Isle of Wight boats

County advice overview

You can travel to and from the Isle of Wight to the mainland, as either a foot passenger or in a vehicle, on ferry services operated by Red Funnel and Wightlink. 

Red Funnel provide additional services for foot passengers on their Red Jet high-speed catamaran, whilst Hovertravel offer hovercraft services – both of which provide fasters journey times than vehicle ferries.

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.
• If you wish to travel to West Quay Shopping Centre or Southampton Central Train Station, a shuttle bus operates from outside the Red Jet and ferry terminals on Town Quay. Departing regularly, this service is free for Red Funnel customers, passengers with through rail or National Express coach tickets (to and from East Cowes or West Cowes), and holders of the Older Person’s Bus Pass.
• The Hoverbus (operated by Stagecoach) departs from the Hovertravel terminal in Portsmouth. It will connect you to Portsmouth town centre or Portsmouth rail and coach stations.

Operators

Local operators 

Red Funnel Ferries 

www.redfunnel.co.uk

Provide ferry travel from East and West Cowes to Southampton.

Wightlink Ferries

www.wightlink.co.uk

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

Hovertravel

www.hovertravel.co.uk

Provide a hovercraft travel service from Ryde to Southsea in Portsmouth.

International operators

There are no international ferries from the Isle of Wight. However, Brittany Ferries operate from Portsmouth. Please take a look at our Hampshire area details.

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 (Older Person’s 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.

If you are an Island resident but are not entitled to any of the above discounts, you can apply for a MyLink card, which gives discounted ticket prices for foot passengers. You can apply for your MyLink membership via this link.

Hovertravel

Discounted travel

Isle of Wight residents can apply for a free Island Resident Blue Card which provides discounted travel from Ryde to Southsea on the hovercraft, including:

• 30% off day returns
• 10% off adult period returns
• Additional special offers throughout the year

You can sign up for your Blue Card on the Hovertravel website. 

If you are not an island resident, 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.  

Patient and companion discounted fares

Hovertravel offer discounted NHS patient fares, which are available for patients and a companion travelling from Ryde to Southsea for an NHS appointment, subject to production of NHS appointment card or letter at time of boarding. 

NHS Patient FREE Parking

If you park in Quay Road car park next to the Ryde terminal, to travel to your NHS appointment, the Isle of Wight Council will reimburse the cost of your parking within 28 days of your appointment date. For further details, visit the Isle of Wight Council 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.

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.

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, 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 and run through any specific requirements that 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 travel on your selected crossing.

If travelling in a car, advise staff that you are a wheelchair user and you will be parked near the lift and asked if you require any other form of assistance. Vehicle passengers unable to use the ships’ stairs will be parked as near to the onboard lift as possible. Alternatively, they may board as foot passengers 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.

There is no charge for assistance dogs travelling as dogs are free of charge across all our 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.

Routes and timetable links

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

• Red Funnel Ferries
• Hovertravel
• Wightlink Ferries