There are many positives to the Key West Express! We took the boat to the Keys on Friday morning and returned on Sunday night. What a hard working team! Everyone was professional and kind. The rates were certainly reasonable and the boat was in very good condition. A few tips for anyone thinking of going:
Get there early if you want a decent seat! That is #1. We arrived at 7:15 am on Friday and every seat was taken except for the very top deck. Fortunately for us, some folks at a high top on the main deck gave us their seats halfway through so we were quite comfortable. On the return, we arrived 2 hours early and boarding started 30 minutes prior to the scheduled boarding time. If we had waited until later, we would have once again been out of luck for seats. Every seat is full on the popular times so be prepared and arrive early.
The trip is easily 4 hours not 3 or 3 1/2. Both segments, we left 10 minutes early and we had perfect weather. It still took 4 hours so plan accordingly. Overall, a great option if you do not want to drive or fly. Take cards, games, books to entertain. It can get boring otherwise.

My family of 7 & I took the Key West Express from Fort Myers & stayed on the island until the next evening. The boat was well staffed & clean. The ride was quick (for the distance) & was actually very relaxing! We were able to sit all together & were not cramped together with other groups. I believe taking the Key West Express made our Key West & Fort Myers experience even better! Oh the waters are soo very blue!

I have taken the Key West Express ferry several times now, and have to say I find it quicker and a lot faster than driving to Key West. Departure was prompt, and most of the staff are pretty friendly. The snack bar is Ok, just basic snacks and a few microwave-type food; nothing really from the grill like a regular snack bar. Soft drinks and beer and wine also available for purchase. Comfy seats!