Redjet runs a good service but costs too much (Red Funnel)

Member Name: LucyRuth

Product:	Red Funnel
Date:	23/12/08 (47 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Redjet runs frequently, reliably and the crossing time is only 22 minutes

Disadvantages: High cost, car ferry can run late and be overcrowded

As most of my family live in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, I'm a frequent user of Red Funnel, which runs between Southampton and West Cowes (Foot passengers) and Southampton and East Cowes (Car Ferry).

Because I live quite close to the terminal in Southampton and my parents live close to terminal on the Island I tend to get the Redjet as a foot passenger. I have one main complaint about the service and that is the price. It currently costs me £17.60 for a day return which I think is pretty steep for a journey that takes little over 20 minutes each way.

The service is frequent- every half an hour throughout the day, and redjets run until around 11pm most nights. However another grumble from me is that there are no boats on Christmas Day, meaning that I haven't been able to visit my family on Christmas Day since we moved to Southampton. Having said that it also means that the mother in law can't get overe here Christmas Day so 'every cloud...' and all that (joke)!

I think I've been lucky with the service received when travelling by Redjet as I've found that they are almost always running on time. I've been less lucky with the car ferries, which are quite often running late, over crowded or cancelled. I guess that getting hundreds of cars, passengers, numerous coaches and lorries etc onto a ferry in a short turnaround must be a logistical nightmare, but when you've paid a high fare you expect things to run on time.

Summary: It is an expensive stretch of water to cross