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.

​Employees of Love City Car Ferries, Inc are, for the most part, on board the vessel. Our employees wear blue shirts. Individuals on the dock are agents of Virgin Islands Port Authority. They are the ones who line you up as you wait for the vessels; they are also the ones in the toll booth. We can not control their process nor their procedures. Please keep this in mind as you consider whether or not we have provided good service; as we are noticing negative feedback based on their actions that has nothing to do with us.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the blessings of Christmas and the holiday season and peace and prosperity for the New Year.

Love City Car Ferries, Inc.

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours. No matter how busy we get, we ought to say a special thank you to that special someone in our lives. Hope your day is special and memorable. Remember that St. John is the island of love so feel free to visit soon and let us know if you need any assistance with your booking. Have a wonderful day!

This has been an eventful year in the car ferry industry in the United States Virgin Islands. We have had and continue to have our trials. Nevertheless, we are thankful and grateful to you our customers, vendors, and patrons.

We at Love City Car Ferries, Inc. continue to do what is necessary to serve you to the best of our ability. If we have fallen short, our sincerest apologies, it is never our intent to displease you in any way. As the year draws to a close, feel free to stay in contact with us by emailing, calling (340-779-4000), or sending us a message on social media. We can be found on Twitter @VICarFerry, Facebook, and Instagram. Let us know how we can help.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Thank you for connecting with us. We appreciate you! You are awesome! You are the Best! We love you! God Bless.......

When you come on board the M/V Capt Vic or the M/V Island Vic, you will first park your vehicle. Then we ask that you seek out the cashier, before exiting the vehicle, in order to pay for the service you are about to receive. You do not, however, have to stay in your vehicle during the duration of the car ferry ride. Both vessels have a lounge where you can sit and relax. The M/V Island Vic's passenger seating is larger than the M/V Capt Vic's. Either way the choice is yours.

There is so much to see as you traverse Pillsbury Sound, the waterway that separates St. Thomas and St. John. In addition to observing the beautiful turquoise Caribbean waters you might just spot a dolphin and other beautiful sea creatures. Also, the birds are always flying about the vessel and are a great back drop to photographs, not to mention the sunsets and sunrises are picturesque. In addition, pay attention to the smaller cays such as Lovango, Congo, Mingo, Grassy and Thatch Cays which are to the north. While on the south you can find Great and Little St. James, Dog Island and Dog Rocks. Where else can you find such natural beauty? So, while you are free to stay in your car, you are also free to exit it and enjoy the scenery.

Disclaimer: For your own safety we ask that you follow the directives of the crew and the directions of any posted signage.

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.

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.

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. 
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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.

​M/V Capt Vic faithfully works the route between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John. However the M/V Island Vic usually goes between Subbase, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John.

However, due to recent events in the market, the M/V Island Vic has been authorized to run a regularly scheduled route between Red Hook and Cruz Bay. This change has taken place in an effort to foster commerce and thereby alleviate any congestion on the docks, especially since Red Hook and Cruz Bay usually have three car ferries operating. With the addition of M/V Island Vic, on this route, it will have three car ferries operating once again.

We are asking heavy duty vehicles like construction and concrete related trucks to catch the M/V Island Vic while the regular traffic can continue to catch the M/V Capt Vic. However, we will not deny the boarding of any vehicles; this is just our preference.

If there are any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact us:
340-779-4000
info@lovecitycarferries.com

Are you a Vic Sea Miles Club Member? Do you proudly carry that little card with you every single time you think of catching a car ferry to St. Thomas or St. John? Do you purposefully give your club number to the cashier and ensure that he or she places it conspicuously on your ticket? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then we have a treat for you!

On Black Friday, November, 27, 2015, you can ride the M/V Capt. Vic for $35 round trip! 

To be able to redeem this great offer you must have a Vic Sea Miles Club card prior to Wednesday, 11/18/2015, this publishing.

If you don't currently have a card, perhaps you can get one and be able to benefit from future offerings, just click on this link.

For our Club Members, see you on board on Black Friday!