How often does the Statia ferry run?

There is no fixed weekly pattern. A specialty tour operator's own page says the schedule changes every month according to demand. That is the operator telling you not to plan around a set day, so confirm dates directly before you build a trip around this route.

Is it better to fly or take the ferry to Statia?

Fly, if your dates are fixed. Winair runs three flights a day from Princess Juliana to F.D. Roosevelt Airport on Statia. Given the ferry's variable schedule, the flight is the reliable option, especially on a short trip where losing a day to a schedule shift would cost you the visit.

What is there to do on Statia?

It is the least-touristed island connected to St. Maarten by ferry, with about 3,600 residents and minimal tourism infrastructure. It is best known for hiking the Quill, a dormant volcano and the island's high point, for diving, and for its 18th-century history as a major Caribbean trading port.

Ferry to St. Eustatius from St. Maarten: The Makana Route

Q: Is there a ferry from St. Maarten to Statia?

Yes, one. The Makana, launched in 2022, runs from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg to Gallows Bay on a combined route through Saba and sometimes on to St. Kitts. Direct crossing time is reported around 85 minutes, longer if the boat routes through Saba first.

The short version

St. Eustatius, known locally as Statia, is the least-touristed and hardest-to-reach of the islands connected to St. Maarten by ferry. There’s currently one real ferry option: the Makana, launched in 2022, running a combined route through Saba and sometimes on to St. Kitts.

The island of Sint Eustatius seen at a distance across open water, the cone of The Quill rising at one end and St. Kitts faint on the horizon behind — Sint Eustatius from a distance, photographed from Saba. The Quill is the cone on the left, and that is St. Kitts behind it.

Makana ferry

Operator: Blues and Blues Ltd., with Saba C-Transport as the on-island agent
Departs: Bobby’s Marina, Philipsburg (Dutch side St. Maarten)
Arrives: Gallows Bay, St. Eustatius
Crossing time: reported around 85 minutes direct, or longer if routed through Saba first (Saba-to-Statia leg alone is about 45 minutes)
Vessel: 72-foot Sabre catamaran, 150-passenger capacity, two air-conditioned decks plus an open sundeck, bar service and Wi-Fi onboard
Fare: $98 for a Statia-bound ticket appears on one source and nowhere else, so treat it as a starting estimate rather than a confirmed price
Baggage: 30 lb carry-on max, 50 lb checked max

A direct quote worth taking seriously from a specialty tour operator’s own page: “the schedule changes every month according to demand.” This isn’t a case of conflicting sources, it’s the operator itself telling you not to expect a fixed weekly pattern. Confirm dates directly before building a trip around this route.

Alternative: fly via Winair

Winair operates 3 flights a day from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) to F.D. Roosevelt Airport (EUX) on Statia. Given the ferry’s limited and variable schedule, flying is the more reliable option if your travel dates are fixed, especially for a short trip where you can’t afford to lose a day to a schedule shift.

The concrete pier and loading gantry of the harbour terminal at Oranjestad on Sint Eustatius, with the sea beyond — The harbour terminal on Oranjebaaiweg, below Oranjestad. This is the pier, not the airport.YmnesWikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 4.0

What to expect on arrival

Ferries dock at Gallows Bay, near Statia’s small capital, Oranjestad. Taxis are available at the port. Statia is genuinely low-key: about 3,600 residents, minimal tourism infrastructure compared to its neighbors, best known for hiking the Quill (a dormant volcano and the island’s highest point), diving, and its 18th-century history as a major Caribbean trading port.

The Zeeterras sea terrace on the waterfront at Oranjestad, a paved terrace with railings looking out over the bay — The Zeeterras, on the waterfront a short walk from the pier.YmnesWikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 4.0

Why this page is thinner than its siblings

Every other ferry route in this cluster (Anguilla, St. Barts, Saba) has multiple operators, daily or near-daily schedules, and years of published traveler content to cross-reference. Statia has essentially one ferry option with an explicitly variable schedule and minimal independent coverage. That’s not a gap in our research, it’s an accurate reflection of how the island is actually served. If you’re set on visiting Statia, treat the flight as your primary option and the ferry as a bonus if the timing happens to work.

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

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