Isle of Wight ferry with a baby
Three companies cross the Solent to the Isle of Wight: Wightlink (Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde, and Lymington to Yarmouth), Red Funnel (Southampton to East Cowes and West Cowes) and Hovertravel (the hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde). The crossings are short, there's no passport check, and babies travel free on all three. Here's what each operator says, with links so you can check.
Everything below comes from Wightlink's, Red Funnel's and Hovertravel's own websites, fare tables, FAQs and conditions, checked October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so check before you book.
Key facts
Short answer: Babies and children up to and including 4 travel free on Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel, but add them to your booking: Red Funnel says the number of infants in your car must match the booking, and Hovertravel may ask for proof of age at the gate. Crossings take from about 10 minutes on the hovercraft to about an hour on Red Funnel's car ferry. Wightlink and Red Funnel car ferries have baby changing, and by car you'll leave the vehicle during the crossing, so pack a changing bag for the passenger decks.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does my baby need a ticket? | No. All three operators let infants aged 0 to 4 travel free. Hovertravel and Red Funnel ask you to include them in the booking (Hovertravel family fares, Red Funnel passenger fares) |
| Which crossing is quickest? | Hovertravel's hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde takes about 10 minutes. Wightlink says its crossings take from 22 minutes, and Red Funnel's Red Jet takes about 30 minutes |
| Is there baby changing? | Yes on the car ferries: Wightlink says its vehicle ships and all its ports have toilets with baby changing, and Red Funnel lists baby changing on its vehicle ferries (Wightlink travel FAQs, Red Funnel onboard facilities) |
| Can I stay in the car with a sleeping baby? | Usually not. Wightlink says by law all passengers must leave their vehicles during the crossing, with exceptions only in extraordinary circumstances approved by the captain |
| Is there a luggage limit on foot? | Wightlink: no limit, but you must carry it yourself. Red Funnel: 2 suitcases and 1 piece of hand luggage per person. Hovertravel: 30 kg per passenger |
| How early do I check in on foot? | Wightlink 15 minutes, Red Funnel Red Jet 5 to 15 minutes, Hovertravel 10 minutes (at the gate by 5 minutes before) |
| Do we need passports? | No. The Isle of Wight is part of England, so there's no border check |
Routes and crossing times
| Operator | Route | Crossing time | Takes cars? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hovertravel | Southsea – Ryde | About 10 minutes | No, foot passengers only |
| Wightlink FastCat | Portsmouth Harbour – Ryde Pier Head | Not listed per route (see below) | No, foot passengers only |
| Wightlink | Portsmouth (Gunwharf) – Fishbourne | Not listed per route (see below) | Yes, plus foot passengers |
| Wightlink | Lymington – Yarmouth | Not listed per route (see below) | Yes, plus foot passengers |
| Red Funnel Red Jet | Southampton – West Cowes | About 30 minutes (28 minutes on its routes page) | No, foot passengers only |
| Red Funnel | Southampton – East Cowes | 60 minutes | Yes, plus foot passengers |
Wightlink says its crossings take from 22 minutes, but the pages we checked don't give a time for each route. Red Funnel's car ferry leaves every 60 minutes from March to October and every 90 minutes from November to February. Wightlink's published timetables show roughly hourly daytime sailings on all three of its routes, with extra FastCat sailings at busy times. Wightlink says some early-morning sailings have restricted passenger numbers, and foot passengers on Lymington–Yarmouth must book in advance.
If you're coming by train, Hovertravel runs a free Hoverbus from Portsmouth and Southsea station to its Southsea terminal if you show your rail ticket.
Fares for babies and families
Wightlink: 0 to 4 years old travel free on every foot and vehicle ticket in Wightlink's product rules. By car you pay for the vehicle, not the passengers, and up to seven people travel for one price. Wightlink's family foot ticket covers up to 5 people, with one or two adults and children aged 5 to 15. From 1 October to 31 December 2026, an off-peak family day return costs £69 to £70 depending on the route. Wightlink says family foot tickets can't be bought online in advance; buy them at the port.
Red Funnel: infants aged 0 to 4 don't need a ticket, and children under 12 must travel with a fare-paying adult. Its family day return (£48.90 from 3 January 2026) is for a party of 3 or 4 people, including at least one adult or senior and one child or infant. Red Funnel also sells a super off-peak day return (£14 an adult, from 10:55, when two or more travel together, except on a few peak dates), so compare the two before you buy. Its public car fares allow up to seven passengers in one vehicle.
Hovertravel: infants and babies up to and including 4 travel free, but you must select the "Infant 0-4" option when you book, and Hovertravel may ask for proof of age at the boarding gate. A Family Flyer day return (2 adults and up to 3 children aged 5 to 15) costs £70, or £65 if you book at least 48 hours ahead.
Pushchairs, luggage and the car deck
By car: you can leave luggage in the car, but Wightlink won't let passengers back on the car decks during the crossing, so take the changing bag, milk and anything else you need up with you. Wightlink says by law all passengers must leave their vehicles, so plan to lift your baby out of the car seat; a sling is easiest on the stairs. Red Funnel's car ferries have lifts to B Deck, and if anyone in your group can't manage the stairs, Red Funnel will try to park you near the lift (tell check-in staff). Red Funnel says priority loading doesn't include lift access.
On foot:
- Wightlink has no luggage limit, but staff can't carry bags for you. At Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde there's a wide gate for prams and pushchairs, and if you have children or infants on your ticket, staff check you in by hand at the gate.
- Red Funnel takes 2 suitcases and 1 piece of hand luggage per person. Luggage trolleys are available at the terminals but can't go on board.
- Hovertravel allows 30 kg of luggage per passenger. None of its pages we checked mention pushchairs, so ask when you book if yours doesn't fold small.
If you need extra help (for example with a heavy pushchair and more than one small child), Wightlink asks for notice at least 48 hours before you travel on its timetable pages (its foot ticket page says 24 hours). Its accessible travel help includes more space around your car to get a wheelchair or pram out of the boot, a space by the lift, and ramps for wheelchairs and prams. Accessible travel bookings can't also book Priority Boarding.
Babies on the hovercraft
Hovertravel's conditions of carriage say:
- infants travel free, up to two infants per adult; any more pay the child fare
- only one infant per adult can sit on a lap, and may be given a seat if one is free
- children aged 4 or over must have their own seat, so if your child is 4, check which ticket to book
- children under 7 must travel with someone aged 13 or over
- you need to be at the boarding gate 5 minutes before departure
Facilities on board and at the ports
| Wightlink | Red Funnel | Hovertravel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby changing | On vehicle ships and at all ports | On vehicle ferries | Not mentioned; accessible toilets and a Changing Places toilet at the terminals |
| Food | Wight Taste cafés on every car ferry and at the ports (not Yarmouth) | ReFuel café and Steam café bars on vehicle ferries, with children's favourites | Vending machines and a coffee machine at the terminals |
| For children | Lounges and outside sun decks | Bridge visits on vehicle ferries (ask at the Onboard Services Office on B Deck), visits from the mascot Captain Ted Funnel | A 10-minute hovercraft ride |
| Wi-Fi | Yes, as a guest | Free on the whole fleet | Free at the terminals |
Wightlink's FastCats have toilets, bike racks and a sun deck; its FAQs don't mention baby changing on them. Red Funnel's Red Jets have accessible toilets, and its pages don't mention baby changing on them either. If you're crossing on a foot-only boat, change your baby at the port first.
Check-in times
| Operator | By car | On foot |
|---|---|---|
| Wightlink | 30 to 60 minutes before | At least 15 minutes before (30 minutes with an accessible travel booking) |
| Red Funnel, Southampton Terminal 1 (East Cowes) | 30 to 45 minutes on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays; 30 to 60 minutes on other days | 10 to 60 minutes before |
| Red Funnel, Terminal 2 (Red Jet) | No cars | 5 to 15 minutes before |
| Hovertravel | No cars | Arrive 10 minutes before; at the gate by 5 minutes before |
Red Funnel says the number of adults, children and infants in your car must match your booking, or you may have to amend it and pay a fee.
Checklist before you sail
- Add your baby to the booking as an infant, even though under-5s are free.
- Compare family tickets with standard fares: Red Funnel's family day return counts an infant towards the 3 or 4 people.
- Book foot travel ahead on Wightlink's Lymington–Yarmouth route; it's required.
- By car, pack a changing bag for the passenger deck; you can't go back to the car.
- Bring a sling for the car-deck stairs, or ask to park near the lift.
- On a foot-only crossing (FastCat, Red Jet, hovercraft), change your baby at the port before you board.
- On the hovercraft, plan on one baby per adult lap, and bring proof of age.
- Check in on time: 15 minutes on foot with Wightlink, 30 minutes by car on every car ferry.
More pushchair rules, operator by operator, are in our pushchairs on trains and ferries guide. Staying at a holiday park on the island? Our holiday parks with a baby guide compares the big names.
Sources
- Wightlink: foot passenger tickets (prices from 1 October to 31 December 2026, infants 0 to 4 free, check-in), vehicle tickets (up to seven people per vehicle) and product rules (0 to 4 travel free, family foot ticket definition, vehicle check-in)
- Wightlink: travel FAQs (baby changing, luggage, leaving your vehicle, pushchair gates, accessible travel) and popular questions (arrival times)
- Wightlink: timetables (restricted sailings, advance booking on Lymington–Yarmouth, 48 hours' notice for assistance)
- Red Funnel: passenger fares to the Isle of Wight (from 3 January 2026; infants 0 to 4 need no ticket; family day return rules) and private vehicle fares
- Red Funnel: routes, Southampton to West Cowes and East Cowes to Southampton
- Red Funnel: onboard facilities, fun for kids and luggage and bicycles
- Red Funnel: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 check-in, and passenger assistance
- Hovertravel: Family Flyer fares (infants free with proof of age), on-the-day FAQs (crossing time, arrival, luggage, children), terminal facilities and terms and conditions (section 12, infants)
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Last checked and updated: · Kiddieko · How we check facts
