Getting to Puerto Rico by Sea

Inter-Island Distances

From the island of Puerto Rico to...:

Cruises

Puerto Rico has long been a "near-mandatory" stop for cruise ships. The port of San Juan is, in fact, the busiest cruise terminal in the Caribbean and one of the top in the world. Every year, 1.4 million passengers disembark from nearly 500 ships operated by 14 companies. In addition to San Juan, the ports of Ponce (in the south) and Mayagüez (in the west) also serve as stops, though to a much lesser extent. In short, there’s no problem finding a cruise that includes the island in its itinerary.

By Sea

Ferries

Only Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) have regular connections to and from Puerto Rico.

To/from the Dominican Republic: There is only one ferry route, connecting Santo Domingo to Mayagüez (western Puerto Rico). It is operated by America Cruise Ferries with three weekly crossings, a 12-hour journey, and fares starting at around $100.

To/from St. Thomas: Depending on the season, you can find a ferry service between Fajardo (east coast) and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is one weekly departure, a two-hour crossing, and round-trip fares around $100.

Cargo Ships

Sailboats