Compare ferry-inclusive holiday packages from Red Funnel and Wightlink. Save hundreds vs booking separately — return car crossings from as little as £45.
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Best right now
Shorefield Country Park
4 nights on-park + return car ferry included. Sleeps 6. Dogs welcome.
Ferry price in bundle
✓ £165 saving vs booking separately
Nodes Point Holiday Park
3 nights at Nodes Point + FastCat foot passenger return included.
Ferry price in bundle
✓ Ferry included in stay price
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
7 nights at Whitecliff Bay + return car ferry. Sept–Oct dates available.
Ferry price in bundle
✓ £141 saving vs rack rate
* WightAway earns a small commission when you book via our links, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change — always verify on operator sites.
Side by side
Both operators run official holiday packages where the ferry is bundled in — often at a fraction of the open-market fare. Here's how they stack up.
| Feature | Red Funnel | Wightlink |
|---|---|---|
| Car ferry routes | Southampton → Cowes, Southampton → East Cowes | Lymington → Yarmouth, Portsmouth → Fishbourne |
| Foot passenger / FastCat | Yes – Southampton ↔ West Cowes (35 min) | Yes – Portsmouth ↔ Ryde (22 min, fastest) |
| Crossing time (car) | 55–65 min | 35–45 min (Portsmouth route) |
| Holiday park bundles | Shorefield, Whitecliff Bay, Nodes Point | Nodes Point, Whitecliff Bay, Haven parks |
| Bundle ferry price | From £45 return (car) | From £49 return (car) |
| Off-peak discounts | ||
| Pets on board | ||
| Live departure boards | ||
| Booking.com integration | ||
| App-only fares | ||
| Affiliate program |
Price intelligence
Car ferry prices can swing from £45 to £200+ return depending on when you travel. Here's the pattern across the year.
Post-Christmas lull. Foot fares often sub-£20 return.
Half-term week spikes mid-month. Book early.
Easter variability. Early bookers win.
Easter holidays push car fares up sharply.
Bank holidays raise demand. Mid-May sweet spot.
Before school holidays. Good bundle availability.
School summer hols begin. Book 3+ months ahead.
Highest fares of the year. Bundles sell out fast.
Post-school drop. Excellent value for couples.
Half-term aside, great deals. Isle of Wight Walking Festival.
Quietest month. Bundles at lowest recorded prices.
Christmas week peaks. Early Dec is great value.
💡 Pro tip from our tracking
Holiday park bundles lock in the ferry fare when you book the accommodation — even if you travel in peak season. A bundle booked in November for August can secure a £45 return car crossing that'd cost £200+ booked on its own. Book the bundle early.
From the blog
We've tracked every bundle across both operators this season. Here are the 7 deals worth booking right now — ranked by total saving.
We ran the numbers on a typical family of 4 + car across both operators. The answer surprised us — and it depends on which part of the island you're staying.
Wightlink claims app fares save up to 20%. We tested it across 30 departure slots over two months. Here's when it's worth it and when it isn't.