Getting to Montserrat just got easier with the return of a permanent ferry service between Antigua and Montserrat. The ferry will offer an alternative means of transportation to Montserrat, plus provide significant extra capacity, allowing more passengers to visit the island.

In addition, local airline Fly Montserrat has announced the arrival of its second aeroplane, with another due to be in service before the end of 2009.

“We’re delighted to welcome back a permanent ferry service – it will play a vital role in our growing tourism industry,” comments Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism at the Montserrat Tourist Board. “Montserrat has a way of charming its visitors like no other Caribbean island and now access is even easier, we hope more people will be encouraged to come and discover the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean.”

Ferry services

A ferry service will resume on 2nd December 2009, with the MV Deluxe providing a short-term service during the busy December period. The service will run three times in its first week (Wednesday 2nd, Friday 4th and Saturday 5th December) sailing from Montserrat to Antigua in the morning and making the return journey to Montserrat in the late afternoon. From 7th December, the service will run daily except Sundays until 31st December 2009. The afternoon journey from Antigua to Montserrat is timed so that UK passengers flying into Antigua with BA or Virgin Atlantic can connect to the ferry to Montserrat.

In the latter half of December, the service will be supplemented with the arrival of the MV Mjortof which will offer two daily return trips between Antigua and Montserrat on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays all year round. On other days, the ferry will service the Antigua to Barbuda route.

Additional ferry services to Montserrat will be arranged as required for special events such as St Patrick’s Week and other peak travel periods.

Docking in Antigua for both ferry services will be at the Nevis Street Ferry Terminal, next to Heritage Quay ferry and cruise terminal and around 20-minutes by car or taxi from Antigua’s V C Bird International Airport.

Fares for the ferry service will be EC$150 one-way or EC$300 return (approximately £35 / £70). Both ferries are capable of carrying 100 passengers comfortably, as well as light cargo and passenger baggage.

New trip packages utilising the ferry will be available through day tour operators based in Antigua and Montserrat.

For further details, timetable and booking information, please see www.visitmontserrat.com

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Additional airlift

Air capacity into Montserrat is also set to increase as Montserrat-based airline FlyMontserrat commences a scheduled flight service between Montserrat and Antigua on 1st December 2009.

The airline will offer one return flight per day from 1st December 2009, leaving Montserrat at 12:30 p.m. and returning from Antigua at 5:30 p.m.

From December 16th, a second return flight will be added in the mornings, departing Montserrat at 9:00am and returning from Antigua at 10:00am.

FlyMontserrat has just announced the arrival of its second Islander VP-MON aircraft, with a third expected to arrive before Christmas.

Scheduled flights cost from US$55 per person (approx. £32) plus taxes one way.

FlyMontserrat also offers charter services to other Caribbean islands.

Online booking will be available soon at www.flymontserrat.com

. Flights can also be booked by calling 001 664 491 3434 or emailing [email protected].