Isle of Wight Ferries
We are thinking of going to Southlands on the Isle of Wight in June. Checking ferry prices it appears that Red Funnel is a lot cheaper. Can anyone give Pros & Cons as to Red Funnel or Wightlink
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Ferry prices go up and down according to the time of day. A package might work out well with the ferry included although I think the club offers some sort of separate ferry booking. Otherwise look out for offers on the ferry web sites. Motorhomes are at more of an advantage with early crossings and places to park up before sites open.
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I have been doing some research on this very subject recently. Without deals Wightlink seem to be about £260 and Red Funnel about £240 for the times I wanted to go. I was interested in the Waverley site at Cowes and they did a crossing for £118 for Red Funnel if you booked with the pitch. I imagine the Club should be able to do something similar for Southlands.
David
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As an born and bread islander, we have to get used to ferry fares.
We mostly use red funnel, but go over on a early ferry and back on a evening ferry, much cheaper than you are quoting on here, vehicle combination upto 13meters.
beware wightlink has cancelled lots of its sailing recently, and if you book through the cc club wightlink tells the club it has cancelled the ferry but the club does not pass that on at the weekend, they are looking into it., pays to check ferry status on wightlink website.
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Depends how long you wish to go for Lindakis. We did a 5 night trip with Red Funnel staying at The Orchard site for £151 all inclusive, although that was a few years ago. There may well be similar offers about now.
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Currently on Southlands. Absolutely a cracking site. Large pitches, immaculately maintained throughout. You have to love gardening and hedge cutting to be a Warden here, a real credit to those on site. First time here and a bit of trepidation about 'going abroad'. Ferry really, really easy.
However back to question. £114.00 paid in January for a returned caravan/car journey Southampton Cowes By Red Funnel on 12 o'clock ferry. Site fees for fourteen nights £247.00 for two of us. All arranged and book through Club.
Our arrival was on Thursday and despite the earlier advice of resurfacing the approach road being carried out in April, road was closed and we waited at the cross roads for three and a half hours before being allowed to cross the hot tar to the last section. Access and exit on Thursday was to say the least problematic but largely dealt with on an amiable and good natured approach. Still all in the past now.
Certainly will be returning in the future. Current fine weather is a bonus.
Really is a nice and attractive site.
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Been to Southlands many times lovely site cannot fault it, the ferry we always used and found much cheaper than others was the Red Funnel Southampton to Cowes when booked using the club booking service.
Booking the ferry via the club booking service made a significant reduction to the price compared to booking direct with Red Funnel
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We always find booking Wightlink through the club link offers the cheapest deal for us (50% on our Motorhome). Even the sites cant beat the price either with Wightlink or Red Funnel.
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It would be useful if you said how much you paid so a comparison could be made? Also was that with a site booking?
David
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Been via red funnel arranged by caravan club and they have always had discounted prices, we always stay at Southlands excellent site.
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You need to ring the club and get it from the horse's mouth, VV.
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We went with just the car in 2018, using Whitelink from Lymington. We used Tesco club card points which reduced the return crossing to a third of the full price, on the 3 for 1 deal. If you have clubcard points the offer is still shown as available on the Tesco club card website.
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Having done Red Funnel and Wightlink routes to Southlands,I found the route to the Wightlink terminal in Portsmouth to be the least straightforward.It involved getting snarled up in central Portsmouth traffic.The Red Funnel at Southampton seemed much more straightforward to me.To clarify please do not attribute my comments to the access to Brittany Ferries in Portsmouth which is very straightforward - we have used the Portsmouth/Le Havre route several times as it has dog friendly cabins.
Just my experience ,for what it is worth.
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