Isle of Wight Ferry Loophole #94 - £10 from Portsmouth to Cowes via Solent Cruises

Who fancies a period return from Gunwharf Quays to Cowes for £10, with a free cup of tea?

There's nothing I love more than an Isle of Wight ferry loophole or discount.

Well, I love Mrs Guru and the kids more but ferry loopholes aren't too far behind.

My latest discovery is a trick which will give you a foot passenger period return from Portsmouth to Cowes for £10. 

I beg your pardon?

"But that's impossible!" I hear you cry, with a confused but polite tone. 

The deal involves using Solent Cruises, which describes itself as a 'passenger vessel company'.

The main service they run is a foot passenger service for shoppers, which goes from Cowes to Portsmouth on Saturdays and Sundays at 9.30am. Islanders spend a day buying trousers in Gunwharf Quays before returning on the afternoon ferry at 4pm/5pm (the time varies depending on the time of year). 

It's not a new service, but the loophole involves using it backwards.

There is nothing to stop you from using the Portsmouth to Cowes 4pm/5pm leg as the outward journey and then the 9.30am leg from Cowes to Portsmouth as the return. 

They only travel on Saturdays and Sundays, but they are perfectly happy for people to leave a week between crossings rather than using it as a day return service. 

I emailed Solent Cruises and they confirmed that this would be fine, but will need to mention it when booking so they know who will actually be on which crossing. If you give it a go, please leave a comment below as I'd love to hear if you've had some success with it.

You can even get a free cup of tea or coffee if you hand over this voucher.

​It could potentially save you about £20-£25 compared to Wightlink's standard fares (although there are lots of other ways to save money). It could also be more convenient if you live in Portsmouth and are planning a holiday in Cowes.

You could use the same ferry for a period return if - for example - you live in Cowes and wanted to spend a week on the mainland. Solent Cruises would get you to Gunwharf Quays, and then you could catch a train from Portsmouth Harbour to London. 

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Other ways to save money on the Isle of Wight ferry

If that doesn't work for you, see our main guide to discounts on the Isle of Wight ferry or our guides to saving money on foot passenger travel with Red Funnel and Wightlink.