Getting to Réunion by Sea

Inter-Island Distances

From Réunion to....

Comoros (Grande Comore): 1,670 km.

African coast (Mozambique): 1,750 km.

Madagascar: Diego Suarez: 1,180 km; Tamatave: 720 km.

Mauritius: 230 km.

Mayotte: 1,440 km

Rodrigues: 840 km.

Seychelles: 1,830 km.

Ferries/Cargo

Beyond the few cargo ships that depart from mainland France or elsewhere with Réunion as a destination or stop:

To/From Mauritius

There are two passenger-freight vessels, the MV Mauritius Pride and the Mauritius Trochetia from Mauritius Shipping Corporation, connecting Mauritius (and indirectly Rodrigues) to Réunion. Expect around 180 € return at minimum for about twelve hours at sea, with roughly one or two crossings every ten days depending on the season.

Tickets are sold by several offices:

SCOAM: 4 av. du 14 Juillet 1789, 97420 Le Port. Tel.: 0262 42 19 45.

Mauritius Shipping Corporation: rue François Leguat, Port Mathurin, Rodrigues.

Coraline Ship Agency: Nova Building, 1 Military Rd, Port Louis, Mauritius.

To/From Madagascar

There is also a more or less bi-weekly maritime link between Réunion and Tamatave on the east coast of Madagascar. It is operated by the same company/ship as for Mauritius, taking 36 hours for a minimum fare of around 300 €.

Maritime Station

The maritime station from which these connections operate is located in the commune of Le Port, about twenty kilometers west of Saint-Denis. Tourist services depart from the "new port" (Port Est). The station is open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and can be reached at 02 62 43 10 93.

Cruises

There are not many cruises sailing the Indian Ocean, and many depart from Dubai. Réunion is nonetheless a stopover for these, welcoming around a dozen cruise ships each year, bringing roughly 8,000 visitors as in 2013.

Sailboats

The Indian Ocean is not a major sailing area, at least for boats based outside the region. Therefore, few sailboats visit Réunion. They are mostly found—and logically so—outside the cyclone season (November to April), primarily along the west coast. From Réunion, it takes at least a full day of sailing to reach Mauritius.