Can you get an earlier ferry than booked red funnel?

Yes it can. If arriving early and wishing to travel on an earlier sailing, a booking amendment fee of £5 is payable if you purchased a Saver ticket for this leg of your journey (does not apply to Flexible ticket holders). Additional charges may also apply if changing to a more expensive crossing.



Yes, in 2026 it is often possible to get an earlier ferry than you booked with Red Funnel, but it depends heavily on your ticket type and space availability. If you hold a Flexi Fare, you can usually change your sailing time for free, provided there is room on the earlier boat. If you have a Standard or Saver Fare, Red Funnel generally allows you to "stand by" for an earlier crossing at the terminal. If space is available, they will often let you board, though they may charge a small "amendment fee" or the difference in fare if the earlier sailing is in a more expensive time slot. For the Red Jet (Hi-Speed) foot passenger service, the process is even simpler; you can often just turn up and board the next available sailing, as many foot passenger tickets are valid for any crossing on the day of travel. In the busy 2026 summer months, however, space for vehicles on earlier sailings is rare, so it is best to check the Red Funnel app for real-time availability before arriving early at the Southampton or East Cowes terminals.

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Usually, the ticket that you purchase is only valid for the crossing you have booked. Some ferry companies allow you to change your departure time at the port, but this usually only happens if multiple ferry sailings are available per day.

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If you are running late and are likely to miss your ferry, we suggest proceeding to the port to see if the ferry company will allow you to change the ticket to a different day or departure time. Keep in mind that if you do miss your ferry, the tickets are non-refundable.

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One of the most fun parts of travelling is dining out – and your journey is no exception. Red Funnel's onboard restaurants feature delicious, carefully prepared dishes made with fresh local ingredients from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

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P&O Ferries advise that if you travelling by car, to arrive at the port 30 minutes before the ferry is due to leave. If you are making the trip by foot, they advise travellers to arrive 45 minutes before.

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Changes in the route, date, time, passenger numbers or vehicle type for non promotional fares will result in any increase in price from the original fare and the fare applicable on the day you make the amendment being charged plus an amendment fee. Flexi fares are available on our Dover-Dunkirk & Calais routes.

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If you arrive up to 2 hours after your scheduled sailing we will do our best to get you on the next available sailing, but you may have to wait some time. If you arrive over 2 hours after your scheduled sailing you can make a revision to your booking, subject to availability and costs, up to 23.59 the same day.

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All the Washington State ferries allow you to stay in your car. Being in a front car in bad weather can be interesting. All the car decks are open end to end, and the boats are double ended.

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No, you can't stay in your car during the ferry crossing between Dover and Calais. Once the vessel disembarks, you are not allowed to stay in the car parking deck for safety reasons. However, you can return to your car a few minutes before reaching the port of Calais, following the instructions of the crew.

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Do I need a passport when traveling on a ferry? The form of ID you'll need to travel on a ferry depends on the route and your own nationality. On most international routes you will need your passport to check-in, however there are exceptions to this.

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