Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

Jennifer Kozyra
11 minutes ago
4 min read

The Wightlink ferry is the link between mainland England and the Isle of Wight, carrying passengers, cars and everything you need for your island adventure across the Solent. With regular sailings from Portsmouth to Fishbourne.

🚢 For us, the ferry is so much more than just a way of getting there, it’s where our holiday starts. From the moment we park up in Portsmouth and drive onto the ferry, it already feels like we’re on holiday. We love getting out on deck to watch the mainland disappear behind us, grabbing a drink from the café and taking in the sea views before arriving on the island, excited and ready for our adventure. There’s something about that crossing that makes you feel like you’ve properly left home, and travelled to somewhere exotic.

Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

Top Info

📅 Runs daily from morning to evening

🚗 Car passenger

👣 Foot passengers

💰 Pre Book in advance to save money

⏰️ Arrive at your correct time

🐕 Dog friendly

☕️ Cafes on board

🤫 Quiet rooms on board

🛝 Small soft play area

🚻 Toilets & baby changing

📱 Free Wi-Fi

♿️ Accessible facilities

🪑 Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating

https://www.wightlink.co.uk

🚢 Routes

- Portsmouth to Fishbourne

- Lymington to Yarmouth

- Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head (FastCat for foot passengers)

⏰️ Crossing Times

* Portsmouth to Fishbourne – approximately 45 minutes

* Lymington to Yarmouth – approximately 40 minutes

* Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde – approximately 22 minutes

Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

😃 Our Family Experience

We travelled on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route as part of our family holiday to the Isle of Wight, and the whole experience was incredibly smooth from start to finish.

This was particularly important for us as we were a large family of 10, travelling with three cars, including two elderly grandparents with mobility issues. So, anything that made the journey easy and stress-free was a huge bonus.

Portsmouth Terminal
Portsmouth Terminal
Portsmouth Terminal

When we arrived at the check-in booth, the cameras scanned our number plate and them addressing my husband by name. Our details were checked in less than a minute before we were directed to a numbered lane to wait for the ferry.

As we had arrived early, we had plenty of time to leave the cars and head into the ferry terminal, where there’s a café and shop for grabbing a drink or a light snack while we waited. There’s also a viewing balcony, which meant we could watch our ferry arrive and unload something the kids and even the adults found very exciting.

on board Wightlink
on board Wightlink
on board Wightlink

Time to Board 🚢

Once it was time to board, we headed back to the cars and excitedly drove onto the ferry. The whole process was really slick, with marshals guiding everyone into position, and the cars are cleverly packed across two levels.

Once we'd parked, we headed upstairs while the ferry prepared to leave.

The kids loved watching us pull away from the mainland, so we spent quite a bit of time outside on deck, taking in the views and enjoying the sea breeze. You can move between the different levels and walk from the front to the back of the ferry, so there are plenty of opportunities to take in the views as you cross the Solent.

Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

Once we’d watched the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth disappear into the distance, we headed inside for a coffee, cheeky beer and got a snack for the kids from the café and found a seat by the window.

The grandparents particularly appreciated the comfortable seating, plenty of handrails to help them move around and the fact they could sit down with a coffee to enjoy the crossing.

cafe on Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
cafe on Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

The 45-minute crossing actually went surprisingly quickly. It gave us a chance to all relax together, play a few card games and chat about what we had planned for the week ahead.

And for my husband, who was driving, it really breaks up the journey. Instead of everyone being strapped into the car for the whole trip, you can get out, stretch your legs and actually enjoy being on the water.

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the cars and drive off the ferry onto the Isle of Wight, ready for our holiday to begin.

Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries

We’ve now travelled to the Isle of Wight five times and every time we’ve used the Wightlink Ferry. It’s always been straightforward and comfortable, and for us, the ferry crossing has become part of the holiday rather than just a way of getting there.

Coming Home

The return journey was just as comfy and well organised but just a little sad as it was time for the end of our holiday. Fishbourne has the same layout as Portsmouth but just a little smaller. With a cafe, toilets and viewing area while you wait for your ferry loading time.