The US Virgin Islands is a wonderful place to visit. As a Territory of the United States, American travelers can enjoy the no hassle, no passport necessary, ease of traveling. They can use their favorite airlines such as Delta, American, even Jet Blue and many others. Upon arrival, they don't have to worry about currency exchanges because the US Dollar is used. There are so many conveniences associated with traveling to the US Virgin Islands.

St. John, as one of the smaller US Virgin Islands, is even more secluded than the larger islands because it has no major airport. Thus, the only access to St. John is by sea. Here are some tips for traveling to St. John. If you have already experienced the uniqueness of this hidden gem, then feel free to share some tips of your own. 

1. Visit the online USVI Travel Portal to stay up to date with requirements for entering the Territory. 
2. Since St. John can only be accessed by sea, book your ferry ride more than 3 days in advance.
3. Remember to drive on the left. This is a remnant of our Danish colonial times. But it is all we have ever known. So be careful and stay left. Also while driving, slow down. We have winding roads, steep hills, and wild donkeys. 
4. Say good morning, good afternoon, and in general be respectful, it will go a long way with the locals and you will truly experience the love in Love City.
5. Wear sunscreen, be safe and have fun! 

We at Love City Car Ferries, Inc would like to take the time to wish everyone a wonderful Labor Day weekend. You work hard and you deserve a day of rest. If you decide to head to St. John to the beach or head to St. Thomas for the sales, you can join us on the M/V Grand Vic. All cars and small trucks will be discounted to $40 round trip on Labor Day 2021. God bless!

Given the conditions of the current economy in light of the global pandemic of COVID-19, Love City Car Ferries, Inc will be adhering to the above schedule effective Monday, March 23, 2020. M/V Grand Vic's schedule remains the same but the M/V Capt Vic's last departure will be at 3:30 pm from Red Hook. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give us a call during normal business hours at 340-779-4000 or email us at info@lovecitycarferries.com. Stay safe and thank you for your attention.

#lovecitycarferries #ferryschedule #grandvic #captvic #virginislands #covid19

Update on our fleet: Love City Car Ferries, Inc. operates 3 car ferries in the Virgin Islands, M/V Capt Vic, M/V Island Vic and M/V Grand Vic. As many of you may already know, the M/V Island Vic was destroyed in the storms. She is not fixed yet because we used her insurance money as seed money for the building of the Grand Vic. Island Vic will be refurbished as soon as we can fully recoup financially.

You may be wondering, however, what's up with the Capt Vic. That vessel worked tirelessly after the storm and is still a viable vessel for operation. However, we've paid Subbase Dry-dock our deposit since November of 2018 for her bi-annual dry-docking and we are still waiting our turn. Apparently they have a big project going on and we are next in line. Until then, we prefer not to harass Capt Vic too much. We believe she needs some tender loving care, which leaves the M/V Grand Vic.

Grand Vic is available for your transportation needs between St. Thomas and St. John. Please keep in mind that we only operate the Vic branded ferries, which are black and white vessels . If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us at 340-779-4000 during our office hours of Mondays to Fridays between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you on board the M/V Grand Vic.

The Motor Vessel Grand Vic that is owned and operated by Love City Car Ferries, Inc arrived in the Virgin Islands late evening on Monday, November 12, 2018. This vessel was built by Steiner Shipyard in Mobile Alabama. However the process to get it to completion was an up hill battle. Nevertheless, we persevered.
No victory is ever achieved alone and thus we give thanks. We would like to especially thank the attorneys and staff at Dudley Topper & Feuerzeig, LLP without whom we would have failed multiple times over. Special thanks to Attorney Kurt Petri and Attorney Gregory Hodges whom we spoke to and interacted with almost on a daily basis. We are grateful for their service. In addition, we would like to thank the crew who brought the Grand Vic down. The M/V Grand Vic is dedicated to the people of the Virgin Islands and as such, we thank you for your patience and understanding. More importantly, we thank the Love City Car Ferries, Inc staff for working tirelessly. We know that the front lines is a tough place to be, especially when you have to encounter angry customers who are tired of waiting in long lines; we appreciate you; you are family. Above all, we thank God for strengthening our faith and our close friends and family for giving us the moral support we needed.

Love City Car Ferries, Inc Board

The following pictures were taken at different stages of the building process, while the vessel was still at the shipyard and thus they do not necessarily reflect the actual image today. New pictures will be shared once the vessel has made its inaugural voyage.

We apologize for any inconvenience you have/had experienced in your attempt to catch a car ferry between St. Thomas and St. John, Virgin Islands, wherein Love City Car Ferries, Inc via the M/V Capt Vic was your service provider. We are doing our utmost to accommodate everyone. However, currently we are the only car ferry service in operation and at such times the lines are long which results in frustration, especially when someone was allowed to jump the line.
     Before delving into the issue of jumping the line, please keep the following in mind when catching a car ferry during times of high congestion:

1. Arrive at least 20-30 minutes before the departure time for M/V Capt Vic’s scheduled departures;
2. First come first served has its limitations (explanation below;)
3. Vessel stability is the a priori factor that governs loading;
4. The United States Coast Guard certified Captain on duty has the final say regarding the loading of the vessel.

     Generally the vessel is loaded first come, first served.  However this manner of loading has its limitations and at times other factors take precedent. This is not an issue when there are several car ferries in operation.  But when the number of ferries constricts, then customers get frustrated when they see others taking priority in the line. This frustration is understandable. Customers may then think that Love City Car Ferries is being unfair. But things aren’t always as they appear at face value.
     While we are here to accommodate everyone, please keep the following in mind:

1. food via trailers has to come to St. John, 
2. gas has to come to St. John, 
3. the mail has to come to St. John, 
4. the garbage has to leave St. John, 
5. customers on dialysis have to leave St. John to get treatment,
6. cancer patients have to leave St. John for treatment etc.
7. reservations have been prepaid and some are catching flights,
8. another car further back in the line may be a better fit for stability reasons. 

Without food and gas none of us can have a sustainable existence on St. John. Also, health care for critically ill patients is a matter of life and death. Finally, as a tourist destination, it is quite unsightly for the garbage to be piled up on the island. Or, there may be a concrete pour on St. John and the concrete can not sit on the docks. As a result of all of these factors and a myriad of others that may occur, we have to make decisions on a case by case basis, that may result in a particular customer taking priority in the line.
     Hence, if you are in the line and someone jumps the line in front of you, please know that we do not value them more than you. Instead there are other factors that demand us to allow said customer to take priority.
     During this time of increase congestion on the dock, we are continually reminded of our motto “A Heart for the People.” As it guides us, we hope it will guide our customers, as well, in knowing that we appreciate each and every one of you and that we will do our utmost to ensure that we serve everyone to the best of our ability.

It is that time of year again and we at Love City Car Ferries, Inc. were wondering how to celebrate the educational experience of our children. We want them to focus on the positive things that come from a good education. We decided to reinstitute our Back-to-School Essay contest and offer prizes to all the winners. Read the below press release for contest details. Feel free to distribute it to any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader who attends school on St. Thomas or St. John. Have a happy, blessed, and safe school year!

The Prizes
​One winner per grade will be selected to receive:
6th Grade PRIZE: $150
7th Grade PRIZE: $225
8th Grade PRIZE $300

#LoveCityCarFerries #LoveCity #RockCity #BacktoSchool #KidsRock Photo Courtesy of @VisualsofLife

Llewellyn “Big Lew” Sewer was a big man not only in physical stature and overall presence, but also in his zest for life. He had big ideas, big dreams and big goals. He left a legacy for all the Virgin Islands by giving each island its beloved nickname: Twin City for St. Croix, Rock City for St. Thomas, Chocolate City for Tortola and of course Love City for St. John, his beloved place of birth.

This Memorial Day weekend we lovingly remember him and all the sacrifices he made for his country and his family. The effects of Agent orange took him from us too soon.

More importantly, we remember the sacrifices of all those who served in the United States military and died and the families who mourn for their loves ones. We can’t help but wonder what life would have been like if they weren’t taken from us so soon.

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE! We miss them. We love them. We remember them.

As we barbecue this Memorial Day weekend, let us all remember those who truly paid the price so that we can smile, flip burgers, and live in a generally free democratic society.

Stay safe Memorial Day and always...

Your friends at Love City Car Ferries, Inc.

#MemorialDay #Freedomisnotfree #InlovingMemory #TwinCity #RockCity #ChocolateCity #LoveCity #VirginIslands #LoveCityCarFerries
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Yesterday was hectic for everyone, with M/V Capt. Vic having to go through its regularly scheduled annual United States Coast Guard Inspection. As a result, the vessel was down for most of the day. However we worked closely with the Coast Guard and thankfully the vessel is in full service today.

We understand that without the M/V Capt Vic, the congestion, especially in Red Hook was horrendous. Today is going to be different because both the M/V Capt Vic and the M/V Island Vic are operational and will be able to handle the flow of traffic.

Thanks for your understanding and see you on board.

At times it can be confusing when trying to find the departure terminal for car ferries going to St. John from Red Hook, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. These satellite images can help. Take a closer look before you begin your adventure to Red Hook.
The following are noteworthy:
1. Passenger and car ferry departures are both in Red Hook.
2. Passengers leave from the Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Facility
3. Big landmarks in Red Hook that are helpful in finding the car ferry dock are the American Yacht Harbor and the pond. Red Hook Road runs by both of these landmarks.
4. Red Hook Road is route 32.
5. If you are coming from Smith Bay you will pass the pond on your left and the car ferry entrance will be your first left after the pond.

This being said, just use your intuition, and any devices such as maps, etc. Also don't be afraid to ask questions. Once you are in Red Hook, it is almost impossible to miss the departure terminals to St. John. We look forward to seeing you on board.

Whenever we are hungry and need something to eat we head over to Vybz Rootz Cafe in Pine Peace, St. John, Virgin Islands. They offer a wide assortment of vegetarian dishes, most of which are quite tasty.

Check them out and decide for yourself. Be sure to let them know that someone at Love City Car Ferries, Inc was impressed with the food they ate at their cafe.

Once you get to Pine Peace just ask around someone will direct you.

Happy Eating!

One of the most frequently asked question is whether or not passengers have to stay in their vehicle once they have boarded Love City Car Ferries' vessels for a ride between St. Thomas and St. John. The simple answer is no. Once on board, you are free to exit your vehicles and walk around.

We would caution you, however, to keep safety in mind. Prior to departure, other vehicles are still boarding. So if you have small children it is imperative that you pay attention to their whereabouts and treat the deck of the car ferry as you would any other thoroughfare where cars are in motion. When the vessel has departed cars are no longer in motion but at the same time the vessel is, so still be careful. Pay attention to all signs because there are places on board that passengers are not allowed.

Love City Car Ferries' M/V Island Vic has a lounge area where you can sit back and enjoy the sea breeze and the views. Our other vessel the M/V Capt Vic has a small seating area around the house, on the second level. So use your sea legs, especially if the waves are rough, meaning walk slowly and with a steady gate. Enjoy the ride and if you are the least bit hesitant you can always wait comfortably in your vehicle.