How do you get from St. Maarten to Saba by ferry?

Three services. The Edge is the high-speed catamaran from Simpson Bay, the standard day-trip option at about 75 to 90 minutes. Dawn II, the Heineken Boat, runs from Dock Maarten in Philipsburg in about 90 minutes with more luggage room. Makana runs a combined route from Bobby's Marina.

What days does the Saba ferry run?

This is genuinely unsettled. Aqua Mania's own listing says The Edge sails Tuesdays and Fridays, while the official Visit St. Maarten page for the same product says Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Dawn II is reported as Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Confirm the current week directly with the operator.

Can you do Saba as a day trip from St. Maarten?

Yes. The Edge leaves St. Maarten around 9:00am and returns from Saba around 3:30pm, arriving back near 5:00pm, which gives roughly five to six hours on the island. Multiple traveler accounts say that is enough for a hike up Mt. Scenery, lunch, and time in Windwardside.

Is the ferry to Saba rough?

Often, yes. Several independent sources describe it as one of the rougher crossings in the region, and some travelers nickname it the vomit comet. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before you board or consider the twelve-minute Winair flight instead.

Ferry to Saba from St. Maarten: The Edge, Dawn II, Makana

Three ways to reach Saba by sea

The Edge, operated by Aqua Mania Adventures, is the primary option for a day trip. Dawn II, the “Heineken Boat,” is an older, slower alternative with more cargo/luggage space. Makana is a newer (2022) combined route also serving Statia and St. Kitts, useful if Saba isn’t your only stop.

The Edge (Aqua Mania Adventures)

Departs: Simpson Bay (Pelican Marina / Simpson Bay Resort Marina), Dutch side
Arrives: Fort Bay Harbor, Saba
Crossing time: 75-90 minutes depending on conditions
Schedule: here’s a genuine discrepancy worth flagging directly rather than picking one: the operator’s own current listing (Aqua Mania Adventures) says Tuesdays and Fridays, while the official Visit St. Maarten tourism board page for the same product says Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Both are plausibly current if the schedule varies seasonally. Confirm the current week’s schedule directly with Aqua Mania before planning around a specific day.
Departure/return times: departs St. Maarten around 9:00am, returns from Saba around 3:30pm, arriving back around 5:00pm, giving roughly 5-6 hours on the island
Fare: reported one-way around $55-75, same-day round trip around $80-100, figures vary by source and likely by season/booking channel
Check-in: 8:00am for the 9:00am departure

This is the standard day-trip option: 5 hours on Saba is enough for a hike up Mt. Scenery, lunch, and time in Windwardside, per multiple independent traveler accounts.

Dawn II (Saba C-Transport)

Departs: Dock Maarten Marina, Philipsburg (Dutch side, not Simpson Bay, a different departure point than The Edge)
Arrives: Fort Bay, Saba
Crossing time: about 90 minutes
Schedule: reported as three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday), departing Saba at 7:00am, returning from Philipsburg at 4:30pm same day
Vessel: 65-foot aluminum mono-hull, nicknamed the “Heineken Boat” for its onboard complimentary beer, carries up to 50 passengers with more luggage capacity than The Edge, popular with divers hauling gear
Port fees: reported as $10 each way, paid separately in cash at check-in, not included in the ticket price

Makana (combined Saba/Statia/St. Kitts route)

Launched 2022, operated by Blues and Blues via Saba C-Transport as local agent. Departs Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg. Reported crossing time to Saba: about 75 minutes. Useful specifically if you’re combining Saba with a Statia or St. Kitts stop on the same trip, since it’s the one service that connects all of them.

The ferry terminal building at Fort Bay on Saba, a low structure beside the water with the island cliffs rising behind it — Fort Bay is the only harbour on Saba, so every ferry lands here whatever the operator.Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USAWikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 2.0

Which option to pick

For a straightforward day trip focused only on Saba, The Edge is the most-referenced and most tourist-oriented option, with packaged add-ons (guided hikes, taxi tours, lunch). If you’re diving and need more gear space, Dawn II is the traditionally preferred choice among that crowd. If Saba is one stop on a multi-island itinerary, Makana is worth checking.

White houses with red roofs perched on a steep green mountainside above the Caribbean Sea on Saba — What you came for. The road up from Fort Bay climbs past this to the villages.

What to expect on arrival

All routes dock at Fort Bay, Saba’s only real sea access point, a 10-15 minute taxi ride from the main town, Windwardside. Taxis meet arriving ferries. A valid passport is required.

A note on the crossing itself: multiple independent sources describe this as one of the rougher inter-island crossings in the region, some travelers nickname it the “vomit comet.” If you’re prone to seasickness, plan accordingly or consider the 12-minute Winair flight instead.

Back to the transportation hub for every other way around the island, or the plan your trip hub for the rest of the trip.