Saba C-Transport: Your Ferry Lifeline to the Unspoiled Queen
The trusted ferry crossing between Sint Maarten and Saba's dramatic volcanic shores
Why Go
Before you can hike Mt. Scenery or dive Saba's fabled pinnacles, you have to get here ΓÇö and for travelers who'd rather skip the white-knuckle landing on the world's shortest commercial runway, Saba C-Transport's Dawn II ferry is the smoother, salt-sprayed way in.
The Experience
Saba C-Transport, N.V. is the island's homegrown maritime operator, running the passenger ferry Dawn II between Dock Maarten Marina in Philipsburg (Sint Maarten) and Fort Bay's Captain Leo Chance Pier on Saba's south-southwest coast. The roughly 90-minute crossing hugs the open Caribbean, with the Unspoiled Queen rising ever more vertically from the sea as you approach ΓÇö a green cone of cloud forest and cliff that makes the arrival feel earned. Beyond ferry runs, the company handles cargo, yacht agent services, and island tours, so they're the connective tissue for nearly everything moving on and off Saba. Crews are Saban through and through: friendly, no-nonsense, and full of the same island lore you'll hear from the taxi drivers waiting on the dock at Fort Bay.
What to Try
Book a window-side seat on the port (left) side heading toward Saba for the most dramatic cliff-face reveal. If the swell is up, grab a seat toward the middle of the vessel ΓÇö the Anegada Passage can serve up a lively ride. Come back a different way: fly out on Winair from Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport so you experience both Saba's iconic 400-meter runway landing and the sea approach.
Insider Tip
Dawn II runs a fixed schedule (typically Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday), and it can sell out in high season and around holidays ΓÇö reserve directly via WhatsApp at +599-416-2299 or email info@sabaferry.com a week ahead. Take a Dramamine 45 minutes before boarding even if you don't usually get seasick; the crossing between the islands can be genuinely rough, and locals swear by ginger candy for the return. Also: bring your passport and clear immigration at the Harbor Offices building at Fort Bay before boarding ΓÇö there's no shortcut around it.
The Practical Stuff
Saba boarding: Fort Bay, Captain Leo Chance Pier (about 15 minutes by taxi from Windwardside or The Bottom). Sint Maarten boarding: Dock Maarten Marina, Great Bay, Philipsburg. Round-trip fare hovers around US$120 (roughly $60 one-way), plus harbor fees. Check-in closes well before departure ΓÇö arrive at least 45 minutes early with passport in hand. Office and reservations based in Windwardside; contact +599-416-2299 (WhatsApp), US direct +607-846-7222, or info@sabaferry.com. Pet-friendly facilities at the Sint Maarten side.
Pair It With
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — A hearty Saban meal in Windwardside is the perfect way to shake off the sea legs after arriving on Dawn II.
- Battery Corre Corre — Once you've landed at Fort Bay, this historic coastal battery is one of the closest and most atmospheric first stops on the island.
- Big Stone — A short jaunt from the harbor, it makes for a scenic warm-up walk before tackling Saba's more ambitious trails.
- Amonhana — Grab a relaxed bite here to celebrate the crossing ΓÇö a good introduction to Saba's small but soulful food scene.