Facts checked October 2026 against operator sources. Prices and times change, the booking page wins.
Red Funnel runs two routes from Southampton to the Isle of Wight. The Red Jet passenger catamaran goes from Terminal 2 at Town Quay (SO14 2AQ) to West Cowes in 28 minutes. The vehicle ferry goes from Terminal 1 at Dock Gate 7, Town Quay Road (SO14 2AR, satnav SO14 2AL) to East Cowes in about an hour. Together they make 35 crossings a day.
| Fare, 2026 | Red Jet (foot, 28 min) | Vehicle ferry (foot, 60 min) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult single | £23.65 | £13.70 |
| Adult day return | £36.20 (off-peak £24.10) | £25.20 |
| Adult period return | £40.80 | |
| Child single / day return | £11.80 / £18.10 | |
| Car saver, each way | from £32.25 |
Practical
- Terminal 2 is open Mon-Fri 07:30-19:00 and Sat-Sun 08:00-19:00; check in 5-15 minutes before departure. The Hythe ferry also leaves from here.
- Red Jets run about every 35 minutes at busy times and every 70 minutes on quiet Sundays.
- The free QuayConnect bus links Southampton Central, the city centre and Town Quay every 35 minutes with a ferry ticket.
- Ocean Cruise Terminal is 0.4 miles from Town Quay, so Ocean Terminal passengers can do Cowes as a pre-cruise morning.
With a car
The vehicle ferry from Terminal 1 takes cars to East Cowes in about an hour, with car saver fares from £32.25 each way when booked ahead; on summer weekends the car decks sell out days in advance. For a cruise passenger it is rarely worth taking a hire car across for a day: the island's buses and the chain ferry between the two Cowes cover the north coast, and Osborne House is a mile from the East Cowes terminal.
A day in Cowes
West Cowes is the sailing town: the Parade, the Royal Yacht Squadron castle, the chain ferry to East Cowes and Osborne House, Queen Victoria's seaside home, a mile from the East Cowes terminal. Buses from Cowes reach Newport in 25 minutes for connections across the island.
Cowes or Ryde
Red Funnel serves Cowes from Southampton; Wightlink serves Ryde and Fishbourne from Portsmouth and Yarmouth from Lymington. From the cruise port, Cowes is the only sensible choice: Town Quay is a mile from the Western Docks and 0.4 miles from Ocean Terminal. Island buses from Cowes reach Newport in 25 minutes and Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin within the hour, so a full day can cross the island and return via Portsmouth by train if you prefer.
How long is the ferry from Southampton to the Isle of Wight?
Red Jet to West Cowes 28 minutes; the vehicle ferry to East Cowes about an hour.
How much is the Red Jet in 2026?
Adult single £23.65, day return £36.20, off-peak day return £24.10; child single £11.80.
Where does the Southampton to Isle of Wight ferry leave from?
Red Jet from Terminal 2 at Town Quay, SO14 2AQ; the car ferry from Terminal 1 at Dock Gate 7, Town Quay Road, SO14 2AR.
Tickets
Red Funnel sells fares on its own site. For a guided day on the island, tours leave from Southampton.
Isle of Wight tours from Southampton: GetYourGuide