Helping you get away (or come back home)
Whether you’re crossing for a much-anticipated holiday, work trip, or reconnecting with friends and family, there’s no easier and more convenient way to the Isle of Wight or Southampton. Learn about getting on board, including fares and ticket information, ferry timetables, and options for group travel.
Ferry Timetables
Our Vehicle Ferries operate 365 days per year (including Christmas Day) with frequent crossings throughout the day, whilst our Red Jet foot passenger ferry runs every day except 25 December.
Regular daily crossings make fitting Red Funnel into your travel schedule easy and convenient.
How to find us
If you're travelling to the Isle of Wight, our departure terminals are both located in Southampton - a busy port city that’s well serviced by road, rail, and coach connections from all parts of the UK, as well as air service for domestic and European flights.
When travelling from the Island, customers using the Vehicle Ferries will depart from East Cowes, and passengers using the Red Jet service will depart from West Cowes.
Fares & Tickets
We advise pre-booking for the East Cowes vehicle ferry, where prices vary depending on the size and type of vehicle, date and time of travel, and how popular individual sailings are.
For our Southampton-West Cowes pedestrian passenger ferry, no advance booking is required, and tickets are available to purchase at set rates online or from our ticket offices.
See ticket prices for all crossings.
Businesses & Groups
Our freight service provides a cost-effective, reliable, and flexible option for moving cargo across the Solent.
Coach holidays and travel groups are also welcome aboard Red Funnel – learn more about coach bookings and our group travel options.
Points of Interest
On both sides of the Solent, there’s lots to see and do whether you’re crossing for leisure, for work, or simply for a change of scenery.
You'll also spot plenty of points of interest out on the water as you travel across across the Solent.
Royal Pier Pavilion
This one’s easy to spot as you arrive at our Southampton ferry terminal, particularly at night when it’s lit up in purple lights! When Red Funnel was first formed, we ran a fleet of paddle steamers that operated excursions to destinations around the Island, and along the south coast. These departed from “Royal Pier”, and the impressive pavilion building is still in use as a restaurant.
Ocean Cruise Terminal
This striking landmark on Southampton’s waterfront is where you’ll find some of the world’s largest cruise ships docking. See if you can spot some of the famous Cunard and P&O Cruises vessels as you depart for the Island, and if you’re travelling in the late afternoon/early evening you might even get to sail alongside them as they depart Southampton for their global destinations.
Hythe Pier
The Hythe pier is difficult to miss, as at 640 metres in length, it’s the 7th longest in Britain. It is also the home of the world’s oldest working pier train, which links the village of Hythe and its marina to a small ferry that runs a regular service to the City of Southampton.
Netley Chapel
This striking chapel, on the eastern side of the river, is all that now remains of one of Britain’s first purpose-built hospitals. Constructed for veterans of the Crimean War, the original 220-acre site was the largest of its time but was demolished after a fire in 1966. The site is now open to the public as part of Royal Victoria Country Park.
Calshot Castle
The picturesque Calshot Castle was originally built by Henry VIII to defend the entrance to Southampton waters. As our ferry reaches the Solent, the castle is easily visible at the end of Calshot Spit, which extends from the west into the main waters, with Calshot beach and its long row of beach huts visible further along.
Columbine Building
The striking Columbine building on the East Cowes waterfront has been a central point of Island industry for many years. Starting with Saunders Roe, which was involved in everything from sea planes, hovercrafts, and rockets, and is currently home to Wight Shipyard, which built two of Red Funnel’s Red Jet fleet. When you spot the iconic Union Jack doors, you’ve arrived on the Island!
Other Red Funnel Ferries
Southampton’s waters and the Solent are always busy with shipping movements, not least with our very own Red Funnel fleet. At peak time we will often have our three vehicle ferries, two Hi-Speed passenger ferries, and our freight ferry all out on the water – so watch out for them, and don’t forget to give our other passengers and crew a customary wave!
Cowes Castle
As you approach the Island and arrive at Cowes Harbour, you’ll see another of Henry VIII’s forts, Cowes Castle. The castle is now home and clubhouse to the Royal Yacht Squadron, whose Club organises yacht racing as a principal feature of the now globally famous Cowes Week regatta. Look carefully at the front and you might see the cannons that are used for starting races.