Flexible options for getting onboard
Our new Flexi Fare is fully refundable, so if your plans change, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your sailing for a full reimbursement. You can also amend your sailing time and date for free! Our public fares allow up to seven passengers to travel in one vehicle, or two people with a motorbike or scooter.
Tips for the best fares
Prices vary depending on the size and type of vehicle, date and time of travel, and how busy individual sailings are. Here’s how to get the best rate:
- Book as far in advance as possible, you'll nearly always pay more if booking at the last minute
- If you can, be flexible and try and avoid busy sailing dates and times
- Always book via this website or with your accommodation provider
- Don't forget, join My Red Funnel Rewards and you'll save a further 4%-5%
- If travelling regularly consider a Travel Card, you can save up to 20%
- Sign-up to our newsletters and keep an eye out for our exclusive offers
Vehicle fare types
For your convenience we offer Saver Fares, Flexi Fares (our most popular option), and premium add-ons.
What's Included | Saver Fares | Flexi Fares | Premium Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 min check-in |  |  |  |
| Free Amendments |  | ||
| Reduced Cancellation Fees |  | ||
| Priority Loading |  | ||
| Priority Disembarkation |  | ||
| 20% Saving on hot food & hot drinks* |  | ||
| Fees | |||
| Amendment fee per bookings | £5 | FREE | |
| Cancellations up to 57 days before travel | 10% | FREE | NO REFUND |
| Cancellations 56 days up to 24hrs before travel | 50% | FREE | NO REFUND |
| Cancellations within 24hrs before travel | NO REFUND | 25% | NO REFUND |
Saver Fares
- Our cheapest fare available, changes to date and time are permitted, but are subject to a £5 amendment fee per change (excludes travel card customers).
- Any changes to date and time may incur an additional fare difference if you switch to a more expensive sailing and/or increase the length of stay.
- Any amendment charges must be paid in full at time of the amendment.
- If you move to a cheaper sailing no refund will be due as you have reserved a space we can no longer guarantee re-selling.
- If the booking is cancelled up to 57 days before travel, a 10% cancellation fee is applied and the remaining balance is refunded
- If the booking is cancelled 56 days up to 24 hours before travel, a 50% cancellation fee is applied and the remaining balance is refunded
- If the booking is cancelled within 24 hours of travel no refund is due.
- Should your vehicle fall outside of the dimensions you have booked you will be required to pay the difference in fare and will not be guaranteed your space on the sailing.
- If you purchase a split ticket (one leg Saver, one leg Flexi) please note each ticket type has different T&C's.
- The Flexi leg will be refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, or 75% refundable within 24 hours of travel (as per Flexi Ticket T&C's). The Saver leg will be 90% refundable 57 or more days in advance of travel, 50% refundable 56 days up to 24 hours in advance of travel, with no refunds within 24 hours of travel, as per Saver ticket T&C’s.
Flexible Fares:
- Our most flexible fare, but it's subject to availability.
- All amendments are free of charge, however a fare difference may apply if you change your travel dates.
- Any fare difference must be paid for in full at time of amendment.
- If you move to a cheaper sailing no refund will be due as you have reserved a space we can no longer guarantee re-selling.
- If the booking is cancelled at least 24 hours before travel, then there is no cancellation fee and the whole of the ticket is refunded.
- If the booking is cancelled within 24 hours of travel, then a 25% cancellation fee is applied and the remaining balance is refunded (a refund must be requested at least 2 hours before sailing time).
- If you have non-refundable items on your booking these are not subject to the same cancellation terms.
- Should your vehicle fall outside of the dimensions you have booked you will be required to pay the difference in fare and will not be guaranteed your space on the sailing.
- If you purchase a split ticket (one leg Saver, one leg Flexi) please note each ticket type has different T&C's.
- The Flexi leg will be refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, or 75% refundable within 24 hours of travel (as per Flexi ticket T&C's). The Saver leg will be 50% refundable up to 24 hours in advance of travel, with no refunds within 24 hours of travel, as per Saver ticket T&C's.
Premium add-on:
- Offers customers the opportunity to take advantage of our priority loading & disembarkation service for a small upgrade fee on both our Saver and Flexi tickets.
- *Also includes 20% off hot food and hot drinks, which can be redeemed at all Steam Coffee Company outlets and ReFuel café restaurants. A Food and Drink voucher can only be used to discount one transaction and must be surrendered at the time of purchase. It is not valid with other discounts or promotions and excludes alcohol. No cash alternative available and non-transferable.
- In order to guarantee priority loading you are required to check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
Premium add-ons are non refundable
Travel Cards
Frequent travellers may benefit from activating a Travel Card account, which offers savings of up to 20% off our Saver and Flexi fares plus discounts on food and drink and more.
Day return fares from just £12.90.
Fares to the Isle of Wight
Day return fares from just £12.90.
Fares to the Mainland
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Find Your Holiday Retreat
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. Explore points of interest on the Isle of Wight and in and around Southampton.
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.