The 12 Longest Ferry Trips in the World: When a Ferry Ride Can Double as a Mini-Cruise

Sydney’s natural harbor is continuously crisscrossed by commuter ferries, and the Manly Ferry is a noted must-do for international visitors. But how about heading in the other direction, for a scenic mini-cruise? Take the hourly ferry from Circular Quay Wharf 5, Side A toward the suburb of Parramatta. The longest ferry route in the capital, at roughly 1.5 hours, it costs around AUD10 ($6.5) one way, and takes you under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through mangrove forests, and past the Sydney Olympic Park, offering a whole different perspective of Sydney.   

Taking the Spirit of Tasmania from the Victorian city of Geelong across the Bass Strait to the island of Tasmania is an adventure like no other. You will leave through the narrow opening of Port Phillip Bay, often accompanied by dolphins, and maybe even spotting penguins, and head south, crossing the Tasman Sea to Australia’s only island state. The crossing is some 9.5 hours long, and you have day and night crossings to choose from. Depending on the time of year, the water can get a little rough, and during the southern hemisphere’s late fall and winter (April to August), you might need good sea legs and plenty of Dramamine.

In a country of countless islands, taking a boat is the best way to enjoy the scenery and get a great overview. The Philippines has more than 7,500 islands, many connected by ferries. One of the longest ferry journeys is between Negros Island and Mindanao Island, taking some 15 hours, as compared to the much less interesting (and not half as sustainable) 2.5 hour flight. This is extremely cheap, with prices around $50, and quite basic, with some ships offering cabins, but not all.

This is a ferry with a difference. Probably quite close to a proper cruise, the Taiheiyo Ferry comes complete with restaurants, live entertainment every night, a shared pool/hot tub perfect for watching the sunset, and, of course, a Karaoke room. Pick from shared family cabins to luxury suites, first- and second-class travel, Western- and Japanese-style accommodations–all with ferry schedules and stops. This 40-hour ferry journey is a great way to see this island nation from another side, while also marveling at the traditional Japanese entertainment and way of travel.

The great thing about traveling in Europe is that country-hopping is easy–even by ferry. One of the world’s longest ferry journeys connects the Italian capital with the Catalonian capital, allowing you to sail across the Mediterranean for some 22 hours on the Grimaldi Lines (Grimaldi is the name of the royal house of Monaco – a country you’ll be sailing past).  And if, once arrive in Barcelona, you want more, why not hop on a ferry from Barcelona to the Balearic Islands, such as Mallorca or Ibiza, stretching your trip to a multi-port ferry cruise?

This multi-country ferry connection takes you from Stockholm to Helsinki, then on to Tallinn. This is one of those occasions where the ferry tops all other forms of transport, because the many islands of the Stockholm archipelago and Finland’s coastline are best experienced from the water. Both Viking Line and Tallink Silja Line take you to Finland overnight, giving you enough time to enjoy the onboard sauna and sleep. Once in Helsinki, you can catch the short ride across the Baltic Sea to Estonia, with daytrips eminently possible.

Are you on a European road trip, but want to add a mini-cruise? The car ferry between the UK and northern Spain allows you to spend two nights at sea, sailing down France’s coastline into the Bay of Biscay, from where you can explore Bilbao, then drive to San Sebastian (Spain’s culinary capital), the South of France, the Pyrenees,  or even Portugal. Remember to plan ahead, as there are only two crossings per week.

This journey skirts the fine line between ferry and cruise. The Hurtigruten trip between Bergen and Kirkenes, north of the Arctic Circle, is taken by cruise ships and car ferries. Some don’t even offer cabins, because many locals book shorter journeys between the 34 different ports the ships call at. If you want the car ferry to save you hours or days of driving north, you will need to do your research, as not all ships take cars.

How about connecting continents with a ferry-cruise? There are two options, both taking off from southern Spain. You can go on a mini-cruise (more like a tiny ferry ride) off to Morocco, a brief 1.5-hour sail, with both continents in sight at all times. Alternatively, sail all the way to the Canary Islands, just off the coast of Africa. The overnight, 36-hour trip takes you from Cadiz to Gran Canaria, from where you can hop on other local ferries connecting you with most of the surrounding islands.

Want a more local option? Along Lake Michigan, you can not only enjoy a four-hour mini cruise, but also do it in style, on a historic steamship in service since 1952. The SS Badger will take you some 60 miles right across the width of Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It’s a proper ferry service, so you can bring your car, bikes, and even RVs, while also enjoying dining and entertainment aboard. Want more? The same boat also does separate trips up and down either side of the lake.

This 2.5 day-long ferry cruise connecting Bellingham, WA with Skagway, AK is not too dissimilar to the Norway journey with a number of port calls along the 950-mile route. You can bring your vehicle, and like in Norway, hop on and off, bearing in mind that the trip takes place only once each week. Along the way, you’ll see stunning scenery, from mountains to islands, and it also doubles as a marine safari, with potential sightings of whales, sealions, otters, dolphins, and more during the trip.

Reportedly one of the longest free ferry rides in the world, and, quite honestly, one of the most scenic, is the historic Kootenay Ferry crossing Kootenay Lake. It’s only a 35-minute crossing, but the surrounding scenery and the option of catching other ferries crisscrossing the lake make this one of the nicest mini-cruise ferry options. There are vehicle height restrictions, so check your RV’s stats before you get excited about this one.