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Red Osprey

Live Service Status

See real-time ferry service status and updates.

The Red Funnel team strives to keep our passengers updated about any potential travel disruptions, delays, or changes to service status. Below you’ll find our latest travel updates as well as the live status of the next 15 departures from the Isle of Wight and Southampton, along with our vessel map displaying the latest positions of our ferries.

Travel Updates

SAINTS FC VS TOTTENHAM – SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER

Saints are playing Tottenham in a home game at St Mary's on Sunday, with a slightly later than usual 7pm kick off.  To support Saints fans heading back from the game, we will be revising our Sunday timetable for the following sailings:

From Southampton:
21:05 will now depart at 21:30
22:30 will now depart at 22:40

From West Cowes
21:40 will now depart at 22:05
23:05 will now depart at 23:10

Alternatively, please see our Vehicle Ferry timetable here.


SAINTS VS LIVERPOOL – WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER

Saints face Liverpool in the EFL Cup quarter final on Wednesday 18 December, which is an 8pm kick-off at St Mary's. To support fans making their way back to the Island after the game, we've added an additional sailing to our Red Jet timetable for that evening:

Departing Southampton: 23:40
Departing West Cowes: 00:15

You can also use our Vehicle Ferry as an alternative, please see our timetable here.


QUAYCONNECT SERVICE UPDATE - From 4 November

From Monday 4 November, there will be roadworks on the Civic Centre junction, so the Quayconnect service will divert to become a circular service, serving stops in one direction only. From Central Station, buses will run via West Quay Road directly to Town Quay before returning to Central Station on the normal route via West Quay.

Click here to find further information and temporary timetable. 


VEHICLE FERRY LIFTS

Are you due to travel on the Vehicle Ferry and need to use the lift on your crossing? Please call us on 023 8001 9192 in advance of your sailing for assistance.

From Southampton See Our Upcoming Sailings

From Isle of Wight See Our Upcoming Sailings

Date & Time Date Time Service Route Departing Arriving
15/12/2024 19:30 15/12/2024 19:30
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
15/12/2024 19:40 15/12/2024 19:40 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes
15/12/2024 21:00 15/12/2024 21:00
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
15/12/2024 21:05 15/12/2024 21:05 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes

Red Jet 2105 from Southampton will now depart at 2130 and 2140 from Cowes will now depart at 2205 to support fans heading back from Saints Game this evening.

15/12/2024 22:30 15/12/2024 22:30 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes

Red Jet 2230 from Southampton will now depart at 2240 and 2305 from Cowes will now depart at 2310 to support fans heading back from Saints Game this evening.

15/12/2024 23:55 15/12/2024 23:55
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
16/12/2024 03:00 16/12/2024 03:00
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
16/12/2024 04:30 16/12/2024 04:30
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
16/12/2024 05:15 16/12/2024 05:15 Freight Only
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
16/12/2024 05:30 16/12/2024 05:30 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes
16/12/2024 06:00 16/12/2024 06:00
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes
16/12/2024 06:05 16/12/2024 06:05 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes

cancelled due to limited crew availability. We apologise for any inconvenience to your journey.

16/12/2024 06:40 16/12/2024 06:40 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes
16/12/2024 07:15 16/12/2024 07:15 RedJet
Southampton T2 West Cowes
Southampton T2 West Cowes

cancelled due to limited crew availability. We apologise for any inconvenience to your journey.

16/12/2024 07:30 16/12/2024 07:30
Southampton T1 East Cowes
Southampton T1 East Cowes

Journey times: Red Jet 28 minutes, Vehicle Ferry 60 minutes, Freight Ferry 70 minutes.
Freight-only sailings have restricted capacity and are available for freight vehicles only. These sailings are not available to book online.

Real Time Ferry Service Status

Points of Interest

On both sides of the Solent, there’s lots to see and do whether you’re crossing for leisure, for work, or simply for a change of scenery. Explore points of interest on the Isle of Wight and in and around Southampton. 

Royal Pier Pavilion

Royal Pier Pavilion

This one’s easy to spot as you arrive at our Southampton ferry terminal, particularly at night when it’s lit up in purple lights! When Red Funnel was first formed, we ran a fleet of paddle steamers that operated excursions to destinations around the Island, and along the south coast. These departed from “Royal Pier”, and the impressive pavilion building is still in use as a restaurant.

Ocean Cruise Terminal

People walking on a ship

This striking landmark on Southampton’s waterfront is where you’ll find some of the world’s largest cruise ships docking. See if you can spot some of the famous Cunard and P&O Cruises vessels as you depart for the Island, and if you’re travelling in the late afternoon/early evening you might even get to sail alongside them as they depart Southampton for their global destinations.

Hythe Pier

Hythe Pier

The Hythe pier is difficult to miss, as at 640 metres in length, it’s the 7th longest in Britain. It is also the home of the world’s oldest working pier train, which links the village of Hythe and its marina to a small ferry that runs a regular service to the City of Southampton.

Netley Chapel

Netley Chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park

This striking chapel, on the eastern side of the river, is all that now remains of one of Britain’s first purpose-built hospitals. Constructed for veterans of the Crimean War, the original 220-acre site was the largest of its time but was demolished after a fire in 1966. The site is now open to the public as part of Royal Victoria Country Park.

Calshot Castle

Calshot Castle

The picturesque Calshot Castle was originally built by Henry VIII to defend the entrance to Southampton waters. As our ferry reaches the Solent, the castle is easily visible at the end of Calshot Spit, which extends from the west into the main waters, with Calshot beach and its long row of beach huts visible further along.

Columbine Building

East Cowes aerial image

The striking Columbine building on the East Cowes waterfront has been a central point of Island industry for many years. Starting with Saunders Roe, which was involved in everything from sea planes, hovercrafts, and rockets, and is currently home to Wight Shipyard, which built two of Red Funnel’s Red Jet fleet. When you spot the iconic Union Jack doors, you’ve arrived on the Island!

Other Red Funnel Ferries

Aerial Image of the ferry

Southampton’s waters and the Solent are always busy with shipping movements, not least with our very own Red Funnel fleet. At peak time we will often have our three vehicle ferries, two Hi-Speed passenger ferries, and our freight ferry all out on the water – so watch out for them, and don’t forget to give our other passengers and crew a customary wave!

Cowes Castle

West cowes

As you approach the Island and arrive at Cowes Harbour, you’ll see another of Henry VIII’s forts, Cowes Castle. The castle is now home and clubhouse to the Royal Yacht Squadron, whose Club organises yacht racing as a principal feature of the now globally famous Cowes Week regatta. Look carefully at the front and you might see the cannons that are used for starting races.

Customer Reviews

1 2 3 4 5
Very good service and it’s nice to be able to relax on your trip across the solant.
Fri, Dec 13 2024
1 2 3 4 5
Good service throughout!
Thu, Dec 12 2024
1 2 3 4 5
Efficient but expensive.
Thu, Dec 12 2024