Operators use three kinds of boat for island days from Phuket: a speedboat, a catamaran and a big boat. They cost different amounts, they ride differently in waves and not every one is open to every guest. Prices below are Phuket Tour’s per-person tour prices for 3 November 2026, and the waves are TMD’s forecast of the same day. Our pages on the routes themselves are Phi Phi, Phi Phi by catamaran and James Bond Island.
Speedboat, catamaran and big boat compared
| Speedboat | Catamaran | Big boat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| To the first islands | 20 min to the James Bond Islands; 45-75 min to Phi Phi | about 75 min to Phi Phi | about 35-40 min to the James Bond Islands |
| In waves | a light speedboat is bumpy at 1-2 m, far-island speedboats are the first to be cancelled at 2-3 m (Tisland) | a large catamaran handles 2 m to a nearby bay (Tisland) | large stable boats still run at 2-3 m (Tisland) |
| Moving around | seats; Phuket Tour sets it against the catamaran, where you need not sit the whole way | two floors, you can stand and walk (Phuket Tour, late-departure speed catamaran page) | sit, stand, walk the deck, go up to the second floor (Phuket Tour) |
| People on board | at most 18 adults on Simba’s small speedboats; Phuket Tour does not say | 40-55 on Tisland’s two-deck catamaran | not published |
| Pregnant guests | Love Andaman: not suitable | Tisland: not accepted; Phuket Tour’s premium catamaran card states nothing | Phuket Tour: suitable |
| Example tour price, adult / child, baht | Phi Phi 2,600 / 2,100 | Phi Phi 2,900 / 2,500 | James Bond Islands 1,600 / 1,400 |
Sources by row are in the list at the end. The speedboat is the standard option that most guests use, according to Phuket Tour, and Phuket Tour’s text on its late-departure speed catamaran says that on it you do not have to sit the whole way.
What the boat costs in baht
Phuket Tour, adult / child (child from age 4), 3 November 2026. The tours differ in stops and hours, so the gap is the price of the tour, not the boat alone.
| Route | Speedboat | Catamaran or big boat | Gap, adult / child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi and Bamboo | 2,600 / 2,100 | premium catamaran 2,900 / 2,500 | +300 / +400 |
| Similan Islands | 2,300 / 2,100 | double-deck catamaran 3,300 / 2,600 | +1,000 / +500 |
| Similan Islands, Super Comfy | 2,300 / 2,100 | 2,700 / 2,400 with towels, beach mats, fins and a beach bag, boat type not stated | +400 / +300 |
| James Bond Islands | 1,700 / 1,500 | big boat 1,600 / 1,400 | 100 less / 100 less |
| James Bond Islands | 1,700 / 1,500 | double-deck catamaran 2,600 / 2,100 | +900 / +600 |
| James Bond Islands | 1,700 / 1,500 | luxury cruise Seanery 3,500 / 3,300 | +1,800 / +1,800 |
A catamaran is not always the dearer boat. Phuket Tour’s Phi Phi day with a late departure on a speed catamaran costs THB 2,300 per adult and THB 1,800 per child, less than the speedboat Phi Phi and Bamboo day, because it starts at 9:00 and ends around 18:00 with a different list of stops. For scale, Tisland’s two-deck catamaran to Phi Phi starts at THB 2,900, the same as Phuket Tour’s premium one, and Simba Sea Trips lists a Phi Phi speedboat for at most 18 adults from THB 5,310 per person with a buffet lunch (page checked 3 November 2026).
Time on the water: what changes and what does not
- Phi Phi. The speedboat and premium catamaran cards show identical times: pickup 7:00, boat at 9:00, islands at 10:15, back at the pier at 16:30. Another Phuket Tour card puts the speedboat transit at 40-45 minutes, so the cards do not agree with each other. Ask for the crossing time of the actual boat
- Similan Islands. The speedboat and the double-deck catamaran both leave at 9:00, reach the first island at 10:30 and are back at the pier at 16:45
- James Bond Islands. Here the difference is real: Phuket Tour says 20 minutes to the islands by speedboat and about 35-40 by big boat, and says you do not notice the extra time on board
Cruising speed in knots is not published by any operator on these pages.
Seasickness and waves
TMD’s shipping forecast of 3 November 2026, 13:00, for the Andaman Sea reads: waves about 1 m, 1-2 m offshore and above 2 m in thundershowers. Here is how Tisland reads those numbers:
| Waves | What runs | Seasickness |
|---|---|---|
| about 1 m | every format, speedboats included | rare |
| 1-2 m | most tours, but a light speedboat is bumpy | possible |
| 2-3 m | large stable boats and sheltered bays; far-island speedboats cancelled | not stated, Tisland calls these rough conditions |
| above 3 m or a small-boat warning | sheltered bays and land tours only | not stated |
That table is one operator’s rule of thumb, not a standard. The captain and the operator decide on the day. Love Andaman’s advice for anyone prone to seasickness is to take something before boarding and sit towards the middle of the boat. On the Phang Nga Bay route Phuket Tour describes the water as calm at any time of year, and the crossing there is short.
Who each boat suits
- Children. The fare starts at age 4 on all of these tours. Love Andaman marks its speedboat trips as not suitable for infants (toddlers are 1-3 for them), and Tisland does not take children under 1 on its catamaran. A child who cannot sit for 75 minutes will do better where they can stand and walk, which means a catamaran or a big boat. See also excursions with kids
- Pregnant guests. Phuket Tour’s big boat to the James Bond Islands is the programme we found that says it suits pregnant women: its page says many excursions forbid them for safety and this one is fine. Love Andaman marks its speedboats unsuitable and Tisland refuses them on its catamaran. Get the answer for your exact programme in writing, and ask your doctor
- Older travellers and bad backs. None of the pages we read sets an upper age limit. Tisland does not accept people with back or neck problems on its catamaran. A boat where you can stand and walk is kinder than a seat for over an hour
- People who get seasick. Pick the biggest boat on the route and a day when the forecast says about 1 m. If the forecast says 2 m or more, move the day or choose a sheltered bay such as Phang Nga
- Anyone watching the budget. The speedboat. On Phuket Tour’s cards the park fee is in the price everywhere above except the James Bond double-deck catamaran, which does not say
Names are loose, so ask four things
Operators mix the words. Tisland calls its catamaran a two-deck speedboat. Love Andaman calls its Similan boat a first-class speedboat and mentions premium speed catamaran transfers. Phuket Tour uses speedboat, speed catamaran, premium catamaran and double-deck catamaran. Before you pay, ask:
- What is the boat called, and can you see a photo
- How many people are on board
- How long is the crossing to the first island
- What are the written terms for pregnant guests, children and a cancelled day
What we could not confirm
- The cruising speed, capacity and seat count of any boat on Phuket Tour’s cards: the pages do not give them
- Whether the premium catamaran on Phuket Tour’s Phi Phi card is the same two-floor boat as on its late-departure card: the premium card has no boat description
- A wave height at which each operator cancels: Tisland’s table is one operator’s view
To compare routes rather than boats, see Phi Phi or Similan Islands, and for all prices how much Phuket tours cost. To check seats for your date, use the day trip picker.
FAQ
Is a catamaran better than a speedboat for Phi Phi?
On 3 November 2026 Phuket Tour's Phi Phi and Bamboo day costs THB 2,600 by speedboat and THB 2,900 by premium catamaran, and both cards show the same times: boat at 9:00, islands at 10:15, back at the pier at 16:30. The catamaran buys room: Phuket Tour describes its speed catamaran as having two floors where you can stand and walk, and Tisland's carries 40-55 people. If you are not prone to seasickness and the sea is calm, the speedboat does the same route for less.
Which boat is best if I get seasick?
The biggest one on the route. Tisland says a light speedboat is bumpy at waves of 1-2 m, that seasickness is possible there, and that large stable boats keep running at 2-3 m when far-island speedboats are cancelled. Love Andaman advises taking a tablet before boarding and sitting towards the middle of the boat.
Which boat can pregnant women take?
Operators disagree. Phuket Tour says its James Bond Islands big boat with canoeing suits pregnant women, Love Andaman marks its speedboat trips unsuitable, and Tisland does not accept pregnant guests on its catamaran. Phuket Tour's Phi Phi and Similan cards state no restriction. Ask in writing before paying and check with your doctor.
How much more does a catamaran cost than a speedboat in Phuket?
At Phuket Tour on 3 November 2026: THB 300 more per adult at Phi Phi and Bamboo (2,900 against 2,600), THB 1,000 more at the Similans (3,300 against 2,300) and THB 900 more at the James Bond Islands (2,600 against 1,700). Programmes differ in stops and hours, so these gaps are tour prices, not the boat alone. A Phi Phi late-departure speed catamaran is THB 2,300, cheaper than the speedboat day, because it is a different programme.
Is a big boat slower than a speedboat?
Yes, on the one route where Phuket Tour sells both. To the James Bond Islands the speedboat takes 20 minutes and the big boat about 35-40, according to Phuket Tour. The big boat tour costs THB 1,600 per adult against THB 1,700 for the speedboat.
How many people are on a speedboat or catamaran tour?
It depends on the operator. Tisland's two-deck catamaran carries 40-55 people, and Simba Sea Trips takes at most 18 adults on its small speedboats. Phuket Tour does not publish a group size or capacity for the boats on these cards, so ask before you book.
Can small children go on a speedboat or catamaran?
Phuket Tour's child fare starts at age 4 on all of these tours. Love Andaman marks its speedboat trips as not suitable for infants and counts toddlers as 1-3, and Tisland does not take children under 1 on its catamaran. For a child who cannot sit for 75 minutes, a boat where you can stand and walk is easier.
Do waves cancel speedboat tours?
They can. TMD's forecast of 3 November 2026 says waves about 1 m, 1-2 m offshore and above 2 m in thundershowers. Tisland says that at 2-3 m the far-island speedboats are the first to be cancelled, while large stable boats and sheltered bays keep going. The captain and the operator decide on the day, so ask about rescheduling before you pay.
Sources
- TMD. Shipping weather forecast, Andaman Sea, 03.11.2026 13:00
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi and Bamboo by speedboat: THB 2,600 adult, THB 2,100 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi and Bamboo by premium catamaran: THB 2,900 adult, THB 2,500 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi and Khai by premium catamaran: THB 2,650 adult, THB 2,450 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi with a late departure by speed catamaran: THB 2,300 adult, THB 1,800 child, boat description (in Russian) (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Similan Islands by speedboat: THB 2,300 adult, THB 2,100 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Similan Islands Super Comfy: THB 2,700 adult, THB 2,400 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Similan Islands by double-deck catamaran: THB 3,300 adult, THB 2,600 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. James Bond Islands with canoeing by speedboat: THB 1,700 adult, THB 1,500 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. James Bond Islands with canoeing by big boat, suitable for pregnant women: THB 1,600 adult, THB 1,400 child, 35-40 minutes to the islands (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. James Bond Islands by double-deck catamaran: THB 2,600 adult, THB 2,100 child (in Russian) (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. James Bond Islands by luxury cruise Seanery: THB 3,500 adult, THB 3,300 child (in Russian)
- Phuket Tour. Phi Phi, Bamboo, Khai and Maiton by speedboat: boat transit 40-45 minutes (in Russian)
- Tisland Travel. Phi Phi Islands day trip by catamaran: two decks, 40-55 guests, age and health rules
- Tisland Travel. How to read the TMD forecast before a sea trip: wave heights and which boats run
- Love Andaman. Phi Phi Islands and Bamboo Island day trip: speedboat, who it is not suitable for
- Love Andaman. Similan Islands day trip: speedboat and seasickness advice
- Simba Sea Trips. Join-in tours: Phi Phi Sunrise Tour, up to 18 adults per speedboat
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