Red Funnel runs two distinct services on the Southampton–Cowes corridor: the Red Jet foot-passenger catamaran, and the car ferry to East Cowes. Getting the best fare looks slightly different for each.
Foot Passengers: Red Jet
Red Jet fares start from £14 one-way, and there's an unadvertised Super Off-Peak Day Return around £11 per person that isn't bookable online (Isle of Wight Guru, retrieved 2026-07-03) — worth calling or checking directly with Red Funnel to ask about. The crossing itself takes around 23–28 minutes to West Cowes.
Car Ferry: Southampton to East Cowes
Car ferry pricing on this route is dynamic — it varies by date, sailing time, and demand rather than following a fixed rate card. The two biggest levers on price are the same as any car ferry crossing: avoid Saturday travel where possible, and avoid the 10am–4pm peak window.
A real August 2026 example: a Saturday-to-Saturday return cost £286, while the same trip booked Sunday-to-Sunday came to £229 — a £57 difference from day-of-week alone.
Current Red Funnel Discount
Red Funnel is offering 20% off car ferry and Red Jet foot passenger travel for journeys up to 31 December 2026, if booked by 31 July 2026 (Red Funnel, retrieved 2026-07-03) — check the current terms on Red Funnel's own site before booking, since promotional windows shift through the year.
Booking Tips Specific to Red Funnel
Get a quote before assuming Wightlink is cheaper or more expensive. Neither operator is consistently cheaper — see our Wightlink vs Red Funnel comparison for a real side-by-side example.
If you're an island resident, Red Funnel's own resident discount scheme will typically beat any of the general public fares above — see our resident discount guide.
If you qualify for an NHS discount elsewhere, note that Red Funnel doesn't currently advertise a dedicated NHS scheme as directly as Wightlink — see our NHS and key worker discounts guide for what's actually available across all three operators.
For the full three-operator comparison including Hovertravel, see our cheapest Isle of Wight ferry guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest Red Funnel foot passenger fare?
Red Jet fares start from £14 one-way, with an unadvertised Super Off-Peak Day Return around £11 per person — not bookable online, so check directly with Red Funnel.
How much does the Red Funnel car ferry cost?
There's no fixed rate — pricing varies by date, time, and demand. Booking a Sunday crossing outside the 10am–4pm window is consistently cheaper than a Saturday midday sailing on the same route.
Is there a current Red Funnel discount?
As of mid-2026, Red Funnel offers 20% off car ferry and Red Jet travel for journeys up to 31 December 2026, if booked by 31 July 2026. Always confirm current terms directly with Red Funnel before booking.
Related: Wightlink vs Red Funnel: which is cheapest? · Cheapest Isle of Wight ferry (all 3 operators) · Southampton to East Cowes ferry prices
