FAQ - Before You Travel

Up to every 30 minutes at peak times. Click this link to view our timetables

Take a look in the Tickets & Prices section of the website for prices, or you can get a quote from our online booking system.

Prices vary by day and time of scheduled sailing.

Yes, special rates are available for groups. Please contact us for details.

We recommend you book as early as possible to guarantee a space. Reservations for bicycles are not required. These are carried by all services, space permitting, free of charge.  

Advance reservations for cars and motorcycles should be made for all sailings and are essential for travel at Christmas, Easter and summer weekends. Bookings cannot be made within two hours of sailing.

You are advised to make full payment for your reservation at the time of booking to benefit from the advance booking discounted fares unless you already hold a valid ticket for your date and time of travel. You are required to make full payment for your reservation at the time of booking if travelling on peak sailings.

Foot passengers are not required to book, however buying your ticket in advance online will save having to queue at the ticket office on the day.

Yes, have a look in the Special Offers section of our website or subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date.

Children's rates apply to those between 5 and 15 (inclusive). Children under 5 travel free of charge.

Wightlink are unable to assign staff to look after young persons aged under 12 travelling alone on our vessels, and it is the responsibility of the child's parents/guardian to make the necessary arrangements for an adult to accompany that child/children. In order to assist parents/guardians with this matter we have a system whereby, subject to certain conditions being met, an escorting adult may travel on consecutive sailings for a special rate. Ask at the Ticket Office for details (you will need a passort sized photo to apply).

Yes, we accept Tesco Clubcard Deals tokens for bookings made at least 2 weeks in advance of travel via our call centre.

Unfortunately, we can not accept these vouchers for bookings made online or at the port.

Yes, our ticket offices will accept national bus tokens.

 To change your booked crossings you need to contact us as soon as possible quoting your booking reference number.

All alterations requested by you to a booking or reservation are subject to availability and terms and conditions. For "Fully Flexible" fares we will not charge you for any alteration though additional fare may be payable.  For other ticket types the first alteration to a booking will incur no charge. Any second or subsequent changes will incur a £5 administration charge. If the change results in an excess payment that is greater that £5 the admin charge will be waived.

Please give us a call to update your booking with the new registration number. If it is a different type of vehicle or is larger than the original one there may be a supplement to pay, our Reservations Agents will be able to advise you when you call.

Cancellation by You – If you wish to cancel your booking or reservation after we have confirmed it, you should tell us as soon as possible and in any case at least 24 hours before the date of departure. 

You should contact us by telephoning the Call Centre on 0871 376 4342 (calls cost 7p per minute plus network extras); by email here or by writing to Wightlink.  If you cancel, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee on the scale seen below;

• "Fully Flexible" Tickets: £5.00
• "Off Peak" Tickets; More than 7 days before outward sailing date: £10.00. Between 7 days and 24 hours in advance of outward sailing date: £20.00
• "Super Saver" or Promotional Tickets: No refunds will be given  

Please note: Refunds will not be considered on bookings that a customer has failed to cancel; on part-used tickets; or on "Super Saver"/special offers/promotional fares.

Please contact our Reservations Office as soon as possible before travelling to report any lost, stolen or destroyed tickets. Wightlink cannot undertake to replace or refund the value of tickets lost, stolen or destroyed.

No, passports are not required to travel to or from the Isle of Wight as it is part of the United Kingdom.

Yes, dogs travel free onboard our ferries - there is no need to book them.

Wightlink are unable to provide kennels or cages. All animals must be secured in a suitable container or restrained in the appropriate manner. Motorists may keep their animals in the car during the crossing, or take them onto outside deck or designated lounge on board. However, they are not allowed in the passenger refreshment lounges (except guide dogs).

It is the dog owner's responsibility to ensure the animal behaves in an appropriate manner and does not cause distress or inconvenience to other passengers.

For security reasons, we cannot accept vehicles unless the driver accompanies them.

Yes, Multilink tickets can be used on either route and in any direction.

Multilink tickets are valid only for the vehicle registration numbers shown on them. If you have changed your car take the whole book of remaining tickets to the Ticket Office and ask for the details to be changed. An administration fee will be charged for this.

Check the Travel Updates page in the Travel Information section of this website, where disruptions or delays that we are made aware of in advance will be displayed.

Our ships are limited in what they can take by the IMDG Code. Some Dangerous Goods can only be carried on certain sailings, please contact us for further details at least 24 hours before travelling.

If you are unsure whether something you plan to take with you is classed as dangerous please contact us for advice BEFORE travelling. Arriving at the port with undeclared dangerous goods may result in refusal of shipment.

Bicycles can be carried on free of charge when the rider buys a foot passenger ticket. Space on the catamaran is limited.

Through tickets are available from any Railway Station to Yarmouth, Ryde and other Island Line desinations. Yarmouth and Ryde Pier Head also sell through tickets to mainland destinations.

Railcard discounts are available when you purchase a through Rail/Sea ticket only. This can be from any Railway Station, or the Wightlink Ticket office at Ryde or Yarmouth for mainland destinations and Portsmouth Harbour Station for Island Line destinations.

No discounts are given for sea only journeys.

Regular travellers can benefit from reduced travel by buying books of tickets in advance, please enquire at our Ticket Offices. Season tickets are also available - see the Tickets & Prices section.

On the Catamaran service customers may take up to three items of personal luggage free of charge, this includes two large items (such as suitcases or rucksacks) and an item of smaller hand luggage (such as a briefcase).

Excess luggage and certain more bulky items (such as skis) may be carried, subject to available space, at an extra charge. 

We do offer a luggage cage service on car ferry routes for much bulkier items, and large quantities of luggage from groups & school parties who are travelling without a vehicle. Please contact us for details and charges.

Yes the Portsmouth-Ryde service does have a parcels service. Parcels are charged according to weight and size, and subject to security search.

Tickets booked more than 7 days before travel will normally be posted. Inside 7 days you can collect them from the ticket office on the day of travel by presenting your booking confirmation or reference number.

Some tickets, including those booked through some agents, or those that require you to show eligibility (for example a Wightlink Disabled Travel Scheme card) will be held at the port regardless of when you book.

For a guide to vehicle types, click here.