Red Funnel Ferries operates from
Southampton to
East Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. It competes with Wightlink and provides the most direct route into the heart of the Island and to the capital of Newport. Red Funnel operates the newest ferries across the Solent and is very proud to offer the largest vehicle ferries that run commercially into the Isle of Wight. Red Funnel Ferries operate 24 hours a day, 364 days a year between their well established route of Southampton and East Cowes, the home of world yacht racing.
Red Funnel is a company steeped in history. Originally Red Funnel was formed in 1861 as the Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Public Limited Company. It was the original commercial ferry operator to the Island and has been running for over 140 years.
Red Funnel Ferries began as a freight only service but then in the 1900s, with a growing interest in travel in the UK, the company began providing tendering services (small shuttle ferries) to the great passenger liners. These liners would anchor in Cowes and use the Red Funnel steamers to connect passengers to the Island and UK as well as transferring various types of cargo.
Nowadays, whether going for business or pleasure, Red Funnel provides a fantastic customer service and reliability and is therefore a great choice for cross-Solent travel to the Isle of Wight.
