 |
|
This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.
Isle of Wight Ferry Beginners Guide 2025
**Red Funnel latest offers: 20% off via this exclusive link (book by 30 June, travel by 31 December) + £13 weekend day returns**
|
Unless you are a very strong swimmer or own a yacht, you will need to catch an Isle of Wight ferry for your holiday.
If you already know a bit about Red Funnel ferries, Wightlink ferries or Hovertravel and are looking for discount codes and promotional vouchers... don't waste your time on this beginners' guide. Instead, book via this Red Funnel widget to get 20% off car ferry bookings. Our discount is usually 10% but Red Funnel has doubled it to 20% for bookings throughout June 2025, as long as you travel by the end of December 2025 You can also look for a better offer in our regularly updated guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel. If you're a first time visitor to the Isle of Wight, please read on: |
|
How much does the Isle of Wight ferry cost?
|
Isle of Wight car ferry prices vary significantly. In winter you might pay as little as £50 to take a car and up to 6 or 7 passengers. That's potentially just £7 per person return.
Most summer visitors pay somewhere around £100-£200 thanks to a combination of special offers or ferry + accommodation bundles. However, peak fares sometimes reach £300+ during school holidays (eek!). There are other factors too. A day return is cheaper than a week's holiday on the Isle of Wight whilst long vans or motorhomes cost more than cars. |
|
Wightlink and Red Funnel both have decent online booking forms that allow you to tweak times and days to find the best price - but you also need to know how to unearth the best discounts and offers.
Read on for a summary of how to get the best Isle of Wight ferry prices, or read our more detailed guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel. If you pay full price for the Isle of Wight car ferry then you only have yourself to blame...
The foot passenger fares don’t fluctuate in the same way. Expect to pay about £15 - £40 for an adult return ticket (see our foot passenger discount guides for Red Funnel and Wightlink).
Read on for a summary of how to get the best Isle of Wight ferry prices, or read our more detailed guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel. If you pay full price for the Isle of Wight car ferry then you only have yourself to blame...
The foot passenger fares don’t fluctuate in the same way. Expect to pay about £15 - £40 for an adult return ticket (see our foot passenger discount guides for Red Funnel and Wightlink).
Where do I get the Isle of Wight ferry from?
There are three main Isle of Wight car ferries and three main foot passenger ferries, which leave from ports along mainland England’s south coast.
They are operated by Red Funnel ferries, Wightlink ferries and Hovertravel.
They are operated by Red Funnel ferries, Wightlink ferries and Hovertravel.
Car ferries to the Isle of Wight:
The Southampton to Isle of Wight and Portsmouth to Isle of Wight crossings require a drive through fairly busy cities. The Lymington to Isle of Wight crossing requires a scenic (i.e. slow) drive through the New Forest.
Foot passenger ferries to the Isle of Wight:
The Portsmouth Harbour to Isle of Wight crossing links up neatly with a railway station on both sides of the water. The Southampton to Isle of Wight (Cowes) crossing links with a free bus to Southampton Central. Southsea is a bus ride from a train station but connects with buses and trains on the Isle of Wight.
- Southampton to Isle of Wight (East Cowes) – 55 minutes - Red Funnel Ferries (click here for Red Funnel timetable)
- Portsmouth to Isle of Wight (Fishbourne) – 45 minutes – Wightlink Ferries (click here for Wightlink timetable)
- Lymington to Isle of Wight (Yarmouth) – 40 minutes – Wightlink Ferries (click here for Wightlink timetable)
The Southampton to Isle of Wight and Portsmouth to Isle of Wight crossings require a drive through fairly busy cities. The Lymington to Isle of Wight crossing requires a scenic (i.e. slow) drive through the New Forest.
Foot passenger ferries to the Isle of Wight:
- Portsmouth Harbour to Isle of Wight (Ryde Pier Head) – 22 minutes – Wightlink Ferries (click here for Wightlink timetable)
- Southampton to Isle of Wight (Cowes) – 28 minutes – Red Funnel Ferries (click here for Red Funnel timetable)
- Southsea to Isle of Wight (Ryde Esplanade) – 10 minutes - Hovertravel (click here for Hovertravel timetable)
The Portsmouth Harbour to Isle of Wight crossing links up neatly with a railway station on both sides of the water. The Southampton to Isle of Wight (Cowes) crossing links with a free bus to Southampton Central. Southsea is a bus ride from a train station but connects with buses and trains on the Isle of Wight.
Wightlink and Red Funnel run Isle of Wight car ferries
Should I take my car on the Isle of Wight ferry?
A car isn’t essential for a lone Isle of Wight visitor or for a couple. However, my advice would be to bring a car if you are travelling as a family or group. (Unless you’re one of those super eco-friendly families who cycle everywhere and live on a barge).
Getting around by public transport on the Isle of Wight is feasible but the buses are much slower than driving. Most bus routes go via Newport and the railway line only covers the East Side of the Island (Ryde through to Sandown and Shanklin). See our public transport guide for more info. I have previously argued that individual journeys on the Isle of Wight's buses are expensive compared to group travel. However, you can currently take advantage of the government's bus fare cap that limits the price to £3 in 2025.
People travelling alone will save a bit of money by travelling as a foot passenger - or perhaps a lot of money if it's peak season.
Once you have filled a car with three or more people you often find that the car ferry is cheaper, particularly outside of the peak season. The car ferry charges per car with up to seven passengers included with Wightlink ferries and Red Funnel ferries.
If you're planning a day trip, we've got different advice depending on whether you are travelling from Southampton, Lymington or Portsmouth. We've also got advice just for people travelling from London to the Isle of Wight.
Getting around by public transport on the Isle of Wight is feasible but the buses are much slower than driving. Most bus routes go via Newport and the railway line only covers the East Side of the Island (Ryde through to Sandown and Shanklin). See our public transport guide for more info. I have previously argued that individual journeys on the Isle of Wight's buses are expensive compared to group travel. However, you can currently take advantage of the government's bus fare cap that limits the price to £3 in 2025.
People travelling alone will save a bit of money by travelling as a foot passenger - or perhaps a lot of money if it's peak season.
Once you have filled a car with three or more people you often find that the car ferry is cheaper, particularly outside of the peak season. The car ferry charges per car with up to seven passengers included with Wightlink ferries and Red Funnel ferries.
If you're planning a day trip, we've got different advice depending on whether you are travelling from Southampton, Lymington or Portsmouth. We've also got advice just for people travelling from London to the Isle of Wight.
How can I get the cheapest Isle of Wight Ferry?
As mentioned earlier, the Isle of Wight ferry prices vary from about £50 in winter to more than £300 in summer (this is a worst case scenario).
RedFunnel ferries and Wightlink ferries operate much like budget airlines. If you book early and travel at 3am in February, then you’ll pay less than someone who books a last-minute ferry ticket on a Saturday lunchtime in August.
RedFunnel ferries and Wightlink ferries operate much like budget airlines. If you book early and travel at 3am in February, then you’ll pay less than someone who books a last-minute ferry ticket on a Saturday lunchtime in August.
A couple of dears enjoying the Isle of Wight ferry
So, how can I get the cheapest car ferry to Isle of Wight?
For more, see our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel.
*See the next question for more on booking early
- If possible, book early* and try to avoid peak times. I realise that's not always easy if you have children at school and a self-catering chalet with a Saturday changeover day.
- Get a quote from both Red Funnel Ferries and Wightlink Ferries. It varies as to which is the cheapest.
- Next, see if your accommodation provider can get the ferry any cheaper for you. Away Resorts has four caravan parks and lodge parks on the Isle of Wight and offers about 50% off the ferry if you stay with them. Try Whitecliff Bay or The Lakes Rookley for a busy resort or The Bay Colwell or St Helens for a quieter resort (and use the discount code AWRAF7 via this link for up to 10% off until 31/12/25).
Parkdean Resorts and big hotels like Warner Leisure also get special rates, as do some self catering agencies and individual hotels and guest houses. If you are camping or bringing a motorhome or caravan then one of the best deals around is a bundle of ferry travel + an electric pitch, which is offered by Red Funnel. It's only valid on certain dates, but you can use it during school summer holidays if you are flexible.
- If you can't get a ferry + accommodation bundle, book the ferry yourself and see if there are any discounts available. As well as discount codes and vouchers offered by Wightlink and Redfunnel, there are various offers, deals and loopholes. These include our 10% off deal with Red Funnel that can be used all year (see the top of the page). Other popular deals include: 15% off Wightlink if you join English Heritage, Wightlink’s Tesco Clubcard deal or Wightlink's discount for teachers, volunteers, health workers and carers.
**English Heritage Discount Code: Save 25% on annual memberships via this link with exclusive code IWGEHMEXC until 31/12/25**
For more, see our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel.
*See the next question for more on booking early
You can sometimes save more than 50% on the ferry by staying at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
|
Bembridge Coast Hotel is a big hotel which offers a generous ferry discount
|
It is also worth checking the 'official' offers pages for the three Isle of Wight ferry companies:
When is the ideal time to book to get the best price?
Wightlink and Red Funnel encourage travellers to ‘book early for the best price’. The general approach seems to be similar to budget airlines which increase fares as you get nearer to lift off.
A few years ago we carried out our own little experiment by tracking the cost of one crossing at half term back in October. We looked at Saturday lunchtime crossings on October 24th and 31st from Portsmouth and Southampton for car and passengers.
The full saga is recounted in this Pulitzer-worthy blog post. The summary is that the Red Funnel fare only increased from £101 to about £105 over six months. The Wightlink fare increased from £110 to £138 over six months.
Over that six-month period, there was also a discount code that appeared for Red Funnel. That means the best time to book would have actually been two months beforehand (the lowest price would have been about £85).
So, whilst booking early does help, you might on occasion get the best price by hanging on for a discount code to appear. Of course, it’s also possible that your preferred crossing time will get completely full. That's unlikely in low season, but more likely during school holiday weekends or festivals.
The other conclusion I drew from this (very small) experiment is that whilst booking early might be advisable, being flexible is equally if not more important. Getting an early morning or late-night crossing can be two thirds or half the price of a midday sailing on peak days. That dwarfs the £4 increase with Red Funnel.
A few years ago we carried out our own little experiment by tracking the cost of one crossing at half term back in October. We looked at Saturday lunchtime crossings on October 24th and 31st from Portsmouth and Southampton for car and passengers.
The full saga is recounted in this Pulitzer-worthy blog post. The summary is that the Red Funnel fare only increased from £101 to about £105 over six months. The Wightlink fare increased from £110 to £138 over six months.
Over that six-month period, there was also a discount code that appeared for Red Funnel. That means the best time to book would have actually been two months beforehand (the lowest price would have been about £85).
So, whilst booking early does help, you might on occasion get the best price by hanging on for a discount code to appear. Of course, it’s also possible that your preferred crossing time will get completely full. That's unlikely in low season, but more likely during school holiday weekends or festivals.
The other conclusion I drew from this (very small) experiment is that whilst booking early might be advisable, being flexible is equally if not more important. Getting an early morning or late-night crossing can be two thirds or half the price of a midday sailing on peak days. That dwarfs the £4 increase with Red Funnel.
How can I save money on foot passenger fares to the Isle of Wight?
**Foot passenger deals: Kids Go Free during holidays with Wightlink + Red Funnel Big Book savings for foot passengers**
Foot passenger fares don’t fluctuate as much as taking a car. However, they do vary depending on whether you are staying a day or longer and whether you are just making one return or if you will be travelling a few times.
We did a price comparison to show how the Isle of Wight foot passenger fares vary.
We did a price comparison to show how the Isle of Wight foot passenger fares vary.
There are several foot passenger options for Isle of Wight travel
Our criteria:
- Standard return, not a day return (validity is usually 90 days)
- Starting from the mainland to the Isle of Wight
- We only included books of tickets where you bought 10 or less returns with a validity of 12 months (e.g. Wightlink's Multilink deal or Hovertravel's Regular Travel deal). We didn’t include deals where you buy 20 or 40 returns or a season ticket as that it more akin to commuting rather than occasional travel.
- We searched in December 2024.
Ferry |
Time (mins) |
Return price |
Notes |
Portsmouth to Ryde Pierhead (Wightlink) |
22 |
£16.60 |
|
Portsmouth to Ryde Pierhead (Wightlink) |
22 |
£17 |
|
Southampton to East Cowes (Red Funnel) |
55 |
£18.46 |
|
Southsea to Ryde (Hovertravel) |
10 |
£21.20 |
|
Southsea to Ryde (Hovertravel) |
10 |
£24 |
|
Southampton to East Cowes (Red Funnel) |
55 |
£25.10 |
On the day price |
Southampton to Cowes (Red Funnel) |
28 |
£32.18 |
|
Lymington to Yarmouth (Wightlink) |
40 |
£32.40 |
|
Portsmouth to Fishbourne (Wightlink) |
45 |
£32.40 |
|
Southampton to (West) Cowes (Red Funnel) |
28 |
£37.50 |
|
Portsmouth to Ryde Pierhead (Wightlink) |
22 |
£39 |
|
Southsea to Ryde (Hovertravel) |
10 |
£42 |
My three conclusions from the comparison above is that:
Also, check out our discount ferry travel page as there are often short term deals for foot passengers. One of favourite ongoing discounts is using a railcard and booking the ferry as if it's a train journey.
- You will roughly pay twice as much to travel if you turn up and buy a return journey than if you are travelling five or ten times in a year.
- Second home owners or fairly regular visitors will do much better to buy a book of tickets. You'll start saving money once you've used about half of your tickets. This is
- If you are just planning one return journey and want to save money, consider getting a car ferry. The cheapest on the day fares are all on the car ferries. If the sun is shining and it's calm day then sitting up on deck is a genuinely pleasant part of the holiday.
Also, check out our discount ferry travel page as there are often short term deals for foot passengers. One of favourite ongoing discounts is using a railcard and booking the ferry as if it's a train journey.
Which is cheaper, Wightlink Ferries or Red Funnel Ferries?
It varies. Sometimes you will find Wightlink ferries is cheaper. Sometimes Red Funnel ferries, will be cheaper.
It is worth getting an IOW ferry quote from both and seeing if either is offering promotional codes. Also check if you qualify for a particular discount. For example, Wightlink do a good deal for Isle of Wight residents and second homeowners called Multilink and a discount for disabled blue badge holders.
We also have an exclusive deal that means you can get 10% off Red Funnel car journeys if you book via the booking form at the top of this page.
It is worth getting an IOW ferry quote from both and seeing if either is offering promotional codes. Also check if you qualify for a particular discount. For example, Wightlink do a good deal for Isle of Wight residents and second homeowners called Multilink and a discount for disabled blue badge holders.
We also have an exclusive deal that means you can get 10% off Red Funnel car journeys if you book via the booking form at the top of this page.
What are the postcodes for the ferries to Isle of Wight?
Isle of Wight car ferry postcodes for sat nav:
- Red Funnel Southampton ferry terminal postcode: SO14 2AL
- Red Funnel East Cowes (Isle of Wight) ferry terminal postcode: PO32 6RA
- Wightlink Portsmouth ferry terminal postcode: PO1 2LA
- Wightlink Fishbourne (Isle of Wight) ferry terminal postcode: PO33 4EU
- Wightlink Lymington ferry terminal postcode: SO41 5SB
- Wightlink Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) ferry terminal postcode: PO41 0PB
Isle of Wight passenger ferry postcodes for sat nav:
- Red Funnel Southampton ferry terminal: SO14 2AQ
- Red Funnel West Cowes ferry terminal (Isle of Wight) postcode: PO31 7AR
- Wightlink Portsmouth Harbour ferry terminal postcode: PO1 3PS
- Wightlink Ryde Pierhead (Isle of Wight) ferry terminal postcode: PO33 2HF
- Hovertravel Southsea ferry terminal postcode: PO5 3AD
- Hovertravel Ryde (Isle of Wight) ferry terminal postcode: PO33 2HB
The floating bridge links the two Red Funnel ferries at Cowes and East Cowes (when it's working)
Which is the best Isle of Wight Ferry?
The car ferries to the Isle of Wight are, broadly speaking, all pretty similar.
You’ll get out of your car, go upstairs to the main lounge, queue up for a coffee and a sausage roll and read the headline in the Isle of Wight County Press (‘Chaos as tree closes road…’ etc). You'll then pick up a glossy brochure about the Isle of Wight’s attractions and spend two minutes out on the ‘sun deck’ before deciding it is too cold.
Some of the ferries are bigger than others. Some are more modern than others, but all the ferries are good quality nowadays so I personally book based on price.
If you're really interested, I'd say that Wightlink's Victoria of Wight is my favourite ferry. It is a huge great thing with a soft play area, TV room and several floors.
You’ll get out of your car, go upstairs to the main lounge, queue up for a coffee and a sausage roll and read the headline in the Isle of Wight County Press (‘Chaos as tree closes road…’ etc). You'll then pick up a glossy brochure about the Isle of Wight’s attractions and spend two minutes out on the ‘sun deck’ before deciding it is too cold.
Some of the ferries are bigger than others. Some are more modern than others, but all the ferries are good quality nowadays so I personally book based on price.
If you're really interested, I'd say that Wightlink's Victoria of Wight is my favourite ferry. It is a huge great thing with a soft play area, TV room and several floors.
Wightlink's bigger car ferries travel from Fishbourne to Portsmouth
Which is the nicest ferry crossing to the Isle of Wight?
If there isn't much difference in price between Red Funnel and Wightlink then you will probably want to think about which is the most convenient and nicest crossing. Is it Southampton to East Cowes, Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Lymington to Yarmouth?
The most pleasant crossing in my view is Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth crossing as it passes through a lovely stretch of water. It is also the quickest and quietest crossing. However, it doesn't run as regularly (or as late) as others and uses smaller ferries with simpler facilities.
The main downside is that getting to Lymington is often pretty slow as you'll end up plodding through the New Forest. It is very scenic with animals larking around by the side of the road but that might not be your priority after a four hour journey with irritable children. On the other side of the water, you arrive in Yarmouth, which is a pretty town that immediately makes you feels like you are on holiday.
The Southampton to East Cowes crossing takes the longest at 55 minutes. However, Southampton is often the quickest port to reach if you are coming from the west of England. The Red Funnel ferries are all fairly similar in size and onboard facilities.
In 2024, Red Funnel's car ferry had a 95% reliability rating, according to their own data. That is 'Reliability based on cancellations made with 4 days (or more) notice', which presumably means that if they cancel or change your ferry a week in advance then it doesn't count towards the figures. Wightlink's reliability during 2024 was around 98%-99%, but they calculate it differently and say that 'Reliability is calculated as the number of ferries that sailed compared to the timetable available to you 24 hours beforehand'.
See our guide to delays and compensation for more info on how you can get money back if your ferry is late.
The Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferry is quicker than the Southampton to East Cowes crossing (45 minutes rather than 55 minutes). Like Southampton, it can be quite slow to drive through Portsmouth so allow a bit of extra time during rush hour. The ferries leave very regularly from Portsmouth (every half hour during high season). The ferries from this port vary in size quite a bit. A couple of them are pretty impressive with loads of sofas, soft play and a small cinema room.
How about convenience once you are on the Isle of Wight?
Well, the Island is not huge so you could really get any ferry, regardless of where you are staying. The longest drive from any ferry port would be about 45 minutes (assuming you don't get lost). However, if you are staying in the East Wight (Ryde, Seaview, Bembridge) then Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Southampton to East Cowes is quite a lot nearer than Lymington to Yarmouth. If you are staying in the West Wight (Freshwater Bay, Yarmouth, Shalfleet, Brighstone) then Lymington to Yarmouth is quickest. For other resorts like Ventnor, Shanklin or Sandown then you'll find East Cowes or Fishbourne is about 15 minutes quicker than Yarmouth.
The most pleasant crossing in my view is Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth crossing as it passes through a lovely stretch of water. It is also the quickest and quietest crossing. However, it doesn't run as regularly (or as late) as others and uses smaller ferries with simpler facilities.
The main downside is that getting to Lymington is often pretty slow as you'll end up plodding through the New Forest. It is very scenic with animals larking around by the side of the road but that might not be your priority after a four hour journey with irritable children. On the other side of the water, you arrive in Yarmouth, which is a pretty town that immediately makes you feels like you are on holiday.
The Southampton to East Cowes crossing takes the longest at 55 minutes. However, Southampton is often the quickest port to reach if you are coming from the west of England. The Red Funnel ferries are all fairly similar in size and onboard facilities.
In 2024, Red Funnel's car ferry had a 95% reliability rating, according to their own data. That is 'Reliability based on cancellations made with 4 days (or more) notice', which presumably means that if they cancel or change your ferry a week in advance then it doesn't count towards the figures. Wightlink's reliability during 2024 was around 98%-99%, but they calculate it differently and say that 'Reliability is calculated as the number of ferries that sailed compared to the timetable available to you 24 hours beforehand'.
See our guide to delays and compensation for more info on how you can get money back if your ferry is late.
The Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferry is quicker than the Southampton to East Cowes crossing (45 minutes rather than 55 minutes). Like Southampton, it can be quite slow to drive through Portsmouth so allow a bit of extra time during rush hour. The ferries leave very regularly from Portsmouth (every half hour during high season). The ferries from this port vary in size quite a bit. A couple of them are pretty impressive with loads of sofas, soft play and a small cinema room.
How about convenience once you are on the Isle of Wight?
Well, the Island is not huge so you could really get any ferry, regardless of where you are staying. The longest drive from any ferry port would be about 45 minutes (assuming you don't get lost). However, if you are staying in the East Wight (Ryde, Seaview, Bembridge) then Portsmouth to Fishbourne or Southampton to East Cowes is quite a lot nearer than Lymington to Yarmouth. If you are staying in the West Wight (Freshwater Bay, Yarmouth, Shalfleet, Brighstone) then Lymington to Yarmouth is quickest. For other resorts like Ventnor, Shanklin or Sandown then you'll find East Cowes or Fishbourne is about 15 minutes quicker than Yarmouth.
Shanklin is about 25 minutes drive from East Cowes and Fishbourne
What happens if I miss the Isle of Wight ferry?
Latecomers are given armbands and are pointed in the direction of the Solent by a member of staff.
This isn't true of course.
If you are travelling on foot then it is less of an issue than if you are travelling by car.
Wightlink's policy has been tightened up somewhat in recent years. They now say that 'late arrivals will be required to amend to an alternative sailing time'. You'll either be sent to the booking office or asked to do it on your phone. You'll have to pay for any increase in the ticket price and will probably pay an amendment fee of up to £25.
This is a rather tougher policy than they had a couple of years ago, when it only counted as a 'revised booking' if you were more than two hours late.
Red Funnel's policy is more generous and says that 'We will endeavour to get you on the next available sailing that has space.' They do warn that it might not be the next sailing. Don't be surprised if you are waiting a while on a Saturday lunchtime in August.
Getting through Southampton to the Red Funnel port can be very slow if there are lots of cruise ships preparing to leave. This seems to be worst on Saturdays - I once missed the start of a football match at St Mary's and still haven't got over it.
This isn't true of course.
If you are travelling on foot then it is less of an issue than if you are travelling by car.
Wightlink's policy has been tightened up somewhat in recent years. They now say that 'late arrivals will be required to amend to an alternative sailing time'. You'll either be sent to the booking office or asked to do it on your phone. You'll have to pay for any increase in the ticket price and will probably pay an amendment fee of up to £25.
This is a rather tougher policy than they had a couple of years ago, when it only counted as a 'revised booking' if you were more than two hours late.
Red Funnel's policy is more generous and says that 'We will endeavour to get you on the next available sailing that has space.' They do warn that it might not be the next sailing. Don't be surprised if you are waiting a while on a Saturday lunchtime in August.
Getting through Southampton to the Red Funnel port can be very slow if there are lots of cruise ships preparing to leave. This seems to be worst on Saturdays - I once missed the start of a football match at St Mary's and still haven't got over it.
Will I get seasick on the Isle of Wight Ferry?
No, probably not. If you have a particularly weak stomach (like I do nowadays...) and it is a stormy day in winter, then you might feel a bit queasy.
The Isle of Wight car ferries are generally steady and take less than an hour. You very rarely see people going pale and rushing to the toilet. The first half of the Southampton to East Cowes crossing is within a sheltered estuary so you'll only have to hold your stomach for half of the 55 minute journey. My personal experience is that the 40 minute Lymington to Yarmouth crossing is the least bumpy, but perhaps we have just been lucky.
The Isle of Wight foot passenger ferries are a bit bumpier because they go quicker and the boats are designed differently. Wightlink and Red Funnel's foot passenger ferries are catamarans, meaning that they have two hulls that sit in the water. That means they rock from side to side a bit. I've found that sitting in the middle is less bouncy. The hovercraft is quite noisy and bumpy because it races along like a whippet chasing a rabbit.
The good news about the foot passenger ferries is that they are much quicker, so if you do feel sick then it will be over much quicker. The Red Funnel and Wightlink ferries only take about 20-30 minutes (Portsmouth to Isle of Wight or Southampton to Isle of Wight) or 10 minutes (Southsea to Isle of Wight hovercraft). Just sit back and think of England.
The hovercraft and foot passenger ferries are more likely to be cancelled due to bad weather. The car ferries keep going in most conditions.
The Isle of Wight car ferries are generally steady and take less than an hour. You very rarely see people going pale and rushing to the toilet. The first half of the Southampton to East Cowes crossing is within a sheltered estuary so you'll only have to hold your stomach for half of the 55 minute journey. My personal experience is that the 40 minute Lymington to Yarmouth crossing is the least bumpy, but perhaps we have just been lucky.
The Isle of Wight foot passenger ferries are a bit bumpier because they go quicker and the boats are designed differently. Wightlink and Red Funnel's foot passenger ferries are catamarans, meaning that they have two hulls that sit in the water. That means they rock from side to side a bit. I've found that sitting in the middle is less bouncy. The hovercraft is quite noisy and bumpy because it races along like a whippet chasing a rabbit.
The good news about the foot passenger ferries is that they are much quicker, so if you do feel sick then it will be over much quicker. The Red Funnel and Wightlink ferries only take about 20-30 minutes (Portsmouth to Isle of Wight or Southampton to Isle of Wight) or 10 minutes (Southsea to Isle of Wight hovercraft). Just sit back and think of England.
The hovercraft and foot passenger ferries are more likely to be cancelled due to bad weather. The car ferries keep going in most conditions.
I've found the Lymington to Yarmouth crossing to be the least choppy - but that's not a scientific study
Can I take my bicycle on the ferry?
Yes, you can take a bike onto the Isle of Wight ferries for free. However, there are some restrictions on the foot passenger ferries. The car ferries have more space for bikes and don't seem to have restrictions.
Read our full guide to cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight for yet more thrilling advice.
- Wightlink's catamaran from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head has space for 20 bikes.
- Hovertravel's hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde can only carry four bicycles at a time.
- The Red Funnel Red Jet from Southampton to West Cowes has bike racks, but it is first-come first-served.
Read our full guide to cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight for yet more thrilling advice.
Cycling on the Isle of Wight is one of life's joys (or punishment, depending on your point of view)
Can I take my dog to the Isle of WIght?
Yes, all the Isle of Wight ferries are dog friendly:
See our guide to dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
- Wightlink 'strongly recommend' that dogs stay in cars on their car ferries from Lymington and Portsmouth. There is a designated doggy bit in the lounge. They also request that dogs don't sit on seats and are 'relieved' before boarding...Of course, dogs need to be on leads if you take them on deck.
- Red Funnel has similar guidelines to Wightlink. For the car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, they recommend dogs are left in cars. However, they do have a pet area in the lounge area of the car deck. Their website also explains that there is an on the spot £50 cleaning fine if your dog 'fouls' onboard. Not sure if the same would apply to my toddler. Pets are also allowed on the Red Jet passenger ferry to West Cowes, but need to be on leads.
- Hovertravel allow dogs on leads, and also have a fine for erratic pooping pooches.
See our guide to dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
An alternative way to get your dog across the Solent
Are there free car parks for foot passengers near to the Isle of Wight ferry?
Parking near to the ferry ports and travelling to the Isle of Wight as a foot passenger is a bit of a challenge. If you can, you’ll find taking a car across or catching the train is generally simpler and often cheaper. You are unlikely to find free parking for any stretch of time near the ferry at Portsmouth or Southampton.
In the past we have parked on a residential side road on the mainland and caught a train for the last stop or two. If you’ve got a Railcard you often get one third off the passenger fare for the Isle of Wight ferries if you book it with a train journey. See our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel.
This strategy does create the risk of an angry resident shaking their fist at you. As far as I’m aware they don’t actually own the road outside their house, but I guess it depends how brave you’re feeling. I’m afraid I’m not an expert on which parts of Portsmouth and Southampton are safest to leave your car on the street for a week. If I was, I’d be running a website called Mainland Guru.
If you prefer to park near the ferry port your options include:
See our guide to cheap and free parking on the Isle of Wight, which is my attempt to fight against the scourge of pricey parking.
In the past we have parked on a residential side road on the mainland and caught a train for the last stop or two. If you’ve got a Railcard you often get one third off the passenger fare for the Isle of Wight ferries if you book it with a train journey. See our guide to discount Isle of Wight ferry travel.
This strategy does create the risk of an angry resident shaking their fist at you. As far as I’m aware they don’t actually own the road outside their house, but I guess it depends how brave you’re feeling. I’m afraid I’m not an expert on which parts of Portsmouth and Southampton are safest to leave your car on the street for a week. If I was, I’d be running a website called Mainland Guru.
If you prefer to park near the ferry port your options include:
- Parking sites such as Your Parking Space, Park On My Drive and Just Park. A friend of mine found Friday to Monday parking over the weekend of the Isle of Wight Festival in a secure car park in Portsmouth for £13. It was a 20-minute walk to the ferry, but it's considerably cheaper than the very close options. It is very much based on availability so book as early as you can.
- NCP has a car park near to the Portsmouth and Southsea Railway Station that is about £7 per day. You would then need to catch the train for one stop.
- Parking at Gunwharf Quays for Wightlink’s Portsmouth ferries is pricey. It'll cost you about £25 per day.
- The best deal I've found for parking in Southampton is at Southampton Railway Station, where you can get a long weekend ticket for about £12. You will need to walk 20 minutes or catch the free shuttle bus to Town Quay. Parking at Southampton’s Town Quay for the Red Funnel ferry to East Cowes or (West) Cowes for a weekend costs an eye watering £25-£33. Your Parking Space and Just Park weren't much cheaper when I checked.
- I struggled to find good value parking near the Lymington ferry. The best I could manage was 72 hours for £24 on Bath Road, which is about 20-minutes' walk from the ferry.
- When I checked, Your Parking Space and Just Park had some parking spaces near the Hovercroft but they weren't mega-cheap (£30ish for Friday to Monday).
See our guide to cheap and free parking on the Isle of Wight, which is my attempt to fight against the scourge of pricey parking.
Do I need a passport for the Isle of Wight ferry?
No, you don't need a passport on the Isle of Wight ferry. The Isle of Wight is an English county. How dare you even ask? Obviously you will need a passport to get into the UK if you're coming from abroad. You won't need to show your passport to get from the mainland to the Isle of Wight. If anyone asks, the password to enter the Isle of Wight is 'Squirrel'.
