Crossings · ISLAND FERRY TRIPS

The 15 Best Island Ferry Trips

24 ferry trips  ·  from $17 a ticket

The 15 crossings below all end on an island worth the day: some car-free, some capped, all of them better reached by boat than any other way. Prices, crossing times and what is waiting at the jetty.

Cape Town-Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - From Cape Town CBD to the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

1.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,792 reviews · 4 hours · from $79Our pick

Take a shared ferry from Cape Town to Robben Island, then tour the island by bus and visit the prison with a former political prisoner. The four-hour English tour includes ferry tickets and museum entry. Expect moving stories, Mandela’s cell, shared transport, and time in ferry queues.

“Nice tour to Robben Island by ferry. Ferry was fully enclosed and quite crowded. Once on the island after about a 45 minute ride, we boarded a bus with an ex-prisoner guide who provided details about the buildings and life on the island. After an hour we were dropped at the prison and did about an hour of walking and understanding of life inside by another ex-prisoner. The tour provided a very moving explanation of what actually happened to those who disagreed with segregation, and the goals of the Government to try to silence them.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup - From your hotel to the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

2.Robben Island Ferry Tour with 1-Way Hotel Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,380 reviews · 5 hours · from $71

Travel from central Cape Town to the V&A Waterfront, sail 45 minutes to Robben Island, tour the island by bus, and visit the prison and Mandela’s cell. An English-speaking former prisoner leads the prison visit. Pickup is included, but you return to Cape Town on your own.

“Good communication, they sent me the ticket one day before and smooth pick up. Yet I don’t think it was worth it. Could have done it on my own. I only booked it as I was trying to book from RI website before I arrive and it was not working and was afraid it will be fully booked when I arrive, but I think its expensive given that they don’t offer anything extra. But overall it was an ok purchase given my situation.”

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From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour - Getting there from Perth or Fremantle
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From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour

3.From Perth or Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,246 reviews · 7 hours - 1 day · from $99

Take a return SeaLink ferry from Perth or Fremantle to Rottnest Island, then join a 1-hour 45-minute air-conditioned bus tour. Guides such as Leah, Barney, and Jason bring the island’s wildlife, beaches, salt lakes, and colonial past to life, with free time left for lunch, quokkas, or a swim.

“We loved this tour to Rottnest Island from Perth. The Island bus tour was well worth including. Our guide was Barney, he was amazing! We loved seeing the Quokkas”

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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour - Starting at Fremantle’s B Shed terminal
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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour

4.Rottnest Island Ferry and Bike Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 805 reviews · 9 hours · from $87

Take the fast Rottnest Express ferry from Fremantle, collect your included bike and helmet on arrival, then explore Rottnest Island at your own pace. Ride to beaches, bays, quokka areas, and snorkeling spots, or keep the day gentle with shorter coastal rides and plenty of stops.

“Ticket collection and the boat ride was simple and fast. We collected the bikes on arrival on the island and they were pretty good, a lot better than expected. I liked that they we were belt-drive. That way the dry and sandy air wouldn't wear the drive down so fast. The island is beatiful and there were Quokkas everywhere, were there were trees next to the cycle-way.”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity - Checking in at Cairns Marlin Marina
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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity

5.Fitzroy Island Ferry with Optional Lunch & Activity

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 796 reviews · 8 hours · from $59

Take Sunlover Reef Cruises from Cairns to Fitzroy Island for about four hours of free time. Swim from the beach, walk to Nudey Beach, or follow rainforest trails. Depending on your package, add a picnic lunch, snorkel hire, or glass-bottom boat ride. Guides Hannah, Georgina, and Carmen have earned praise for clear, friendly service.

“I enjoyed snorkeling at Fitzroy Island. Definitely recommend it and worth the money”

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From Perth: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip - Collecting your bike at Rottnest Island
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From Perth: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip

6.Rottnest Island Ferry & Bike Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 627 reviews · 9 hours · from $118

Take the Rottnest Express from Perth to Rottnest Island, cruise along the Swan River with live commentary, then collect a hire bike and explore independently. You have time for beaches, quokkas, swimming, and island views, but a full loop takes up to five hours and includes hills.

“Great experience to see the Quokkas and enjoyed the ride around the island, even with the built in workout navigating the hills 😂”

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Desde Corralejo: Lobos Island Ferry with Optional Transfer - Walking to the lighthouse and lagoons
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Desde Corralejo: Lobos Island Ferry with Optional Transfer

7.Desde Corralejo: Lobos Island Ferry with Optional Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 586 reviews · 1 day · from $20

I recommend this simple day trip if you want freedom rather than a guided tour. You board the Isla de Lobos Ferry in Corralejo, reach Lobos Island in 20 minutes, then choose your own pace for beaches, volcanic scenery, snorkeling, fishing, surfing, and the lighthouse before returning on one of two afternoon ferries.

“Just the standard ferry crossing. no issues. return ferry booked when in outbound queue so ge there early to make sure you get to choose your time. saw a sea turtle from top deck which was a highlight. gladsbottom boat for people wanting to see beneath the waves which was nice but li.ited seating.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour - District Six: the first lesson in forced removal
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

8.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Townships Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 400 reviews · from $89

Start with District Six, Langa, Bonteheuwel, and Gugulethu in an air-conditioned minivan. Walk through Langa with a local guide, visit a school, shebeen, beer maker, and traditional healer, then take the ferry to Robben Island. Guides such as Sam, Mpumzi, and Luyolo add personal insight.

“The Township tour was excellent. Sam gave detailed history of township..”

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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bus Day Tour - Getting from Fremantle to Rottnest Island
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From Fremantle: Rottnest Island Ferry & Bus Day Tour

9.Rottnest Island Ferry & Bus Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 394 reviews · 1 day · from $112

Take a 25-minute ferry from Fremantle to Rottnest Island, then join a 90-minute guided bus circuit with stops and views around Wadjemup Lighthouse, beaches, bays, and quokka country. Guides such as Ella, Eli, Jess, and Richard bring local stories to life, followed by free time to swim or explore.

“This company runs such a fantastic service. Damian the boat captain and bus tour operator really value adds to this experience with his insights and knowledge of the area. Very entertaining and informative. Highly recommend boarding at Perth instead of Freemantle so you don't miss out on the Margaret River guided tour and also so you can get better seats as the boat gets very crowded.”

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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour - Getting to the Nelson Mandela Gateway
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Cape Town: Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour

10.Robben Island Ferry with Prison Ticket and Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 324 reviews · 3h 30m · from $90

Take the ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, tour the island by bus, see Mandela’s former cell, and walk through the prison with a former political prisoner. English tours last 210 minutes and include round-trip ferry tickets.

“This was a great tour and really interesting. We had lots of time on the island and it gave us a great insight and what happened there. I would definitely recommend this to anyone visiting Cape Town.”

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Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Ferry Ticket with Upgrade Options - The ferry ride to Liberty Island
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Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Ferry Ticket with Upgrade Options

11.Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Ferry Ticket with Upgrade Options

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 291 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $49

Start at Battery Park, then ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island for the Statue of Liberty Museum, Immigration Museum, and classic harbor views. Choose basic ferry access, audio guides, a live guide, or an added Wall Street and 9/11 Memorial tour. Guides may include LeAnn, Nina, Vivian, or Sami Matar.

“Listen to the guide, stay close. My Father uses a scooter for more mobility. Everyone treated him like royalty.”

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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry, optional lunch, tours, snorkel - Checking in at Cairns Marlin Marina
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Cairns: Fitzroy Island Ferry, optional lunch, tours, snorkel

12.Fitzroy Island Ferry, optional lunch, tours, snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 216 reviews · from $69

Take Sunlover Reef Cruises from Cairns to Fitzroy Island for more than four hours of free time. Choose ferry-only, lunch, glass-bottom boat, or snorkeling options, then swim, walk to Nudey Beach, or explore rainforest trails at your own pace.

“The activity was great value for money and the staff were very friendly and helpful”

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NYC: Guided Bus and Walking Tour with Staten Island Ferry - Rockefeller Center and Fifth Avenue icons
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NYC: Guided Bus and Walking Tour with Staten Island Ferry

13.Guided Bus and Walking Tour with Staten Island Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 209 reviews · 6 hours · from $79

See New York’s major sights from a climate-controlled bus, with guided walks at Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, and the 9/11 Memorial. Your English-speaking guide, such as Rachel, Kevin, or Steve, adds local stories before you ride the Staten Island Ferry for Statue of Liberty views.

“Brendan was a fantastic guide who really knew his onions. He knew so much about every landmark and everywhere in between. It was brilliant being driven on a warm, glass topped bus especially as it was -8 outside. Would highly recommend this trip, great value for money.”

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Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour - The 30-minute ferry crossing to the island
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Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

14.Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 160 reviews · from $69

Take a shared 30-minute ferry from Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, then tour the island by bus and visit Nelson Mandela’s cell with a former political prisoner. Expect a moving, tightly scheduled four-hour experience, weather risks, and no hotel transfers.

“The lecture not worth the amount of money paid. Consider reviewing the fees and this is not value for money”

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Catalina Island Ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon - The 75-minute crossing to Catalina Island
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Catalina Island Ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon

15.Catalina Island Ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 136 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.)

Ride the Catalina Flyer from Balboa Pavilion to Avalon in about 75 minutes. Choose open-air seating on the third deck, indoor seats, or climate-controlled VIP space. Snacks, coffee, tea, and drinks cost extra, and you must book the return ferry separately.

“VIP allowed guaranteed seating in cooler area and great on a hot day traveling with my 82 y/o mom . Speedy trip to the island with great scenery on the way.”

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New in Island Ferry Trips

★ 3.5Robben Island Ferry Ticket and Guided Prison TourFrom $877 reviews
★ 3.3Robben Island ferry ticket plus Guided TourFrom $7137 reviews
★ 3.0Robben Island Ferry and Guided TourFrom $1097 reviews

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