About Red Funnel

Founded in 1861, Red Funnel has a proud legacy of carrying passengers between Southampton and the Isle of Wight and are well known for their warm, friendly customer service.

Operating on two main routes: a 1-hour vehicle ferry crossing between Southampton and East Cowes, and a 25 min crossing between Southampton and West Cowes via our Hi-Speed Red Jet service. In a typical year, they welcome over 3 million passengers, with many of those being holidaymakers, choosing the Island for its natural beauty and eclectic range of visitor attractions and exciting events including the Isle of Wight Festival and the world-famous yachting regatta Cowes Week.

Their team of nearly 500 employees operates 365 days a year and maintains a fleet of three vehicle ferries, three Hi-Speed passenger catamarans and one purpose-built freight ferry. Over and above carrying passengers, their teams also operate passenger catering and retail services, while their Red Funnel Holidays team helps curate holiday travel packages consisting of ferry travel and accommodation.

Red Funnell are also very proud of giving back to the communities they serve, and actively engage in supporting local Island charities, good causes, events and more. For 2021, their Charity of the Year is the Isle of Wight Independent Lifeboats. They’re also very proud to shine a spotlight on the local businesses which make the Island a special place to visit, and they honour them each year via the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards – celebrating the best places to eat, drink, stay and visit on the Island.