Update on our fleet: Love City Car Ferries, Inc. owns 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. Minor repairs on this vessel is currently being done. Major repairs will require the vessel to be moved to a shipyard. The good news is that that M/V Capt Vic is finally at dry-dock for its bi-annual inspection.
The M/V Grand Vic is fully operational and therefore 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. For more information, please revisit the original fleet update post: Fleet Update. Thanks for your patience and understanding. M/V Grand Vic is Available for your Transportation Needs Between St. Thomas and St. John, US Virgin IslandsUpdate 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 Grand Vic PicturesThe 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.
Revised and Reposted from June 16, 2016 Open Letter to all CustomersWe 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:
While we are here to accommodate everyone, please keep the following in mind:
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. Back-to-School Essay Contest for Middle Schoolers
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
Parental Consent Form![]()
Simple Tips to Catch a Car Ferry in the United States Virgin Islands: Revised and Reposted5/31/2018 How do you catch a car ferry in the United States Virgin islands? It is easier than you think. Below are 5 simple tips that can help you.
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 As a child, I remember our parades in St. Thomas. The Wild Indians were usually among the last troupes to come into view. I eagerly anticipated them and looked on in awe. I love the display of culture, fantasy, and innate symbolism. Many people of Caribbean descent have native Indian ancestry. Seeing the Indians do their performance was always a surreal experience.
The above images were found in the photo library of the late Llewellyn "Big Lew" Sewer. They were post cards that he kept and were passed on to his kids. I am so happy they were preserved and I just wanted to share them with you. Carnival is here! Enjoy the fete and remember these cultural symbolism be they Wild Indians, Mocko Jumbie or any others are part of our beautiful cultural landscape. Carnival 2018 Schedule https://www.vicarnivalschedule.com/stthomas/ Inspection was Yesterday and the Capt Vic is back on the run today, Thursday, June 30, 2016Yesterday 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. Satellite Images of Red Hook, St. Thomas, Virgin IslandsAt 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. Open Letter to all Customers 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 and M/V Island Vic were your service provider. We are doing our utmost to accommodate everyone. However many times this week we were the only car ferry service in operation and at such times the lines were long which resulted 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:
While we are here to accommodate everyone, please keep the following in mind:
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. 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. The Virgin Islands is part of the Leeward Islands Archipelago, a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea. Politically there are United States Virgin Islands a dependent territory owned by the United States of America and there are British Virgin Islands owned by the United Kingdom. There are four main islands in the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and Water Island. Love City Car Ferries, Inc. has ferries operating between St. Thomas and St. John. The distance between these two islands is approximately 3 miles.
This three miles is one of the most picturesque views in the Caribbean and it takes approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the weather, etc., for the car ferry to traverse this divide, known as Pillsbury Sound. With the beautiful views, It feels like you are in paradise when you are finally on board the vessel and on your way. One can’t help but to look in wonder at the changing shades of blue in the crystal clear waters. If you look with the expectation of a child, you will probably be able to sight dolphins or even a whale every now and then. So have your camera ready and just relax and enjoy the ride. We receive many frantic calls from first time riders who are eager to board the vessel, but forgot to make a reservation. Many of you wonder “Do I have to make a reservation to ride the car ferry?” This leaves many of you confused as to whether or not you will still be able to get a ride on the boat. Reservations are recommended to lock in your spot and the captain will hold a place for you; but if you forget to make a reservation no fear because 90% of our customers do not make reservations and most people ride the boat first come first served.
Post by Hadiya Sewer ![]() My internet connection is incredibly poor and my computer recently crashed. Therefore, I often travel to my parents’ office at Love City Car Ferries to work on my dissertation in the morning. I am in the office by 6 am. Though I try to focus on my academic work, I often find myself answering phone calls, running payroll, and performing other administrative tasks for the company. My parents started this business with a great deal of grit. My father saved money that he earned as a sanitation engineer and my mother worked at the company while she was still in graduate school. Like many local Virgin Islanders, they had to use a plot of their forefather’s land as collateral. I spent a great deal of my childhood learning the ins and outs of the car ferry business. In junior high and high school, I woke up at 4 am to work as a cashier on the 6 am trip to St. Thomas before heading to school for 8 am. After school, I’d work as an administrative assistant in the office. I woke up early on many weekends to work with my father on the barge. In our family, Love City Car Ferries is a labor of love. Our vessels, the Motor Vessel Captain Vic and the Motor Vessel Island Vic, are named after my great-grandfather, Victor William Sewer. Sea faring is in my blood. If you click the above link, you will see that Captain Vic played a pivotal role in the development of the marine industry on St. John. His father, Lancelot Sewer, was a sailor back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and he sewed (needle and thread) the sails of sailing ships, hence our name Sew-er. Our family lineage can easily be traced back to the East End of the island, an area well known for a tight knit community of “creole people” who made their living on the ocean for many generations. We run this company to honor our ancestors and keep our heritage alive. We do it to provide a service for our community. We do it to make a living. Nevertheless, local car ferry owners in the St. Thomas – St. John district face a great deal of challenges. These companies and the families that run them are in a precarious position. The island is undergoing a rapid gentrification process and local businesses help to safeguard local capital. Many of our ancestors have been on island for well over 250 years if not longer. These companies allow us to survive the ever increasing land taxes, the food dessert, the predatory lending practices, the downside of a colonial administration, and the like. They give us hope in the possibility of a stabler tomorrow. Since returning home, I have heard many customers complain about the car ferry services. Some people note that the barges are too late. Others are upset when we cannot wait for them. Customers get angry when they can’t get a non-refundable ticket refunded. Customers are frustrated when the barge is full and they get left behind on the dock. Many more are disgruntled when they believe that another customer was allowed to cut the line and board the vessel before them. Some believe that the company has lost a love and compassion centered approach. Few people call us to ask a question before voicing their frustrations to the public. We take love, compassion, and our customers concerns very seriously. At Love City Car Ferries, we do our best to balance the needs of our customers with economic survival. We leave on time whenever feasible. We try to wait for late customers if their situation is dire and the wait time is within reason. A great deal of complaints emerge from misunderstandings. Examples: We never let customers cut the line arbitrarily. We take reservations and we have a Sea Miles Club; these customers are guaranteed a spot on the vessel or given preferential boarding, respectively. At times, the barge is late for reasons outside of the captain’s control- high traffic on the dock, refueling, light maintenance, and waiting for a customer who really needs to catch a plane or get to a funeral. Other times, we want to wait for a customer but we can’t. We get fined for being excessively late. If we wait too late, we are also increasing traffic on the other side. Since the car ferries are a lifeline between the islands, we understand why our customers get frustrated when things don’t go as planned. However, we ask that you have a bit of compassion with us as well. We are not a large corporation. We are a small family run business and we’re just human. If you have not noticed, many of the car ferry companies in the area are facing steep financial struggles. While the vessels appear full, the profits are not high. 80-90% of our charge customers do not pay their invoices on time. We provide our employees with a fair wage, health care insurance, and a 401k plan. Unfortunately, When you couple all of the above with vessel insurance, vessel mortgate, maintenance costs, fuel costs, Port Authority fees, and the like, these companies are barely staying afloat. Our compassion centered business model is crippling us financially. We allow our customers to ride the vessel even when they haven’t paid for previous services because we understand that things can be hard and we know that people need to be able to travel between the islands. We try to keep the costs as low as we can because we know that moving between St. Thomas and St. John shouldn’t be a luxury. For those who are from St. John, the ability to cross Pillsbury Sound is a necessity. In short, it’s a bit painful to hear people speak so negatively of the various car ferry companies’ owners. I have academic theories that lead me to believe that there is this way in which many pathologize local entrepreneurs in the Caribbean. Quite frankly, it’s not fair. When I wake up in the morning and head to the office at 6 am, both of my parents are already working. With a few exceptions, they work from 5 am to 8 pm seven days a week to keep their customers happy. I don’t know how Love City Car Ferries or any of the other car ferry companies are going to survive with customers who, for whatever reason, do not pay invoices in a timely manner and others who see us as a heartless corporation rather than a small family business. Several local businesses have gone out of business over the years. Some of us look back on the days when they were open with a sense of nostalgia. Others write a history that suggests that these companies never existed. Yet, it’s important for us to remember that some local businesses still exist and these companies need our help to survive. |