For more than 140 years, Red Funnel Ferries have operated a ferry service between Cowes, a famous yachting centre in the Isle of Wight and Southampton.

Their high-tech fleet of Red-Jets will send you over the Solent to West Cowes in a mere 22 minutes. If travelling by car it will take you a little longer in one of their vehicle ferries, which takes 55 minutes. This service will drop you off in East Cowes. There are regular departures, approximately every hour both ways.

Facilities onboard the East Cowes route include a café, serving both hot and cold food, a bar, payphones, a games area and baby changing facilities. There is also a lift onboard and good wheelchair access and disabled toilets. Staff will also assist with boarding and any other special requirements.

The Red-Jets have fewer facilities than the vehicle ferries, due to the short journey but they have an onboard drinks service. Unfortunately there are no onboard toilets, but wheelchair access is good, so disabled travelers should have no problem.

The port at Southampton has excellent connections rail, road and air connections to the rest of the UK and using both public and private transportation is accessible from the rest of the UK. Additionally, the passenger terminal offers a cafeteria with coffee, tea and a selection of pastries, as well as public toilets and payphones.

Once in the Isle of Wight the road network will connect you with the rest of the island and all of the islands major towns.

Half of the Isle of Wight is considered as an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’, making it a hugely popular tourist destination and there is plenty to see and do once there. In recent years it has become popular with extreme sports enthusiasts however there is plenty more on offer including Dinosaur Isle and the world famous Needles.

Tags: Isle of Wight, Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries, Southampton, UK