Regional maritime operator FRS Express Des Îles has announced the introduction of a temporary fuel surcharge on all its international ferry services, directly impacting travel costs between Dominica, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia.
The surcharge, set to take effect on November 1, 2026 , will require passengers to pay an additional €5 for a one-way ticket and €10 for a round-trip ticket .
The company stated that the adjustment is a direct response to a sharp rise in global fuel prices, which has substantially driven up the operating costs of its maritime services. According to the ferry operator, the measure is intended to offset escalating energy expenses while ensuring the continuity, safety, and reliability of its high-speed catamaran network across the four islands.
Local booking agents, including H.H.V. Whitchurch & Co. Ltd in Dominica, noted that this exceptional measure follows a previous general ticket price adjustment enacted earlier in the year on March 31, 2026. That earlier increase was attributed to a five-year buildup of absorbed fuel cost fluctuations that had finally made a baseline fare adjustment unavoidable.
Acknowledging the potential financial burden on regional travelers, FRS Express des Îles reaffirmed its commitment to limiting the impact of the adjustment. The company indicated that the surcharge will be reviewed every three months in accordance with energy market shifts and will be completely withdrawn as soon as market fuel conditions stabilize.
Updated Fares for Dominican Travelers
The temporary surcharge will be added directly to the baseline international rates introduced following the March 2026 adjustment.
The regional route network fares that Dominican passengers will face starting November 1, 2026, will include baseline adjustments across promotional, standard, and flexible ticket tiers.
For travelers looking for budget options, the TOUPITI Promotional Class—valid only for Thursday and Saturday departures—will rise to €64 one-way (up from €59) and €109 round-trip (up from €99). Daily and year-round passengers utilizing the ZEN Standard Class will see average baseline rates adjust to €75 one-way and €125 round-trip, representing a five and ten-euro increase respectively from previous averages. Passengers requiring fully refundable and modifiable itineraries under the FLEX Flexible Class will face new baseline averages of €90 one-way and €155 round-trip .
These listed baseline fares do not include the standard local departure tax of approximately EC$89 (~€32), which adult passengers must continue to pay on-site upon leaving Dominica. Children under the age of 12 remain completely exempt from this departure fee. Despite the fare restructuring, the standard baggage allowance remains unchanged, and all ticket classes will continue to include one 25 kg piece of checked hold baggage per person.
