Ships resume Saint Martin service, overnight stays allowed until March 15 — what to know before travelling

Ship services to the coral island of Saint Martin have resumed. Until March 15 next year, tourists will be able to travel to Saint Martin and stay there overnight. Travellers are, however, advised to know several essential details before setting out for the island.

Tourists travelling to Saint Martin must obtain a travel pass. They do not, however, need to register separately for the pass. After a ship ticket is booked, the ship operator will complete the necessary registration work on behalf of the Bangladesh Tourism Board.

Ship fares depend on the class of seat chosen. Depending on facilities such as general seats, business chairs, Mozart chairs, beds and cabins, a return ticket can cost from 3,500 taka to between 15,000 and 20,000 taka. Travellers are advised to check the seat type, fare and availability before buying a ticket.

Once travel dates for Saint Martin are fixed, it is better to book ship tickets in advance so there is no last-minute problem with tickets being unavailable. Tickets can be collected from the ships' websites, booked by calling the operators' customer service numbers, or bought from various travel agents.

Before finalising travel dates, travellers should also find out which ships have permission to operate this season. About ten ships will operate on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin route this season, including the MV Karnaphuli Express, Bay Cruiser 1, MV Baro Aulia and Keyari Sindabad.

Saint Martin has more than 230 hotels, resorts and cottages. Once a ship ticket is confirmed, accommodation should also be arranged in advance, because looking for a preferred place to stay after reaching the island can waste time.

Resort prices generally depend on the type of accommodation and its facilities. A night at a good-quality resort or hotel can cost 8,000 to 12,000 taka, a standard hotel can be found for 4,000 to 6,000 taka, and an economy hotel or resort can cost between 1,500 and 3,500 taka. Travellers are also advised to check for any special offers or discounts before booking a hotel.

Every tourist must pay an environmental conservation fee of 100 taka. A national identity card must be carried when travelling to Saint Martin island.

To protect the environment and biodiversity, travellers are asked to avoid polythene and single-use plastic. They are also asked to refrain from making loud noise on the beach and from keeping lights on for long periods at night.

For contact, the numbers given for the MV Karnaphuli Express, Bay Cruiser 1 and MV Baro Aulia are 01610-051005 and 01967-670707, and the number given for Keyari Sindabad is 01847-323705-06.