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Red Funnel Ferries Reviews 553

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.4

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 305 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the staff for being friendly, helpful, and efficient, especially in managing difficult situations and making travel easier for those with special needs. The booking process is frequently highlighted as simple and easy, with many appreciating the convenience of car registration recognition and the ability to get on earlier ferries when arriving ahead of schedule. Reviewers also commend the well-organized boarding and unloading procedures, noting that ferries generally run on time and provide a smooth experience. However, some customers expressed dissatisfaction with the pricing, finding it outrageous and not reflective of the service's value, especially for food on board. A few people also reported negative interactions with staff, describing them as rude or unhelpful, and noted issues with ferry delays or crowded conditions.

What people talk about most

Service

People report positive experiences with service, often highlighting the efficiency and helpfulness of the... See more

Staff

Reviewers mention positive feedback about staff, consistently describing them as friendly, helpful, and... See more

Booking process

Consumers find the booking process to be positive, describing it as easy, straightforward, and simple, with... See more

Price

Users describe ambiguous interactions with price, with many reviewers expressing dissatisfaction over what... See more

Location

Customers had ambiguous experiences with location, with some finding it easy to access and navigate, praising... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Red Funnel was very quick at responding to my enquiries they answererd in a easy to understand way & made me feel like I was valued as a customer. Everytime I contact Red Funnel or travel on there boa... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We travelled to the Isle of Wight recently with Red Funnel. The booking process was simple & entry at the ports was all done by car registration recognition so no worries about finding tickets etc. On... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Sailing on time. Dog lounge easily accessible. Good selection of food and beverages available. Having arrived earlier than expected on the return crossing from Cowes to Southampton we were offered ins... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Never had any issues with Red Funnel( so far), staff are always friendly, helpful & ferry always running to time ( used a several times in last few years) Yes this time going was strange as the la... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Ferry Service
  2. Holiday Accommodation Service

Written by the company

We are proud to be the original Isle of Wight Ferry, with over 164 years of experience sailing between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. We aim to deliver a First-Class customer experience from start to finish and operate more than 35 crossings a day. Use our easy online booking service to secure your Vehicle Ferry spot and step aboard to enjoy a range of facilities during your crossing. Customers can enjoy our premium Signature Lounge, pet-friendly lounge, licensed bar, café and retail shop plus outdoor sun decks before arriving at your destination in just 1-hour. Foot passengers can turn up and go via our Hi-Speed Red Jet service, arriving in just 30 minutes.

Discover the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel Ferries

Written by the company

Just 1-Hour from Southampton
Discover the wonderfully different Isle of Wight with Red Funnel Ferries. Set sail for sandy beaches, dramatic coastlines, rolling countryside, dazzling dark skies and charming villages; the Isle of Wight packs a lot of adventure and natural beauty into its modest size. Within an hour’s drive time, you can bask on 25 different beaches, visit more than 50 attractions, and experience the UK’s favourite Island holiday destination from end to end. Not only are we the original Isle of Wight Ferry, transporting visitors between Southampton and the Isle of Wight for over 164 years, but we also offer a fantastic selection of places to stay and visit, all bookable online via our website. Book your hotel, holiday park, cottage and your attraction tickets with us, and save on your ferry travel.

Contact info

4.4

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

553 reviews

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Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 88% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 2 weeks

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Lovely journey

Lovely journey - well organised and smooth

April 25, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very smooth boarding

Very smooth boarding, we were early so were told we can get on the earlier one which was very helpful, so no waiting around

April 24, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good service

Good service, kept informed throughout our journey

April 24, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great systems

Great systems. Professional colleagues. Great food on board.

May 1, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Efficient friendly service

Efficient friendly service, no issues

April 17, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Fast booking

Fast booking, fair pricing and good customer service

March 5, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A very smoot boarding on the way out to…

A very smoot boarding on the way out to a wedding. Return journey also excellent as boarded an earlier ferry at 5 minutes notice.

Staff very polite

April 23, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Speedy check-in

Speedy check-in, well organised boarding & on-time departure/arrival.

April 23, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Simple booking process & easy boarding

We travelled to the Isle of Wight recently with Red Funnel. The booking process was simple & entry at the ports was all done by car registration recognition so no worries about finding tickets etc. On both journeys we arrived early & were able to get on an earlier crossing (it helped that we were travelling out of peak holiday season). We were boarded quickly, the crossings were good & calm. They had a dedicated deck & lounge area for dogs which was good.

April 28, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your crossing with us, and we hope to welcome you back on board again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Easy to transfer our booking to an earlier ferry

We arrived 4 hours early at Southampton, and were easily transferred to an earlier ferry than the original one we had booked. The whole experience was a pleasure. The staff member at the arrival kiosk who re-booked for us was very pleasant, helpful, and welcoming.

April 10, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thanks for your kind review. We are delighted to hear that your colleague at check-in was helpful and welcoming, and it's great to hear you were able to travel earlier!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I always choose Red Funnel from…

I always choose Red Funnel from Southampton.
Quick efficient and helpful.
And the Bonus, if I book somewhere to visit on the Island, I get a discount on my ferry charge
Can't be bad and I have an hour to chill or sleep before my next drive! 😂

April 13, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your review, its great to hear you always choose to travel with us! We hope to welcome you back on board again soon.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Check in very smooth

Check in very smooth. Ferry left on time. Comfortable seating area (coffee rather expensive though!). Disembarkation smooth and efficient.

April 29, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback. We are pleased to hear that your journey with us was smooth. I shall ensure your comments regarding coffee pricing are reviewed by the appropriate team.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Friendly staff, easy boarding

Friendly staff, easy process. The issue on the way back was that there had been a delay due to an incident on the ferry before and so we waited a while and there was no communication about why or what until we were on the next ferry which is why I take a star off.

April 6, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review. On April 10th, a medical emergency unfolded on board the Red Eagle, which required the vessel to remain in East Cowes until the emergency services arrived. Unfortunately, this resulted in a delay to the Red Eagle's departure and had a knock-on effect on neighbouring sailings. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this caused to your onward journey.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We were travelling from East Cowes last…

We were travelling from East Cowes last week when there was a serious incident in Southampton and all sailings were suspended. Within just over an hour a plan had been decided on and we were able to travel to the mainland and leave the port area via a totally different route. We were very impressed. Thank you.

April 24, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your positive review. We are pleased you were able to travel despite the incident in Southampton and apologise for any inconvenience this caused to your onward journey.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very easy and smooth crossing

Very easy and smooth crossing. Efficient staff, clean facilities.

April 23, 2026
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Reply from Red Funnel Ferries

Thank you for your feedback - we hope to welcome you back on board again soon!

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