Hampshire boats

County advice overview

Hampshire is a gateway to Europe with ferries travelling to France and Spain from Portsmouth.

In addition, there are two ferry services and a hovercraft service connecting to the Isle of Wight.

Key tips

You should be aware that you may experience bumpy seas, steep stairs, raised bulkheads and heavy sea doors on cross channel ferries and take this into account when planning your journey.

If you booked your travel through an agent or tour operator, make sure they understand your needs and that they pass the information on to the ferry companies.

Operators

Local operators

Red Funnel Ferries 

www.redfunnel.co.uk

Provide ferry travel to the Isle of Wight from Southampton to East and West Cowes.

Wightlink Ferries

www.wightlink.co.uk

Provide ferry travel to the Isle of Wight from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde and from Lymington to Yarmouth.

Hovertravel

www.hovertravel.co.uk

Provide a hovercraft travel service from Southsea in Portsmouth to Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

International operators

Brittany Ferries

www.brittany-ferries.co.uk

Operate from Portsmouth to various ports in France and Spain.

Help with cost

Red Funnel Ferries

Red Funnel’s Disability Discount provides a 20% discount for foot passenger travel and vehicle ferry travel to eligible customers travelling between the Isle of Wight and Southampton.

To buy discounted Red Jet tickets, visit the Red Jet ticket office at West Cowes, and present your valid Blue Badge card or Disabled Person’s Railcard when purchasing tickets on the day of travel.

To buy discounted Vehicle Ferry tickets, you need to book in advance. This can be done online, or alternatively call: 023 8001 9192.

Red Funnel Ferries will require you to present your Blue Badge Card or Disabled Person’s Railcard on the day of travel.

Further information can be found on the Red Funnel website.

Wightlink Ferries

If you have a Blue Badge, ENCTS Card (Senior or Disabled Person’s Bus Pass) or Disabled Person’s Railcard, you can benefit from money off your ferry crossing.

Blue Badge holders are eligible for:

• 25% off foot prices.
• 20% off standard vehicle tickets (personal leisure vehicles only).
• 15% off economy vehicle tickets (personal leisure vehicles only).
• ENCTS and Disabled Person’s Railcard holders are eligible for:
• 25% off foot prices.

Hovertravel

Offer concessionary fare rates for disabled people and those with reduced mobility, subject to production of proof of eligibility. Find further information on their website. 

Special assistance

Wightlink Ferries

If you have a disability, reduced mobility, a medical condition or just need extra help, you can contact Wightlink Accessible Travel and Assistance to talk through your needs. Once you have made your booking, contact the company as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours before you travel. 

They will assess your needs and ensure they can be met on your chosen sailing. This includes bringing any specialist equipment on board.

Should Wightlink Ferries be unable to help, they will explain why and may ask you to travel on an alternative sailing.

If you cannot advise them in advance, they will do their best to allow you to travel as soon as possible after you arrive at the port. However, this may mean your departure is delayed and assistance cannot be guaranteed.

You can book your accessible travel and assistance needs by contacting 0800 093 8236.

Helping Hand Scheme

This is a free scheme providing a discreet and easy way for you to make the Wight Ferries team aware of invisible disabilities or needs without having to verbally communicate them. For example, you may have hearing difficulties and wish staff to speak clearly, or remove face coverings.

You will be given a yellow card with a brief message which can be shown to staff either on arrival at the port or when boarding a ferry.

Red Funnel Ferries

If travelling with reduced mobility (physical or sensory), you should ideally book at least 48 hours before travelling by calling 02380 019192.

A member of the Red Funnel Contact Centre team will assess your needs in order to be able to meet them on your chosen crossing. They will run through any specific requirements that you may have and advise of any restrictions.

If you cannot book in advance online or by calling the Contact Centre, the Terminal Team will assess your needs to ensure that you travel on your selected crossing.

Further information can be found via this link.

Hovertravel

An accessible travel service called HoverCare is available for passengers who need extra help and assistance. Fully trained staff can assist passengers travelling for hospital appointments, individuals with dementia or autism, those with hearing or visual impairments, as well as any passengers travelling with a wheelchair or reduced mobility.

You can apply for a HoverCare card which will indicate the travel assistance you require. You can apply for one via this link.

HoverCare customers can benefit from priority boarding assistance which can be arranged once you have completed your booking, and at least 48 hours in advance of your travel, via this link.

Brittany Ferries

If you require additional assistance getting on board or around the ship, you should inform Brittainy Ferries at least 48 hours in advance. The level of assistance they can reasonably provide is limited and subject to high demand. 

Contact: 0330 159 5015 or customer.feedback@brittanyferries.com.

Travelling with mobility equipment

Wightlink Ferries

Their car ferries can provide a wheelchair loan, ramps to get on board and lifts to the passenger lounge as well as accessible toilets and parking spaces.

All ports can provide a wheelchair loan, a ramp to the Customer Service Point, accessible toilets and hearing loops.

Red Funnel Ferries

Wheelchairs and personal assistance are available for passengers at both ends of the ferry journey. If travelling with reduced mobility (physical or sensory), you should ideally book at least 48hrs before travelling by calling 02380 019192.

A member of the Contact Centre team will assess your needs in order to be able to meet them on your ferry crossing. They will run through any specific requirements which you may have and advise of any restrictions. If you cannot book in advance, the Terminal Team will assess your needs to ensure that you can travel on your selected crossing.

If travelling in a car, you should advise staff that you are a wheelchair user and you will be parked near the lift and asked if you require any other assistance. Alternatively, you may board as a foot passenger and should ask terminal staff for help. If you are travelling as a foot passenger, you can also have a companion travel with you free of charge.

If you are travelling with a wheelchair or scooter, there are ramps and accessible toilet facilities in all terminal areas.

Assistance dogs travel free of charge across all services.

Further passenger assistance information is available on the Red Funnel Ferries website.

Hovertravel

Hovertravel have wheelchairs for use in the terminals which can be used free of charge for travel between ports. Each hovercraft offers space for one wheelchair passenger, allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

You can reserve a wheelchair space via the HoverCare accessible travel service.

You can travel with your own wheelchair or mobility aid which includes mobility scooters, subject to size (maximum 720mm x 1220mm) and weight limitation. There is a ramp on the hovercraft leading directly to the wheelchair seating area. Wheelchairs are safely secured before departure.

Brittany Ferries

All terminals have disabled access and facilities and all cruise ferries have lifts from both the vehicle decks and between the passenger decks. There are a number of wheelchair accessible cabins onboard.

If you are travelling with mobility equipment or have reduced mobility and need to be parked close to a lift, it is essential that you tell staff when making your booking and again at ticket check-in. 

Wheelchairs are available in the port and on the ship for emergency use only. If you need a wheelchair onboard you should bring your own.

If you are travelling with a registered assistance dog, it is essential that you notify Brittany Ferries at the time of booking and you must carry proof that your animal is an Assistance Dog.

Routes and timetable links

You can find timetables, route information and plan your journey by visiting the individual operator websites below.

• Brittany Ferries
• Red Funnel Ferries
• Hovertravel
• Wightlink Ferries