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STARS e-Ticketing -- How to book Andaman government ferry online

The DSS STARS e-Ticketing portal is the only authorised online source for Andaman government ferry tickets. It's not the slickest interface, and the rules are strict. This guide walks you through every step plus the traps that burn first-time bookers.

Portal
STARS e-Ticketing
Opens
2 days ahead · 9:00 AM
Max passengers
10 per booking/day
Helpline
1800-345-2714

Open STARS e-Ticketing ↗

Step by step

8 steps to a confirmed STARS booking

1
Create a STARS account

Visit the STARS e-Ticketing portal at dss.andamannicobar.gov.in/eticketing and register with your email address and a mobile number. You'll receive an OTP on both -- save the password somewhere safe because account resets are slow.

2
Keep your IDs ready

Every passenger needs a government photo ID at booking -- Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence for Indian nationals, and Passport for foreign nationals. Keep the ID number, holder name (exactly as on the ID) and date of birth in a note ready to copy-paste.

3
Know the 2-day window

This is the most important rule: bookings open exactly 2 calendar days before your travel date, at 9:00 AM IST sharp. Not the previous night, not a week ahead. If you want to travel on Friday the 10th, the booking opens Wednesday the 8th at 9:00 AM IST.

4
Login 5 minutes before 9:00 AM

On the target booking day, login at ~8:55 AM. The portal gets slow around 9:00 AM when every traveller for that sailing tries at once. Have your passenger list, ID numbers and a payment method queued up.

5
Search sailing and pick class

Select origin and destination (Port Blair is 'Sri Vijaya Puram' in official signage), pick travel date and hit Search. Pick a sailing. Available classes (Seating, Chair, Bunk, Cabin) show with seat count -- tourist quota is a subset of the total, so you'll see fewer seats than the vessel capacity.

6
Enter passenger details

Up to 10 passengers per booking per day. Name (as on ID), gender, age, ID type and ID number for each. Double-check spelling -- the jetty counter refuses boarding if names don't match exactly.

7
Pay within the timer

Once you proceed, a payment timer starts (typically 10-15 minutes). UPI, Net Banking and cards are supported. If payment fails, the seat is released and you're back in the queue -- which in peak season means gone for good.

8
Save the ticket

Confirmation arrives by email and SMS. Download the PDF and save it offline -- mobile data is patchy at the jetties and on the islands themselves. Print a copy if you can.

Avoid these

Common STARS booking mistakes

  • Assuming you can book weeks ahead -- STARS only opens exactly 2 calendar days before travel.
  • Logging in at 9:01 AM on peak-season weekends -- tourist quota for Havelock/Neil sells out in 10-20 minutes.
  • Misspelling a passenger name vs ID -- jetty counters refuse boarding, no refund.
  • Trying to book from overseas IPs -- the portal occasionally blocks non-India traffic; use a VPN set to India if needed.
  • Missing the payment timer and losing the seat to the next queued traveller.
  • Forgetting to carry the original ID used at booking -- photocopies and digital scans are not accepted at the jetty.

Peak season strategy

How to actually secure a seat in October-May

Tourist quota on Port Blair-Havelock and Port Blair-Neil routes often sells out within the first 10-20 minutes of each booking window. To stand a chance:

  • Create your STARS account ahead of time. Not on the morning of booking -- the OTP step costs you 2-3 minutes you don't have.
  • Be logged in by 8:55 AM IST. 5 minutes buffer for any portal lag.
  • Pre-fill passenger details in a text file. Names, genders, ages, ID numbers -- ready to copy-paste, not type.
  • Use UPI for payment. Faster than cards or net banking.
  • Have a private ferry tab open as backup. If the STARS booking fails, you can instantly pivot without losing travel dates.

Honestly, for peak season and fixed dates, most travellers we speak to end up on private catamarans anyway -- booking certainty is worth the ~₹1,000 difference.

At the jetty

What to carry on travel day

  • Original photo ID for every passenger (same one used at booking).
  • Printed or offline PDF copy of the e-ticket. Mobile data is patchy.
  • Report 2 hours before sailing. Per DSS terms, gates close 30 minutes prior to departure for Mainland, Inter-Island and Foreshore sectors. The private-ferry rule (45 minutes) does not apply to DSS sailings.
  • Food and water. Onboard refreshments are limited, especially on long-haul sailings.
  • Cash (small denominations). Some jetty facilities are cash-only.
  • Motion sickness medication if the sea tends to move you -- government ferries are larger and rolling is noticeable in open water.

FAQs

STARS e-Ticketing -- common questions

Booking opens exactly 2 calendar days before your travel date at 9:00 AM IST. Not earlier, not later. The online reservation window stays open from 00:30 AM to 23:30 PM every day once your sailing is available.
Mostly yes, but the portal sometimes blocks non-Indian IP addresses. Use a VPN set to an Indian server if the page fails to load. Foreign nationals need passport number at booking and the physical passport at the jetty.
Maximum 10 passengers per booking per day. Larger groups need to split across multiple accounts or book in person at the Port Blair counters.
UPI, net banking and Indian credit/debit cards. International cards sometimes fail -- keep an Indian payment method as backup. You have a 10-15 minute timer to complete payment before the seat releases.
Yes -- cancellation policy is tiered based on how far ahead you cancel. Full refund if DSS cancels the sailing. Check the current cancellation rules inside your STARS booking page; they adjust seasonally.
DSS issues a full refund for sailings cancelled due to weather, mechanical issues or operational reasons. The refund processes to your source account in 7-14 working days. Contact the DSS helpdesk at 1800-345-2714 if there are delays.
Yes -- Phoenix Bay Jetty (for Havelock / Neil) and Haddo Wharf (for Long Island, Diglipur, Little Andaman, mainland) both have walk-up counters. Arrive at least 2 days before travel, carry cash and IDs. Same-day counters exist but sailings are usually sold out.

Need help?

DSS support contacts

Prefer instant confirmation instead?

Private catamarans (Makruzz, Nautika, Green Ocean, ITT Majestic) are bookable any date, any time -- live fares in the search bar above.

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