Free template · updated November 3, 2026

Island or ferry check-in instructions template

If guests need a ferry to reach you, the crossing is part of check-in. Miss the last boat and they're spending the night on the mainland. Arrive at a small island store at 6 p.m. and it may already be closed.

This template helps guests plan around the ferry: where the schedule is, when the last crossing leaves, whether to reserve, what to buy before they cross, and how to get from the landing to your door. It also gives a backup if weather cancels a sailing.

The template

Replace anything in [brackets] with your own details.

Plan your crossing

Ferry schedule: [Ferry schedule link or where to find it].
The last ferry to the island leaves at [Last ferry time] from [Terminal name].
[Reservation advice, e.g. reservations are recommended in summer and on long weekends].
Please arrive at the terminal [Time] before departure.
The crossing takes about [Crossing time]. [Payment note, e.g. pay at the booth; card and cash accepted].

1. Before you cross

Groceries: the island store, [Store name], is open [Store hours] and has a small selection. Please shop in [Mainland town] first.
Fuel: [Fuel note, e.g. there's no gas station on the island; fill up before you cross].
Cash: [Cash note, e.g. some island businesses are cash only].

2. From the ferry landing

Drive off the ferry and [Direction] onto [Road name].
After [Distance], turn [Direction] at [Landmark, e.g. the general store / the white lighthouse sign].
Our place is [Distance] along on the [Side], at [Landmark].

[Photo: the driveway from the road]

3. Park

Please park [Parking spot].

4. Get in

[Entry, e.g. keypad on the side door, code [Door code]].

[Photo: the entry door]

5. First things inside

Wifi: [Network name] / [Wifi password]
Water: [Water note, e.g. please go easy on water; we're on a cistern].
Ferry schedule copy: [Where it's posted in the house].

6. If the ferry is delayed or cancelled

Check the ferry service's updates before you leave: [Ferry status source].
If you miss the last ferry or a sailing is cancelled, [Backup plan, e.g. let us know and we'll move your check-in; nearby mainland places to stay: [Options]].

7. Leaving the island

Please check the schedule for your departure day. Checkout is [Checkout time], and the closest ferry after that leaves at [Ferry time].

8. Who to call

[Host name]: [Host phone]. Emergency: [Local emergency number].

Tips

Link to the ferry operator's official schedule instead of typing times that may change.
Put the last ferry time near the top; it's the one detail that can wreck an arrival.
Tell guests honestly what the island store stocks and when it closes.
Suggest a checkout time that lines up with a real departure sailing.
Have a plan for weather cancellations, such as moving the check-in date or a mainland option.

Put it on one guest page instead of a binder

Keegix turns your welcome book into one link and a QR sign by the door. Upload the binder you already have and AI drafts the page in about a minute, or paste this template in. Free forever for one property.

Upload my binder, free See a sample guest page

Questions

What should guests know before taking a ferry to a rental?

Where to find the schedule, when the last ferry leaves, whether to reserve and how early to arrive. Also tell them what to buy on the mainland, since island shops can be small with short hours.

What if guests miss the last ferry?

Agree on a plan ahead of time, such as moving check-in to the next morning, and list a few mainland places to stay. Ask guests to tell you as soon as they know.

Should I list ferry times in my check-in instructions?

Link to the official schedule rather than copying times, since sailings change by season. Mention the last ferry time and confirm it against the operator's schedule.

More free templates

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Copy it, change it, print it, use it with any platform. Sharing it with a host group, on a blog or in a forum? A link back to this page helps other hosts find the latest version:

https://keegix.com/check-in-instructions/island-or-ferry/