Timetable 24 March to 1 November 2026, then reduced and normal timetables published to 1 February 2027 - checked 16 October 2026. The base list is the Monday to Friday pattern; Saturday, Sunday, bank holiday and the November and January changes load automatically by date
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~28 min
Operator
Red Funnel
Map – Red Jet Southampton to West Cowes
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (16-59), single | £23.65 |
| Senior (60+), single | £15.60 |
| Child (5-15), single | £11.80 |
| Adult, standard day return from Southampton | £36.20 |
| Adult, standard day return from West Cowes | £32.90 |
| Child, standard day return from Southampton | £18.10 |
| Adult, off-peak day return | £24.10 |
| Adult, super off-peak day return (two or more travelling together from 10:55) | £14.00 |
| Adult, standard period return from Southampton | £40.80 |
| Dog | Free |
| Bicycle (limited racks) | Free |
Fares are taken from Red Funnel's passenger fares pages for Southampton to West Cowes and West Cowes to Southampton, marked 'From 3 January 2026'. The single is the same in both directions; the standard day return differs by direction and both are shown. Red Funnel says foot passenger tickets booked on its website are valid on both the Red Jet and the East Cowes vehicle ferry routes and are based on standard rates; other ticket types are sold at the ticket office. Dogs and bicycles are carried free (limited bike racks on the Red Jets), infants aged 0 to 4 do not need a ticket, and passenger tickets are non-refundable. All fares in pounds sterling (GBP).
Red Jet is Red Funnel's foot-passenger catamaran service between Southampton Terminal 2, at Town Quay, and the Red Jet terminal at Fountain Yard in West Cowes. Red Funnel gives the crossing as approximately 28 minutes. It carries people, not cars. Vehicles use Red Funnel's separate ferry from Southampton Terminal 1 to East Cowes, which Red Funnel puts at about an hour, and that service has its own timetable and fares. West Cowes and East Cowes are joined across the River Medina by a different crossing, the Cowes Floating Bridge.
The timetable has several parts, and the date decides which one applies. Red Funnel says the boat usually leaves every 35 minutes in busy periods and every 1 hour 10 minutes on quieter weekday periods and Sundays. In the 24 March to 1 November 2026 timetable, Monday to Friday has 21 sailings each way, from 05:30 at Southampton and 06:05 at West Cowes, with the last boats at 22:30 and 23:05. Saturday has 24 each way, starting at 06:40 and 07:15. Sundays and bank holidays have 14, starting at the same times. Red Funnel then publishes a reduced weekday and weekend timetable for 2 to 23 November 2026, the normal pattern again from 24 November to 10 January 2027, and a second reduced timetable from 11 January to 1 February 2027. Nothing is published beyond 1 February.
Work on the Red Jet berth at Southampton has changed the Saturday timetable on three dates. On Saturdays 17, 24 and 31 October the 13:15 and 17:20 from Southampton and the 13:50 and 17:55 from West Cowes are withdrawn, and Red Funnel says it boards and refuels at a secondary berth meanwhile. The late sailings on Saturday 17 October leave at 23:00 and 23:35, and extra sailings run just after midnight on the night of 24 October.
Fares on Red Funnel's pages, from 3 January 2026, show an adult single of £23.65, a child single of £11.80 and a senior single of £15.60. Day returns and off-peak tickets are priced separately, and dogs and bicycles are carried free, with 11 bike racks on the Red Jets. Most ticket types can be bought online in advance; Red Funnel also sells them at the terminals.
- Arrive at the slipway a few minutes before departure; vehicle queues build quickly in summer.
- Check the operator's notices before travelling — tides, weather and maintenance affect sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: several crossings are contactless-only.
Frequently asked questions
On weekdays in Red Funnel's current timetable (24 March to 1 November 2026) the first Red Jet leaves Southampton Terminal 2 at 05:30 and the last at 22:30. On Saturdays and Sundays the first is at 06:40. From West Cowes the first is 06:05 on weekdays and 07:15 at weekends, and the last is 23:05.
Red Funnel gives approximately 28 minutes between Southampton Terminal 2 and West Cowes. Its live status board gives the same figure.
On Red Funnel's fares pages, marked from 3 January 2026, an adult single is £23.65, a senior (60+) single £15.60 and a child (5-15) single £11.80. The standard adult day return is £36.20 from Southampton and £32.90 from West Cowes, and dogs and bicycles are free.
No, it carries foot passengers only. Red Funnel's vehicle ferry sails between Southampton Terminal 1 and East Cowes, and takes about an hour.
Red Funnel has withdrawn four Saturday sailings on 17, 24 and 31 October because of preventative work on its Southampton Red Jet berth: the 13:15 and 17:20 from Southampton, and the 13:50 and 17:55 from West Cowes. All other sailings run as timetabled.
Yes. Red Funnel publishes a reduced timetable for 2 to 23 November 2026 (15 weekday sailings each way), the normal pattern again from 24 November to 10 January 2027, and a second reduced timetable from 11 January to 1 February 2027.
The Red Funnel timetable covering 24 November 2026 to 10 January 2027 does not say. It labels one pattern 'Sun / Bank Holiday', so check Red Funnel's service status page or call 023 8001 9192 before travelling on 25 December.
Yes, free of charge. Red Funnel says Red Jet 6 and Red Jet 7 each have 11 bike racks, with a limit of 25 kg a bike and a tyre width of 63 mm; folding bikes in a cycle bag go on the luggage rack.