In 2026, a standard water taxi or ferry from St. Thomas to St. John typically takes between 20 and 45 minutes, depending on your departure point. If you leave from Red Hook on the eastern end of St. Thomas, the ride to Cruz Bay is a quick 20-minute trip across the Pillsbury Sound. However, if you depart from Charlotte Amalie (downtown) or Crown Bay (near the airport), the journey is longer—usually around 45 minutes—but saves you the 30-minute taxi ride across St. Thomas. A supportive peer tip: private water taxis are faster and offer "on-demand" service, often getting you there in 15–25 minutes from almost any dock. For 2026 travelers, I recommend the Red Hook route for the most frequent departures (every hour), but always factor in an extra 10 minutes for boarding and luggage handling to ensure you don't miss your dinner reservation in St. John.