East Cowes – Southampton
Ferry to England
East Cowes – Southampton
Ferry to England
Ferries from East Cowes to Southampton are operated by 1 ferry company; Red Funnel. The journey usually takes around 1 hour. There are currently 116 weekly sailings on this ferry route. Prices start from as little as £39. Use our Deal Finder to compare prices and availability and book your ferry to Southampton today.
East Cowes Southampton ferry prices typically range between £39* and £199*. The average price is typically £124*. The cheapest East Cowes Southampton ferry prices start from £39*. The average price for a foot passenger is £39*. The average price for a car is £140*.
Pricing will vary depending on number of passengers, vehicle type, route and sailing times. Pricing is taken from searches over last 30 days and exclusive of service fees, last updated September 25.
You can easily find cheap ferry tickets with our Deal Finder. We recommend booking in advance to get the best possible prices and availability. You can also check out our Special Offers page for the latest deals on East Cowes ferries.
Are there any discounts available for senior citizens, students or residents?
Yes, Direct Ferries offers a wide range of discounts all year around. When searching for ferries, senior discounts will be automatically applied if they are available. Just select your age range from the passenger options.
Students and graduates can get a 5% discount on ferry tickets. To take advantage of the discount, you need to register with our partner Student Beans and confirm your student or graduate status. You will then receive a discount code which can be entered during the payment process.
Resident discounts are available on a variety of Spanish and Italian ferry routes. Just click on the "Residents" option when this is displayed in our Deal Finder. The discount is automatically applied to the price. Bear in mind that proof of registration or an identity card with the correct address must be shown at check-in.
The first East Cowes Southampton ferry typically departs from East Cowes at around 01:30. The last ferry usually departs at 23:30.
Yes, you can take a day trip between East Cowes and Southampton. Day trips from East Cowes to Southampton by ferry are very popular due to the short journey time and many daily crossings. If possible, taking a vehicle is also a good way to explore the surrounding area outside the harbour at your own pace.
Yes, Red Funnel ferries allow cars on board ferries between East Cowes and Southampton. Use our Deal Finder to get live pricing for car ferries between East Cowes and Southampton. You can also find the latest offers and cheap East Cowes Southampton ferry tickets on our Special Offers page & tips for the perfect journey on our blog.
Yes, it is possible to take a motorhome or caravan on the ferries between East Cowes and Southampton. For more information on travelling with caravan on ferries, use our Deal Finder or visit our blog.
Yes, you can bring a bicycle on a ferry from East Cowes to Southampton with Red Funnel. Most ferry companies allow bicycles on board, but it is always best to check policies regarding bringing bicycles on the ferry. View our Deal Finder for more information.
Yes, foot passengers can travel with Red Funnel ferries between East Cowes and Southampton.
Pets are currently not allowed on board the ferries from East Cowes to Southampton.
Use our Deal Finder to find out whether your preferred ferry is an overnight ferry. Here you can also find the current ferry timetables and crossing times. Please note that the duration of the night ferries is usually slightly longer than that of the day ferries.
It all depends on the ferry company you are travelling with. In general, we recommend arriving at the port at least 1 hour before departure. However, if you are travelling with a vehicle, it’s best to arrive 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours before departure to allow time for parking. Wherever you’re travelling from, you should allow plenty of time to get to the port in case of traffic.
If you are looking for accommodation near the Port of East Cowes before you travel, visit our Accommodation page for the best deals and prices.
It all depends on the size of the ship but disembarking the ferry can take around 15-45 minutes.
Book your ferry tickets online with Direct Ferries using our Deal Finder. Just enter your departure and arrival ports and the date you’d like to travel to see all available options and prices. You’ll also be able to view alternative routes and times, so you can find the best deal to suit you.
Look out for early booking discounts or special ticket options such as upgrades or flexi-tickets that allow you to change or cancel your booking. To make your sailing as smooth as possible, make sure you enter all the required information correctly, such as number of passengers and vehicle specifications.
Once you’ve finalised your booking, you’ll receive a confirmation email. It depends on the ferry operator you book with as to how your boarding pass is issued and collected.
Whilst some ferry operators issue the boarding pass as soon as your booking is confirmed, others may ask you to check in at the port. There’s also the option for online check-in, which can be easily done via the Direct Ferries app, if available.
The ticket desks are usually located near the ferry terminals. To avoid any delays at the port, we’d recommend allowing some extra time to collect your tickets and check-in.
During check-in, you must show your email confirmation, as well as an official photo ID, such as a passport or identity card. You might also be asked to provide documentation for your pet (vaccines, pet insurance etc.) or proof of residence, if you have booked your ticket with a resident discount.
There could be various reasons why there are no departures from East Cowes to Southampton for the date you’ve requested. For example, a temporary timetable change, limited availability or seasonal changes in the timetable.
We recommend checking for alternative dates. Our Deal Finder automatically compares the desired route with alternative routes and dates, offering up-to-date real time options, all in one place.
The best time to book ferries from East Cowes to Southampton is usually as early as possible. By booking in advance, you’ll not only get your tickets at the best available prices, but you’ll also get a better choice of departure times and cabin/seating options.
We’d recommend making your booking at least a few weeks in advance to benefit from the best offers. Bear in mind that prices may vary depending on the season and availability.
Travel requirements can vary depending on the route, so it's important to check what documents you'll need before sailing. In most cases, a valid passport is required when traveling from East Cowes to Southampton, along with any necessary visas or national ID cards. Requirements may differ based on your nationality and the destination country’s regulations. To avoid delays at check-in, you can find helpful information for your journey in our Check-in, Travel Documents & Tickets guide and in our blog post on tips and tricks for international travel.
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| East Cowes - Southampton Ferry Route summary | ||
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Isle of Wight | |
| Destination | England | |
| No. of Operators | 1 | |
| Operators | Red Funnel | |
| Average Price | £124 | |
| Average Daily Sailings | 17 | |
| Average Weekly Sailings | 116 | |
| Average Sailing Duration | 1 h | |
| Fastest Sailing Duration | 1 h | |
| First Ferry | 01:30 | |
| Last Ferry | 23:30 | |
| Distance | 11 Nautical Miles | |
* Prices subject to change, pricing is taken from last 30 days, last updated 1 September 2025.
At the northern tip of the Isle of Wight, Cowes is inextricably associated with sailing craft: Henry VIII built a castle here to defend the Solent's expanding naval dockyards from the French and Spanish, and in the 1950s the world's first hovercraft made its test runs here. In 1820 the Prince Regent's patronage of the yacht club gave the port its cachet with the Royal Yacht Squadron , now one of the world's most exclusive sailing clubs, permitted to fly the St George's Ensign guaranteeing free entry to all foreign ports. Only its three hundred members and their guests are permitted within the hallowed precincts of the club house in the remains of Henry VIII's castle, and the club's landing stage is sacrosanct. The first week of August sees the international yachting festival known as Cowes Week , which visiting royalty turns into a high-society gala, although most summer weekends see some form of yachting or powerboat racing.
A glance at the map gives some idea of the strategic maritime importance of Southampton, which stands on a triangular peninsula formed at the place where the rivers Itchen and Test flow into Southampton Water, an eight-mile inlet from the Solent. Sure enough, Southampton has figured in numerous stirring events: it witnessed the exodus of Henry V's Agincourt-bound army, the Pilgrim Fathers' departure in the Mayflower in 1620 and the maiden voyages of such ships as the Queen Mary and the Titanic.
The Second World War hit Southampton particularly hard, because of its strategic importance as the major industrial area on the South Coast. Pockets of Georgian architecture remain, but much of the city was levelled. The accuracy of the locally-based Ordnance Survey's maps did not go unrecognised by the Luftwaffe: the German bomber pilots used them to bomb Southampton.
