FuntoSee Island
FuntoSee Island

Saint Lucia welcomed 435,659 stay-over visitors in 2024, as its tourism economy continued drawing travelers to resorts spread across the mountainous island. For many, the holiday begins with a long road transfer from Hewanorra International Airport in the south to resorts farther north and along the west coast.

The geography is part of the attraction. Saint Lucia is a volcanic island shaped by mountains and rainforest, with the Pitons rising above the Caribbean on its west coast. The same terrain that gives the island its visual drama can turn the journey from airport to resort into a winding one-and-a-half- to two-hour road trip.

Resort locations add another layer. The north, south, and west of Saint Lucia offer distinctly different experiences, meaning visitors can face substantial travel after landing. For Mike Steinberg, founder of FuntoSee Island, that inconvenience became apparent during a 2019 trip to celebrate his 31st wedding anniversary. The first property he booked was close to the airport, where he found a beach he recalls being "a foot deep in seaweed." They then transferred to a resort in the north. The road that followed gave him plenty of time to wonder why there was no easier alternative.

"I had actually called all the hotels and said, 'If you can send a boat to pick us up, we'll stay at your hotel,'" Steinberg recalls. "Nobody could do it, and nobody could explain why."

A conversation at a local beach resort gave the idea its first real push. Steinberg says, "A beach salesman told me, 'If you build it, we'll fill that boat every day.'" Steinberg, who had spent roughly four decades in commercial insurance sales, began investigating whether the idea could work. Five due-diligence trips followed between July and December 2019. He subsequently took out a home equity loan to purchase a boat, with help from both friends and family.

The business also had to navigate an established local transportation system. Saint Lucia's taxi associations hold considerable influence over airport transfers, and Steinberg had to negotiate their approval before launching. The discussions eventually resulted in the taxi community endorsing the service, allowing FunToSee Island to enter the market without positioning itself as a replacement for the island's taxi operators.

The company now connects Hewanorra International Airport with accommodations across the island through a combination of ferry and ground transfers. Guests are taken by vehicle from the airport to the dock, board the ferry for the one-and-a-half- to two-hour experience, then continue by taxi from the nearest public dock to their accommodation. This is considerably advantageous to any tourist as the entire package price is included in the fare, both taxi and ferry.

The journey is designed to feel like a tour and excursion as much as a transfer. The route follows the west coast, bringing the Pitons and coastal scenery into view while crew members provide commentary with island-vibe music in the background. Complimentary wine, beer, champagne, mimosas, soft drinks, and light snacks flow freely. Handrails along the bow allow guests to stand outside during the ride, a feature that has become particularly popular with honeymooners celebrating on the water. Steinberg frames the proposition simply. "It's like a tour, an excursion, and a transfer all in one," he remarks.

The boat itself was designed around the realities of an airport transfer. FunToSee points to its high freeboard, which stands roughly five to six feet above the water, helping keep passengers from sea spray when conditions become rough. Forward-facing seats give passengers a clear view during the crossing, and every seating area has protection from sun and rain. The combination is central to Steinberg's view of the product as a premium experience that remains accessible to resort travelers.

Building it required a commitment far greater than the few months Steinberg originally expected to spend on the island. He arrived in December 2019 intending to establish the operation over three or four months. The crew completed its training in February 2020, just as international tourism shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Steinberg ultimately spent almost three years living alone on Saint Lucia while his wife remained at home caring for her 91-year-old mother. The company survived on its original investments until its hard launch in January 2021.

Since then, Steinberg says FunToSee has carried more than 50,000 passengers and generated 98.5% five-star reviews on online platforms. The company has also maintained its original entry-level price of $140 per person since its establishment, while selling out on a number of occasions in 2026.

Its customer base is heavily concentrated among honeymooners, with couples aged 25 to 35 forming a key audience and US travelers accounting for roughly 95% of passengers. New York has emerged as a particularly valuable market, a factor behind the company's plans for a second vessel expected around December 2026. The additional boat is intended to accommodate more flight windows, including JetBlue services from New York, while opening capacity for future growth in corporate retreats and incentive travel.

Years after its launch, FunToSee Island is still built around the same question that occurred to Steinberg on his anniversary trip. Saint Lucia's landscape can make the journey to a resort longer, but that journey does not have to be dead time. With the Pitons ahead, music on board, and the majestic Caribbean Sea surrounding the boat, the transfer can become one of the first experiences of Saint Lucia and part of the holiday itself.