Tobago To Trinidad Ferries -
Now a Same-day Return Experience!
Before the ferries arrived, the boat from Tobago to Trinidad used to be a 5 ½ hr+ adventure. Before that it was an overnight marathon, with people sprawled all over the deck with assorted luggage and accoutrements. You would arrive in Port of Spain much the worse for wear and before sun-up.
Now there is a "fast ferry" service for the 82 mile trip between Scarborough, Tobago and Port of Spain.
You can do it in 2½ hours, aboard either "the Cat" or "the Lynx". These are two modern 40-knot catamarans, with airline type seats, movie monitors - some large-screen -, and food service. Each can carry over 800 people and 200 vehicles.
First trip leaves at 6.30 a.m. and arrives in Port-of-Spain shortly after 9.00 a.m. The last return trip leaves Port-of-Spain at 5.00 p.m. and gets back about 7.30 p.m.
That allows for a same day trip and return, which is a boon for those having to do business in the Capital of Port-of-Spain. The same for persons from Trinidad coming to Tobago. Airfare is four times as expensive, and you still have to get from Piarco airport to Port-of-Spain, if that is where you want to go.
There are intermediate trips by the fast ferries, and also a sailing by a slower freight vessel.
This is not the first time a fast ferry was tried. The first time it met with a mixed reception, more bad than good. Some found it good and fast and loved it. Others thought it a disaster. Many got sick. The ambulance had to meet some at the dock. You could tell when the boat came in - just listen for the ambulance. Eventually they had to station an ambulance right on the docks.
About that time my brother was a communications technician, and used to service the boat. He once got a call that the radio was dead. So he got there and, right off, asked for the service manual. Eventually they found it. And everything was in Russian!. He could make neither head nor tail of it. Just one little international symbol on the diagram was what saved the day!
This time it is smoother sailing, much smoother. The boats are designed, we are told, with "wave-piercing" bows! And it must be said they have been piercing the waves pretty efficiently. Because people who efficiently. Because people who swore up and down never to travel by boat are now singing the praises of the "Cat" and the "Lynx".
The Cat comes out of Prince Edward Island in Canada, where it does a summer ferry service to Maine. There are plans to replace it when it returns to that service.
To Getting Here from Tobago Ferries
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