Sitting on the ferry, where masks are required, if not eating or drinking. 2% of people are wearing their masks. So disappointed!!! This is ridiculous, especially in a state where few are vaccinated. Why have rules if not to be enforced?! read more

This was great. This is a catamaran that cruises at some 40 knots. They advertise the trip from Ft. Myers to Key West takes 3.5 hours & they were spot on, both coming & going. Try to get there early so you can get a choice seat, inside & along the walls. These have tables but the airplane like middle seats are big enough for the typical American AND they lean way, way back, so really not a bad seat in the house. The bar, which opens when underway, is top notch & the food is good enough. They also will allow you to bring your own bicycle to the island which I thought was a neat touch. When the weather is good (most of the time in South Florida) sitting on the open air top gives one a breath taking view. Not the cheapest way to get there but cruising at about 6 1/2 feet above the waves is a great way to start/end a vacation to Key West. 5 stars. read more

Key West Express - I think this is the larger of two boats. - Ferries Near Me - Key West, Florida

Key West Express is an A-OK way to get to and from Key West. The boat ride from Fort Myers to Key West was flawless. We did have to pay $13/day for parking in Fort Myers, which is a little steep after the price of the boat ride. We were one of the first ones on the boat so got to pick seats with a table. The bloody Mary's ($7) were actually pretty tasty. I'd suggest bringing your own snacks, but they do have bagels and other small breakfast items. I'd also suggest bringing a book or some games, because you lose cell service after about an hour and all they way up until the boat is almost docked. The movies they played in the boat were all pretty cheesy but family friendly. The ride home was completely full and the line to get on the boat was wrapped wayyyyy around the building. The wait in line (we got there 2 hours early) was hot and boring and it would have been nice to just board the boat and stay on there for the two hours. The boat and bathrooms were mostly clean. I didn't have much interaction with the crew. Although the boat takes a long time to board, get there, collect your belongings, and de-board, it's a nice alternative to and from that long drive from Key West. During the holidays they have a deal where you can buy a round trip ticket for the price of one way. Take advantage of that for sure. read more

We used this to go from Ft. Meyers to Key West. It's a long boat ride so take things to entertain yourself. No WiFi or cell service. They don't take credit card either. They serve some food and it's ok (pizza, hot dogs). There is also alcoholic beverages to drink too. Staff is friendly and work the ship often offering assistance. Get there early because you will not get a desired seat! Also they want a tip at the end. Other than that sit back, take a nap, and look forward to your next adventure. read more

The crew were fantastic! It was a rough crossing from Marco Island (which they have no control on weather people) One of our fellow travelers was very sick. The crew couldn't have been more compassionate and caring. They went above and beyond taking care of her. At the terminal at Key West, Debbie was so accommodating to all of us since another member of our party had mobility issues allowing us to board earlier...most grateful for her kindness. Even with rough seas our excursion was 3 hrs and less returning to Marco. Understand people that you are on a small boat and seas do get rough so take precautions such as motion sickness pill, wrist bands, etc. read more

Do not buy vouchers from this company. We bought 6, when we went to use them, they said only 4 were valid. The claimed someone else used 2 of our vouchers. We had to pay $284 to buy 2 more tickets so that the 6 of us could make this trip. Terrible company polices and poor customer service. The supervisor would not even talk to me and they would not provide me with any information for whom they claimed used our vouchers. read more

We took the Key West Express for the first time this weekend and had a great trip down. On our return trip tonight we received a call just as we boarded that our son had an accident and was in hospital. The quickest way to get home was via the boat. We let a crew member, Bobby know what was going on and he was very helpful. He let us know how long we had until we would lose service and updated us throughout the trip to how much longer we had until we got back in cell range. He offered to get us water to drink or snacks. The boat was crowded and he offered to find us seats. He got our luggage to us first and made sure we were the first ones off the boat to get to our car and on our way to hospital as fast as we could. Bobby and the rest of the crew made a terrible situation as best they could and went above and beyond for us on our trip. read more

The way to travel to Key West!! I've done the drive from Tampa and it's long, hot, slow and boring. This boat is quick, relaxing, and enjoyable. Worth every penny!! Arrive early to board if you have a large party and want to sit together. Make sure to bring cash for the bar for drinks and snacks. read more

The KWE will get you where you need to go and sell you all the drinks you want along the way but next time I'll drive. They list the trip from Ft Myers as about 3 1/2 hours, travel time is over 4 (on smooth water). Add in getting there 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours early if you want a decent seat and then 20 to 30 minutes to get off the boat and it is well over 6 hours plus travel time to and from the terminals. I could drive from Ft Myers in about 5. The boat is more like a bus, (smelly bus) yes it's an interesting thing to do once but would not do it again. If traveling solo it might make break even financially but by the time you factor in 2 tickets and parking you are in for over $300 for a weekend. read more

Would not recommend. Just drive. Not great customer service, food, amenities. Drinks were expensive and were rough with our luggage

Great trip - easy on and off plenty of in and out seating and great ride all together- staff was attentive and friendly too -

I have been to Key West on three previous occasions. Each time, I drove. This time, decided to try the boat from Ft. Meyers. Looking back, there were pluses and minuses. The ride down was smooth and comfortable. However, after the first 45 minutes or so, there is nothing to see. Looking at water, and that's it. They show movies, so that passes the time. There are snacks and drinks available, but they are way over-priced. I had been told that the ride is rough, but after the ride down I thought that the people that had told me that were a bit over dramatic. Then came the ride back. Monday afternoon at dusk. The ride back was hell. I own a boat. I am on a boat often. I love boating. This was rough, really rough waters. I was fine, as were the people in my group, as I said we boat all the time. But, there were dozens of people getting sick on the ride back to Ft. Meyers. Aside from that, and I realize that the ocean is beyond their control. The staff was stodgy and unfriendly. In fact, I would say a couple of them were downright rude. The food and beverage on board is not good; bad selection, over priced. The food is frozen, microwaved food. I go deep-sea fishing all the time, and all of those boats have an actual galley and cook wonderful food. Why not do that here, instead of the microwaved food? At any rate, the ride is long, the crew is surly, the food is bad, the drinks are regulated-pour. the atmosphere is unfriendly. Having made the drive three times, and ridden the boat once, I would highly recommend that you drive if you have that option. read more

Great way to travel to the keys. Such a stress free ride. The staff is friendly, the cabin is clean, and comfortable seating accommodations. But just beware of the group coming back, usually a little rowdier because they're usually pretty drunk, but other than that... Good times! Bring some cards, sit back and enjoy the ride. read more

See all

We used the ferry several times. Its gotten expensive but when we used it we were satisfied with the service and the boat. We only stopped using it because of a rough trip where we wanted to die from sea sickness. Not their fault.... Just be aware and take some Dramamine even if the sea looks calm! read more

Key West Express - Ferry leaving the dock. View is from Schooner Wharf upper deck. - Ferries Near Me - Key West, Florida

See all

Great method of transportation! We had a smooth and easy transition. Just be an adult and get there in a timely manner. Don't expect miracles or fancy yacht. It's nice but not luxury, the reviews scared us for no reason. read more

I road the Key West Express on April 25 and also the 27th. They make an announcement that it is Federally mandated that all have to wear masks while on this boat except for eating and drinking. I would guess that at least 50% of the passengers never put on a mask for the 4 and a half hour trip. I asked an associate on the boat to correct this and he said they say nothing to the passengers who choose not to wear a mask. I have pictures of many of their guest without a mask. This to me is a death trap and I would never have chosen to ride this enclosed boat if I knew that wearing masks were an option and there would be no enforcement. I feel they need to state on their site that they will not be enforcing this ordinance. read more

Worth it-- but follow the advice of yelpers and pick up the tickets in advance and on travel day, get there at least an hour early (better make it 1.5 hours early because the ferry may not accept passengers 30 min ahead of launching). It's much more comfortable on the upper deck if you're at all susceptible to queasiness, and it seemed to fill up much quicker than the lower deck. There are tables along the sides of both decks that filled up super quickly and airplane-style reclining seats in between. Pretty comfortable either way, lots of legroom. Open-air deck has lots of seating-- great for views and potential dolphin-sighting on the way out of the bay. Decent food options for a ferry! Breakfast sandwiches for the morning trip to KW, hot dogs on the way back to FM. They also have coffee, beer, chips, candy, and the like. Clean washrooms and floors, friendly staff, clear safety procedures, luggage storage-- a great, quick ride to KW with no traffic! read more

This is a good way to get to key west if you are short on time, don't want to drive, or don't want to deal with parking. The boat ride is long but they keep you entertained. Overpriced food and drink available but you can bring your own on. The seats were comfortable but the good ones do go fast so it's best to arrive early. The lady we checked in with was really rude but everyone working on the boat was great. Overall, it's an expensive way to get to the keys but you're paying for convenience and time, so it could be worth it. read more

We had Key West Express vouchers that were set to expire. We really did not want to go during Covid but they wouldn't offer any extension outside the 2 months and we didn't want to lose the money so we decided to go. The boat was packed on both the outbound and return. No social distancing whatsoever. In fact they were encouraging everyone to sit together. On the trip over it was raining so there was no option to sit outside. Our small group felt uncomfortable the entire trip. With strangers sitting right next to us it was even taking a chance to remove our mask to eat and drink. On the trip back, luckily we found seats outside. Thank goodness, because inside people were throwing up. A lot of people were drunk and acting obnoxious and a fight even broke out. The one surprise was how nice the crew was. They all seemed very happy and were very friendly. After dealing with the customer service reps I was not expecting that. So, that was a bonus! I wish the company cared a little less about the money and more about the passengers, and thus could do social distancing. All in all, if we weren't in a pandemic it would have been a better experience. It's not something we would do again. With the drive time to the port, needing to arrive over an hour in advance, the trip itself and the time it takes to get off the ship, we could have already drove and been in Key West. There's also a lot more to see when you drive than there is on the boat. It's a good service for those who don't like to drive, but definitely not our "cup o tea:! read more

Taken it recently past few days. Seats are very uncomfortable. Concessions prices high But it's get you where you want to Go read more

Lived in Florida the vast majority of my life and had no idea this company existed. Terrible fail. Drove to Ft. Myers with a group of buddies to take the KWE down for a bachelor party. Took about 3 1/2 hours and was an awesomely smooth ride. We jumped on and started having drinks and before you knew it we were there. There is plenty of seating on all levels and open air seating on the top level. Grab some beers and enjoy the trip. If you're with a group make sure you have a couple people get there early enough to grab enough seats so you can sit together. Everyone fans out as soon as they get on the boat and the good spots go QUICKLY! This is the best way to hit up Key West. Hands down. read more

We are very unhappy with the service here. We missed the boat and we were promised a refund to our card. Then the following day we get an unprofessional call from a guy who was rude to us saying we would only be receiving a credit to use within two years because we had used a Christmas time voucher that we bought (bought it the same way we would a normal ticket.). I explained that we were promised a refund and regardless of what the voucher says his representatives told us a refund was no problem and would be done and they should back that. I explained we were only there on vacation were from Ca. and I'm a single Mom and wouldn't be back with in two years so I would be losing all of my money. He didn't care at all. His attitude was very very wrong. I had to say good bye to my money. read more

Easy trip back and fourth. We arrived a bit late and we're still able to get on, they even gave us a courtesy call to see if we were still traveling with them the morning of (since we were late). Keep in mind, the ferry was scheduled to leave at 8:30, late is after 8! If you hope to sit during the 4 hour ride, get there early! A gentleman from the crew saw us standing and asked if we'd like seats, he then went around asking folks that had spare seats in their group if we could join. Really nice and thoughtful of him. The food was mainly frozen items but it served us just fine. read more

I thought this was a great and easy way to get to Key West. A one way ticket is a little pricey at about 90 dollars each but I thought it was worth it to avoid car rental fees and a long drive from Fort Myers. Arriving in Fort Myers, there were signs and people directing cars to the drop off site and the parking. There was a short line where you show your confirmation and you get your tickets to board the boat. We walked right onto the boat with our luggage and a very nice employee showed us where we could store our bags. Make sure you arrive early, because seats on the boat go fast! By the time we got on which was around 7:30, all of the round tables with comfy benches were taken. The tables are meant for 5 people but most of them had 2-3 people that were able to stretch out- kind of annoying. There were a few high top tables on the 1st deck near the bar and food area that we sat at. We tried to go outside on the boat but it was SO windy, I thought I was going to get blown off the boat! The food options were slim, but not awful. They have pizza, chicken fingers, breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, and some snack food. We didn't opt to drink, but lots of people took advantage of the bloody Mary's. The boat ride was smooth and was about 3.5 hours total. No cell phone service or wifi so make sure to download your favorite TV shows to keep you entertained or bring a deck of cards. It drops you off right at the docks of Key West and from there it was a quick walk to our hotel in Key West! We enjoyed our ride and would use this option again. read more

So much better taking the boat instead of driving. Nice, clean, lots of space. They have food and drinks. They also have several tv's. read more

Key West Express - Ferries Near Me - Key West, Florida

We had one of the worst experiences on this fast ferry last year. The ride to Key West was fine, the ride home was way too rough. There was no warning that it would be a really rough ride, until we had left port. People were crying & throwing up!!! Awful experience! I would swim home before I gave this company another dime! read more

I think Key West express is a great way to get back and forth from the keys if you have limited time or don't feel like driving. I would recommend getting there early (about an hour before departure) as the best seats IMO are the ones with a table and those go pretty quickly. The boat we went on (smaller one) had 2 levels with a tv on each, and they show a movie during the trip, but it's also good to bring cards, a book, some music or whatever you need to keep entertained. The bar and food service is limited, but you can get some snacks or drinks. I preferred to bring my own food. If you're likely to get seasick bring some Dramamine and take it before leaving.Overall, a great option from the southwest Florida area. read more

This boat was luxurious and I did not get seasick either way I was happy that I helped off because my mom had a twisted knee they helped us get our bags on the prices weren't so bad on drinks and food but they played reggae all the way back from Key west which drove myMom crazy and me too but other than that really liked it read more

Easy way to travel to Key West. The boat ride was as promised 3.5 hours. The crew is timely and efficient. If you are with a large party (4 or more) arrive early to get seating together. Otherwise, good luck. Food is limited, bring snacks. Also, no wifi or anything like that. They do play a movie for entertainment but it is hard to hear or see from certain seating. read more

What a rip off $25 per ticket to move my reservation one day another $25 a ticket to reprint tickets that were left at the hotel. Extra $50 per ticket. For simple tasks. What ever happened to customer service. I thought the airlines had a racket! read more

Not sure where the 1 star is coming from this was a decent trip when you get on the bigger boat. The smaller boat that departs mid week is bad in comparison but we just returned on Thursday departure back to Ft Myers and it was smooth sailing.... Decent value for $, but they solicit tips at the end cheesy and should be included as a service fee for crew vs announcing that it's a large part of their wages? I tipped the crew who served when I got food and drink but not because I should be responsible for the others dong their job? read more

It was a great way to get from Fort Myers to KW. The crew was friendly and helpful. They are a little aggressive in selling the additional services once you arrive in KW, but it wasn't bad. Recommend you get their an hour before departure if you want to sit inside in decent seats. If you want a table, you need to arrive well in advance of an hour. read more

Very disappointed with there customer service. Wife got sick and we were unable to take the boat ride back. Reached out as a curiosity to advise not going to make it. Not only did they not provide me a refund because of some "fine print" but they also charged a $50 fee to cancel the trip, as if they weren't already heading that direction. No willingness to help with our situation and rude on the phone and would not recommend these guys. read more

6pm boat left before 5:30pm with no warning or explanation. Office was locked, and boat was far enough from the dock that it left around 5:15 or 5:20. My husband and I had to scramble to find a rental car to drive all the way to Sarasota. Kevin, the manager, said over email that the boat pulled away at 5:45pm and that the office was open until 5:50pm. Clearly their records were wrong because we were in shock checking our watches, phones and talking with a guy on an adjacent dock about the fact that they left early. read more

Chose this as a quicker way than driving to make a day trip to Key West. The water was fine both ways, so we didn't have any trouble with too much 'turbulence'. The ship itself was clean and larger than I expected. All of the staff were personable and willing to address any of our concerns. I packed my own healthy snacks since I read that they don't have any light food options. read more

I would grant a four star experience if this ferry had not increased their rates recently up 25 bucks...maybe just for season? I hope so. Had the perfect weather and a smooth ride, hassle free for the most part save the all annoying American tourist, of which I admit to indulging in at times myself; however, anybody who uses ferries know the simple rules for on boarding and off boarding...day trippers first, luggage carriers next, bicyclists last. KWE would be good to remind and enforce these courtesies so you can get the most out of what can be a short four hour visit to KW without having to wait 20 to 30 minutes for overnighters to off board. Bring snacks and a blanket for what can be a chilly ride back. Great, I mean super great, alternative to driving at times from Ft. Myers. Will try it again during off season. read more

Such and easy way to get to The Keys! So much better than driving. The staff is friendly and helpful. The seating is spacious and comfortable. We were traveling with an infant and sat at a table along the edge and were able to lay him down to sleep and everything. They have a snack bar that is pretty reasonably priced. And a full service bar that we did not take advantage of. There is a bit of a bottleneck situation with deboarding but I'm fairly certain that can't be helped. We will definitely take advantage of this if/when we go back to The Keys. read more

We had a great trip from Fort Myers to Key West and an even better trip from Key West to Fort Myers. The staff is attentive and the both ferries were clean and well organized. I have no complaints! The only thing that amazed me was the number of couples that thought it was totally fine to to take an entire table meant for 6 people to themselves. I just couldn't believe it! I feel sorry for the staff that they even have to deal with such rudeness! Take the key west express and if you only have 2 people in your party don't tar a whole table. So rude! read more

Leaving Key West heading back to Ft Myers, please follow the advice of others to get there early if you want more comfortable seating that fills up quick. The bulk of the seating is airplane style compared with the few spots offering lounge style seating like you would find on a cruise ship. Now the bad news. When you get there 1.5hrs early as everyone recommends, you will be told to exit the air conditioned terminal and fall into a theme park style line wrapping around the outside of the building. You can wait in the air conditioned terminal if you want to board last. To reward your early arrival you will stand on a narrow walkway with your luggage in 90 plus degree weather with no fans for one hour. Its at this point that you will be told that they won't allow boarding until 5pm for the 6pm departure (even though they told you to be there 1.5hrs early at 4pm). Update 5/19/2016: Here's a quote from the ticketing confirmation, "Also, note that boarding times are 60-90 minutes prior to your scheduled departure time. Passengers not aboard the vessel 30 minutes prior to departure may be denied travel." read more

After reading many of the prior reviews, of which people seem to be complaining at the expected things/petty things and with numerous referrals, we decided to board the Key West Express. I have absolutely zero complaints based on it's exactly as expected despite the negative reviews. The on board staff was very welcoming, the boat is very large and super clean. The ride was smooth and super convenient rather than face the traffic on U.S 1, which we have dealt with in the past. The food on board is average, pretty much what you'd get at a baseball game concession stand, however didn't board for the food. I highly recommend eating prior to or waiting until you get to Key West, bringing your own food/drinks, or cash as there is no service for the credit cards once the boat leaves the dock, which is obviously expected since you're in the middle of the Gulf. (Common sense) They are very strict on the time to board and leave, which is nice for everyone else on board rather than deviating from the schedule. Arrive early to get a good seat inside or sit on the top deck outside. Pay attention to the dates and times you book your travel and make sure to read the agreements and small print. Overall, willing be traveling once again in a few months for an additional round trip from Fort Myers Beach to Key West. I highly recommend! read more