schedule, which can shift with weather and sea conditions. Bring shade, water, and expect open-deck seating with limited cover.
Pair It With
- Bananas Restaurant Guide — A hillside dinner spot on the way back from Cades BayΓÇöperfect for unwinding after your day-trip crossing with a rum punch and Nevis Peak sunset views.
- Birthplace of Alexander Hamilton Guide — If you're staging in Charlestown before or after your ferry run, the museum at his birthplace is a 15-minute detour that turns a transport day into a mini history tour.
- 5Trees Bar & Lounge Guide — A relaxed post-crossing landing pad in Charlestown when you roll back into Nevis and want a cold Carib before heading to your villa.
- 869 Sports Bar & Grill Guide — Catch a game and a hearty plate here while you wait out an afternoon crossing delayΓÇöit's a locals' hangout that reliably has the schedule chatter.