Isle of Wight ferry

pearl123

Hi, I'm going from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. Can you tell me do the ferry's ever get fully book. Should I book way in advance or is it ok to book close to the time? I've never been before so I thought I'd better check.
Thanks.

System

i guess it depends on when you want to go , ive just booked for june 2nd and its cost me £194 [return]

pearl123

CHRISSYG wrote: »

i guess it depends on when you want to go , ive just booked for june 2nd and its cost me £194 [return]

How much! :eek: I'm shocked. Was that price for a car? The last time I looked about a month ago my ferry was going to cost £100 return which is why I wanted to delay spending the money.

rochja

Do you need the car over there? You can turn up and travel on the day as a foot passenger from Southampton, Lymington and I think, Portsmouth

Ich_2

What? The last time I went (June 2011) it cost about £60 return for car & 4 passengers.
Try varying the time of travel and the day. For Saturdays afternoon travel is often cheaper

pearl123

Yes... I'm afraid I do need to take the car. The OH would refuse to go without it! I've just had a look and mine will work out at about £110 return. From Portsmouth to Lymington.

Does one need to book way in advance or can it be done about a month before going? I won't be going on a Bank Holiday or School holiday.

kandyfloss

Book as early as you can as the best sailing times will all be taken for the dates you want and you might end up with a crossing over to Wight as quiet late in the day and the same for coming back.

We made the mistake one year of letting the campsite pick the ferry times and we ended up with a 5pm homeward bound crossing so didn't get home until the early hours of the morning so it made it a long day.

In the past we have stated the times we want to travel and as we have booked {through the campsite}quiet early in the year have got the times we have wanted and then have turned up at the ferry terminal at Portsmouth early and have been allowed onto an earlier ferry so was able to get pitched and out for a nice walk before the end of the day.

They say the Ferry crossings over to White are the most expensive in the country compared to all the others but as it is part of our holiday pay the prices,although one year we went over on a Friday evening on a 11pm crossing I think it was and it turned out a lot cheaper.It has been three years since we last went over so can't remember the exact price we paid as we have a car and caravan.Also if you did midweek crossings as opposed to weekend crossings then it worked out cheaper but not sure if you can travel midweek.

I think you used to be able to use the Tesco's clubcard vouchers to pay for the crossings with Wightlink but not sure if you can still do that.

Good Luck and I hope you have a fantastic time as it is truly a beautiful island to visit:)

pearl123

kandyfloss wrote: »

Book as early as you can as the best sailing times will all be taken for the dates you want and you might end up with a crossing over to Wight as quiet late in the day and the same for coming back.:)

Thank you.

samboette

We only went across for the day so the ferry was relatively inexpensive. I find those prices really expensive, considering you're only on the boat for approximately an hour.

Not related however, be careful with your car tyres. We took our normal car across and found the roads there to be in a shocking state, when we got back to the mainland my OH checked the tyres before the journey home and they were in a terrible state with chunks taken out of them, one was damaged quite significantly so before we headed we had to have 2 new tyres put on the car. Sadly our Range Rover was in the garage so had to take the car, turned out to be an expensive weekend away.

System

its bank hol weekend when we are going so im guessing they have put the priced up !

dazzer68

We went last year for a week, we booked two day returns, it was alot cheaper!
One going over, but didnt come back, then on last day didnt use the coming over part, just went back ! Lol hope that majes sense! Its the most expensive ferry journey in the world!