The following questions have been compiled from the most frequently asked questions we've received. If you have a question and you can't find it below, then by all means let us know.
- Do I need to book my ferry tickets in advance?
- What is the price of a round-trip ticket at the ferry counter in Mersing or Tanjung Gemuk?
- Why is there a difference between tickets secured online and those bought at the ferry counter?
- Do we need to submit our full name and passport details to buy ferry tickets online?
- Do I receive any tickets through the post?
- I didn't get the confirmation email. What can I do?
- When can I see the ferry departure times?
- Can I book the bus to Mersing on this site too, or rent a private vehicle?
- Can we book our Tioman hotel or resort online in this website?
- Do I qualify for a group discount?
- I'd like an invoice for my purchase. Can you provide me with one?
- What does it cost to pay for my tickets by PayPal?
- I prefer not paying by PayPal. What can I do?
- Is booking online safe?
- If it looks like I might miss my ferry, can I get the next ferry?
- Can I reserve my tickets by phone?
- My PayPal account email differs from my normal email. Can I still use my normal email with you?
- Do I get a refund if we need to cancel our trip?
- How early do I need to arrive prior to departure?
- How long does the ferry take to reach Tioman?
- I want to book a one-way ferry ticket to Tioman only. Can I?
- We're flying to Tioman. How do we collect the return-trip ferry tickets upon arrival at the airport?
- What does it mean when it's "monsoon"?
- Do you have a travel insurance recommendation?
- Is there any parking in Mersing?
- Can I take my car on the ferry to Tioman Island?
- If I arrive early, will I be permitted to board early?
- How do I know where to disembark?
- Do our children get charged a lower rate? What if they sit on our lap?
- I get seasick easily, is there another way to get to Tioman?
- Are there toilets on board the ferry?
- Are there any restaurants in Tioman?
- Do the people on Tioman speak English?
- Do they accept USD on Tioman?
- Should we need to stay overnight in Mersing, are there any hotels, banks, shops there?
- If we need to spend a night in Mersing, can you suggest a nice affordable hotel?
- Can I depart to Tioman from Tanjung Gemok after I booked for Mersing?
- Does the ferry carry life jackets on board?
Do I need to book my ferry tickets in advance?
Tioman is a beautiful, exotic, yet affordable holiday destination, a short hop away from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Lately, it's also been enjoying a popularity boom amongst throngs of young European holiday-makers, the result of the various "Survival" type reality shows being recorded in the Tioman vicinity for years. With this in mind, to avoid disappointment, yes, it's a good idea to book your bus tickets to Mersing and ferry tickets and your Tioman accommodation well in advance, particularly, during weekends, school holidays and public holidays. This applies even more so now, since everyone is so hungry for a holiday.
NOTE: Since Berjaya Air suspended its Singapore to Tioman operations, the ferry to Tioman has been running at full capacity, particularly during weekends, school holidays and public holidays. Please also note that, by law, the maximum number of passengers on the ferry is limited to the number of seats/personal flotation devices on-board. In other words, once all seats have been reserved, the ferry is considered fully booked and no additional tickets can be sold. There are no standing-room only tickets on the ferry.
What is the price of a round-trip ticket at the ferry counter in Mersing or Tanjung Gemuk?
NOTE: Foreign currency is not accepted at the counter. Please keep in mind that the ferry may be fully booked when you buy your tickets last-minute. If you prefer to secure your tickets in advance online, the price is 120 Malaysia Ringgit (Note: Singapore Dollars, Euro, British Pounds, Swiss Francs and Japanese Yen are available also, as well as AUD and CAD). We also accept crypto.
Why is there a price difference between tickets secured in advance online and those bought at the Mersing or Tanjung Gemuk terminal counter just before taking the ferry?
Online ticket sales are subject to various costs that terminal counter sales are exempt from. Examples of additional costs are: bank transfer fees, currency-holding charges, currency conversion charges, PayPal fees, as well as web portal infrastructure and database maintenance costs. In addition, ferry tickets secured online include a number of added-value services that are not included when tickets are bought at the ferry counter. These added-value services assist our passengers at all stages of the journey to Tioman and are useful for those who prefer to travel with as few inconveniences as possible. For a list of these added-value services, please click here.
Do we need to submit passport details to buy ferry tickets online?
No, you don't. In fact, provided you haven't checked into your ferry yet, ferry bookings are actually transferrable. That being said, do note that passengers are required to check-in online after receiving the Bluewater confirmation email, at which point passport details for all passengers are required.
Do I receive any tickets through the post?
No. Once you have made an online booking, you'll receive a booking confirmation by email.
I didn't get the confirmation email. What can I do?
First of all, email us and let us know that you didn't get this email. We'll re-send it. Equally important, please ensure that our email address is on your Safe List or in your address book. This way, the emails we send to you will not be filtered or blocked erroneously by your spam blocker. See this page for details.
Where and when can I see the ferry departure times?
As exact departure time is subject to weather, sea state and tide, Ferry Tioman travelers are advised to refer to the Mersing Harbour Centre Hotline number. You can call this number at any time for your latest weather and ferry departure/return time updates.
Please note that the ferry vessel fills up progresssively, which means that ferry times selected by passengers are subject to first come first serve.
You can also refer to our *Tweets for the latest updates. *Terms and conditions apply.
Can I book the bus to Mersing on this site too, or rent a private vehicle?
Yes, conveniently, you can book your entire trip from our one-stop-shop platform. Click here if you want to book your bus tickets to Mersing. If you prefer going to Mersing by passenger car, MPV, van or minibus, then click here.
Can we book our Tioman hotel or resort online on this website?
Yes, you can. Click here to check for availability and to reserve your room, chalet or villa. In our experience, Agoda has the lowest room rates online. And they offer a very wide variety of hotels, resorts and retreats in Tioman, from budget, right up to swanky.
Do I qualify for a group discount?
If your group is sizable, then a discount may well apply. Contact us for more details.
I'd like an invoice for my purchase. Can you provide me with one?
Yes, all online transactions include invoices for those who require these, such as travel agents, company booking departments etc. Just let us know you'd like an invoice for your booking.
What does it cost to pay by PayPal?
Paying by PayPal is free of charge for our customers. Do note that PayPal may charge for any currency conversions, however.
I prefer not paying by PayPal. What can I do?
To pay using your credit card for example, just select the "Checkout as a Guest" option. You'll then be taken to the credit card form. FYI, you can also pay with crypto. Contact us for more details if you want to pay with crypto.
Is booking online safe?
Yes, online payments are fast, safe and secure. In fact, PayPal alone now has about 300 million active accounts worldwide.
If it looks like I might miss my ferry, can I get the next ferry?
If you inform us that you may miss your ferry with a minimum of 24 hours' notice, we will try to arrange the next available ferry for you. However, changing to the next ferry is subject to Bluewater Express approval, as well as availability of course. NOTE: Once you missed your ferry, you need to book new tickets. For more details, please see our terms and conditions.
Can I reserve my ferry tickets by phone?
No. Telephone bookings are not possible, because we need to send you our confirmation email to your email address.
My PayPal account email address differs from my normal email address. Can I use my normal email address to correspond with you about the tickets booked?
No. Please note that for confidentiality reasons, we're only permitted to correspond about a booking by using the email address used for that specific booking. Additionally, we're only able to confirm ferry timing selection submissions when sent from the same email address used for the original booking.
Do I get a refund if we need to cancel our trip?
Any and all itinerary amendment and cancellation requests are subject to approval by Bluewater Express. Please see our terms and conditions for more details.
How early do I need to arrive at Mersing Harbour Centre?
Given that there are a number of external factors that may influence ferry departure time, such as wind, weather and sea state, we highly recommend that you arrive at the ferry terminal at least 1.5 hours before stated departure time.
How long does the ferry take to reach Tioman?
Depending on the tide and the general sea conditions, the trip takes about 1.5-2 hours.
I want to book a one-way ferry ticket to Tioman only. Possible?
Yes. Simply select your date and number of one-way tickets here and proceed with the steps.
We arrived in Tioman by private yacht. How do we collect the return-trip ferry tickets we booked earlier?
Always collect your tickets from Mersing Harbour Centre before you depart for Tioman. If you can't collect your tickets at our Mersing counter, let us know with at least 1 week's notice from your return trip date and time. We will endevour to get the tickets to your hotel or resort. Please see our terms and conditions for more details.
What does it mean when it's "monsoon"?
The monsoon months are the windy months, the time of year when wind and weather can be rather severe and changeable. On a particularly windy day, the ferry may be prohibited from running for that day altogether by the Malaysia authorities. Should this be the case, ferry tickets will remain valid for the next available ferry.
Do you have a travel insurance recommendation?
World Nomads offer comprehensive yet affordable travel insurance. You can get a travel insurance quote online on this page
Is there any parking in Mersing
Yes, there is a fenced car park that's manned by security. It's right next to the ferry departure terminal. The parking rate is RM18 per day. Worried this car park may be full, then just contact Mersing Harbour Centre. They may be able to hold a slot for you.
Can I take my car on the ferry to Tioman Island?
The ferry to Tioman is not a so-called RORO ferry like the ferries in Zeebrugge or Calais in Europe. The Tioman ferry is simply not big enough to hold cars. So in answer to your question, no, cars cannot be taken onto the ferry. See the previous question on parking in Mersing.
If I arrive early will I be allowed to board early?
Due to safety concerns, passengers are not permitted to board the ferry before check-in time. For your information, the ticket counter closes 30 minutes before departure time. Please arrive at the terminal 1-1.5 hours before departure time to collect your tickets and boarding passes. Travelers with newborns or accompanied by elderlies, pregnant travelers and other less than fully able travelers, may, on request, board early.
How do I know where to disembark?
The names of the destinations (the various villages) will be announced about 5 minutes before reaching the destination in question. This is the usual order of the stops on your way to Tioman. Please ask the crew if you're not sure where to disembark.
1. Kampong Genting
2. Kampong Paya (Don't mistake "Paya" for "Berjaya", which is in the next village)
3. Kampong Tekek (Get off here if you're going to Berjaya Resort, Tekek or Kampong Juara*)
4. Kampong Air Batang (Also announced as "ABC")
x. Panuba Jetty (If and when there are passengers on the ferry that are staying at this resort)
5. Kampong Salang
Simply reverse the order on your way back to Mersing.
Please note that during the Northeast monsoon, the route taken may be adjusted. Please ask the ferry cabin crew if you're not sure where to disembark.
By the way, if you're going to Kampong Mukut or Nipah, please let the ferry cabin crew know in advance, so they can inform you accordingly where to disembark, because these villages are generally not on the usual destination list.
Do our children get charged a lower rate? What if they sit on our lap?
Kids travel at a lower rate. There's no need to pay for your infant if it's below 2 years of age and can be carried on your lap.
I get seasick easily, is there another way to get to Tioman?
You may be able to take a plane. Berjaya Air offers an on-again off-again service to Tioman from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. For more details, please click here.
Are there toilets on board the ferry?
Yes, the ferry has two toilets, right at the back of the cabin.
Are there any restaurants on Tioman?
Yes, Tioman is peppered with simple little eateries that sell decent meals, usually Malay dishes. Some Western food, like sandwiches and french fries can also be found. If you're not used to spicy food, then just ask the staff to go easy on the chilli.
Do the people on Tioman speak English?
Yes, most of the staff working on Tioman can communicate in English.
Do they accept US$ on Tioman?
Some do. But you're not likely to get a good exchange. You're better off changing your foreign currency to Malaysia Ringgit on the mainland.
NOTE: The Malaysia Ringgit is at a low currently, so better book your Malaysia trip now, because you'll be able to snag very attractive resort deals! Plus the hospitality industry could really use the income right now, given the ravages of Covid-19.
Should we need to stay overnight in Mersing, are there any amenities? Hotels, banks, supermarkets etc?
Yes, in Mersing town, about a 15 minutes' stroll from the main jetty, there are banks, ATMs, internet cafes, supermarkets, all kinds of shops and hotels too. And you can book your Mersing hotel online. Click here to check availability and to place your reservation.
If we need to spend a night in Mersing, can I book affordable accommodation there?
Yes, you can. Click here if you want to make an online booking. Your room will be confirmed on the spot.
Can I just depart to Tioman from Tanjung Gemok after I've been booked for Mersing?
Unfortunately, this is no longer possible. The new Bluewater booking system now also records the ferry terminal booked and, as such, will hold the seats booked for that particular terminal. You may, however want to submit a booking amendment request by contacting Bluewater Express by means of any of the contact details in the booking confirmation email sent to you upon completing your booking. Bluewater will then try to change your booking, subject to availability of course. Please note that the ferry does not run from Tanjung Gemok during the monsoon months (December - January).
Does the ferry carry life jackets on board?
Yes, the ferry carries life jackets in the overhead compartments.
N.B. Please note that, by law, the maximum number of passengers on the ferry is limited to the number of seats and matching number of life jackets. In other words, once all seats have been reserved, the ferry is considered fully booked and no further tickets can be sold. There are no standing-room tickets on the ferry.
Can't find your particular question here? Ask us.
Tip: Looking for a cheap way to get to Mersing before catching your ferry to Tioman? There are various bus and coach options on our Mersing bus and coach page. You can book your tickets real-time. Your seats are confirmed immediately. And you can even see where the bus departs and what time it departs.
