Ferry to Isle of Wight with ASD DD - any tips?

[FFSFSFFS]

We are planning a trip to the IoW in autumn. Travelling midweek which I hope will help.

I'm wondering if anyone can help with some tips for managing DD (13). She struggles with too much noise and crowds although we can probably help her to regulate herself if we can find somewhere to sit where she won't get bumped. She does, however, struggle with the sound of babies and small children crying.

She will have her ear defenders and we will do lots of prep work with her, but I wondered if anyone could advise if Wightlink or Red Funnel might be a better option?

Usually we would travel super early to avoid the crowds but it doesn't look like it would be possible this time - we will have to travel in the middle of the day - peak time - because we can't get into the holiday cottage early and she'll struggle with lots of hanging around at the other end.

We usually do holidays that take us through the tunnel as much easier just sitting in the car for 30 minutes, but I thought we'd try something else this time as feel a little as though DS misses out (getting on a plane is out of the question).

Any advice gratefully received.

The ferry was quite busy & cramped when we travelled, so I wouldn’t recommend it really. If it’s rough, there will be children crying/throwing up.

Red Funnel has a club class "Signature Lounge" on the Southampton ferries that seems to be less crowded that the main area. Might be worth paying a bit extra for that.

Not the same issue I know but DW is in a wheelchair and we have always found Red Funnel very good at making arrangements for her, boarding early etc.

Will you be travelling by car on the ferry? Could you stay in the car instead whilst on the Ferry?

I use Wightlink fairly regularly. Even at peak times in summer they aren't too crowded in the passenger areas and the seating is well spaced out in small groups round tables. But it gets very busy in the stairwells going up and down to the cars. Going up you can wait in the car for a bit till the others around you have gone up then it's quieter. Going down is tricky though as they announce it's time and everyone heads to the stairs at once. It might be a good idea to contact them and ask if you can be allowed to go back down before the announcement. That's another thing, they do a test of the alarms as you set sail which ear defenders would be good for.

We did wightlink early July one year and sat outside both sailings. My young kids were the only ones on deck (would have been 7 and 4 at the time) and I think it was quiet. Can't really comment on the interior.

When we returned to Portsmouth, they let my mil who struggles with movement down to the car ahead of everyone else.

You can't stay in the car on the ferry as suggested by PP. you could also consider travelling really out of hours if you are worried... a night ferry may suit better if you are looking to avoid small children. Also running up to the deck asap and even asking if you can be let on first may help if you explain when you arrive at the terminal... run up and sit at the front and look at the view, meaning it's less obvious who is around you. As others have said another option is be on the open deck upstairs but not fun if it's raining! Have a lovely time, the IOW is beautiful.

Thank you all. Some good ideas. I will look into the Signature Lounge for DD and myself and then see if I can talk to them about perhaps using the stairwells early or later than others. Looks like Red Funnel might be the better ones to try on this occasion.

We travelled with Wightlink last autumn and it was not crowded (we went mid week during term time which probably made a difference). There is a little darkened room/area on the ferry that shows a film for children (but was empty whenever I looked in as most were in the link soft play bit!) so you could head to that bit. Also agree that out on the deck would be quite calm. However we didn’t find it crowded inside either but if we went at a weekend we may well have!

The only time I've known it to be mega busy is mid summer on a weekend. I have NEVER in 40 years known anyone to throw up on the Isle of Wight ferry.

Maybe worth considering that Lymington - Yarmouth is only a 20 minute crossing (wightlink) whereas Southampton to Cowes is an hour. (Red Funnel). The wightlink ferries are smaller, and sitting outside might be a better option as other posters have mentioned. I'm sure if you contact either red funnel or wightlink beforehand they'll accommodate you as best they can. I've always found both to be really helpful.

Thanks everyone. Just to update for anyone else thinking of travelling with a ND child - I got in touch with Red Funnel and they got back to me with a range of accessibility options. I was so impressed.

Wightlink have made it slightly trickier - there's no email address and to complete their enquiry form I already have to have a booking. Which I won't do until I know what our options are.

I think to be fair we will just travel with Red Funnel as I can already feel my stress levels lowering!

I have used Wightlink with ASD teens in high season. But we always travelled early between 6.30-8am and it was never too busy. That was from Portsmouth to Fishbourne

I’ve never known anyone to throw up on one either, or for it to be even remotely choppy in summer (or winter for that matter, maybe we’ve been lucky). Glad to hear Red Funnel have been helpful.

There is a phone number for Wightlink. As pp said the Red Funnel ferry from Southampton takes roughly an hour and sometimes more if there are delays. The Portsmouth and Lymington Wightlink crossings are both shorter, which may be an issue for you and your daughter.

If you want to go with Wightlink 0800 093 8236 for the Assisted Travel line and tell them you are thinking of making a booking but have questions.

But I would have thought in the middle of the week in Autumn it won't be too bad crowds-wise on any of them. I used to live there.

Red funnel has been empty the last 3 times I've used it around 9-10pm

You’re not allowed to stay in the car. The Red Funnel Signature lounge is your best bet.

RF from Soton is the longest crossing. The Signature Lounge is very quiet but only available to people aged 12 and upwards. I would recommend this as the most peaceful way to cross the solent. You do have to pay extra per person for this.

All the car ferries are noisy, what with announcements and the car alarms going off constantly. You are not permitted to stay in your car for the crossing either.

Other options are the hovercraft or the catamarans, both much faster but you can't take a car. They are foot passengers only.

Fingers crossed that your DC will be so enthralled with the actual journey that they aren't distressed! And let them know that the journey to the Island is definitely worth it!

I'm baffled by the pp who said people might be throwing up! I must have done this journey 200 times and I've never seen one person throw up!

It can be a little crowded if you are really peak time on a school holiday day but even then it's really not too bad.

Def good advice to ask them if they'll let you go earlier/later back to your car as there is always a slow-moving queue back down the steps and they are narrow which your DD may not like.

@eyespartyparty is correct - you can pay for priority boarding and I've never seen anyone throw up on my many hundreds of crossings either!

Hi, can you explain what options they've given you please?

The ferries on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route are bigger, if you get a newer one (it tells you on booking so you can choose) there are loads of different seating options. Red Funnel always feels more crowded to me. Up on deck can be quieter if weather is ok.

In all my years of travelling on the various ferries, for commuting and social, I have never seen a person throw up. Bar one, the only rough journeys I had were on the red jet. And the only time they have been very busy is in the summer, especially when there are lots of coaches.

Can you call Wight Link? We have always found them very helpful

Glad to hear you feel okay OP after speaking with Red Funnel.

One possible suggestion is that if there are two parents / adults travelling that one takes DD on the Redjet. It's a fast passenger ferry only and tends to be not as noisy or busy as the car ferry and the other can go with the car then pick you up in Cowes where the Redjet comes in. Only thing is that the Redjet has a very loud announcement system. (So does the car ferry though). It takes about 30 minutes travel time

15 DS adhd, autism and touretts. We found instead of ear defenders that muffle the noise, that music helps him. He's also a bolter if babies cry so we always put bright footwear on him so if he bolts we bend down and can see him, although now 6ft2in so probably don't need to. A lanyard or similar saying hidden disability helps if he starts shouting randomly. Good luck and enjoy

I haven't been on the hovercraft for about 20 years but I remember them being very noisy and you are confined to your seat in a row. They are very fast though.

The hovercraft is still really noisy. I hate it. And bumpy.

The Redjet though from Southampton to Cowes is pretty spacious and much quieter.

Just to add the ferry is incredibly noisy with car alarms going off, loudspeaker announcement and when embarking / disembarking.