Ferry travel is a great start and finish to any holiday, with 81% of ferry passengers rating their experience as good or very good in 2023*. Whether you are looking to book a large group, a school trip or a bespoke boutique offering for couples or families, we have the ferry best trade partners.
Find out more about why your clients will love ferry travel with our TTG Spotlight video.
There are over 80 ferry routes across the UK, Ireland and British Isles, offering a range of ferry services. Ferries love coaches and will welcome your coach groups on board. Your clients will love travelling by ferry because:
- It’s a relaxing and convenient way to travel.
- They can bring their own vehicle and as much luggage as they want.
- They can take advantage of onboard facilities such as lounges, restaurants, shops and even cinemas and en-suite cabins on the larger cruise ferries.
- Passengers can spot marinelife and birdlife while on board
For the passenger ferry services day trip tickets and longer-stay tickets can be packaged up with hotel stays and attraction visits in destinations such as London, the Isles of Scilly, Scotland’s west coast islands and peninsulas and the Isle of Wight.
*Annual Ferry Survey, IRN Ferry
Which clients are a ferry fit?
We think ferry travel is for everyone, however their are certain clients who will love it even more.
- Tourers and adverturers who want to explore when they get to their destination
- Families where value for money is important. Luggage can be packed in the car and there are no hidden extra costs
- Customers looking for a more sustainable way of travelling or an alternative to flying
- Customers with accessibility requirements which make ferry travel an easier travel option
- Customers looking for a unique experience while on holiday such as a ride on a hovercraft, a day trip to an island or a more scenic way of seeing London
Ferry operators with trade partnerships
Many of our ferry members have tailored pricing and packages for trade partners including Brittany Ferries, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), DFDS, Irish Ferries, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Isles of Scilly Travel, P&O Ferries, Red Funnel, Stena Line and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
Please see below for guidance on what routes are available and how to book: UK & British Islands: Caledonian MacBrayne, Hovertravel, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Isles of Scilly Travel, Red Funnel, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, Wightlink. Ireland: Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Stena Line Europe and the Channel Isles: Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries, P&O Ferries, Stena Line.
UK and British Islands
Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac Ferries) – Whether you want to take in the breath-taking scenery of the Scottish highlands, become a surfing legend in Tiree, visit the magical fairy pools on the Isle of Skye or enjoy the serenity of the Abbey in Iona we have something for everyone and it’s only a boat away!
Click here for CalMac’s trade site, featuring product information and Trade FAQs
Hovertravel provides the fastest Isle of Wight ferry route across the Solent and is the world’s only year round passenger hovercraft service. This passenger ferry service takes you directly to the shore at Southsea or Ryde in just 10 minutes. Hovertravel can provide day trips or holiday transfers for groups to and from the Isle of Wight and also offer the HoverExperience, a unforgettable day where you can meet the pilot and have a tour of the hovercraft.
Hovertravel group information
Isles of Scilly Travel – Giving travellers a unique perspective of some of Cornwall’s most iconic coastline, the Isles of Scilly Travel operates a seasonal service between Penzance and St Mary’s. Ideal for both day trips over the Isles or for longer stays, this is a gem of a route.
Isles of Scilly Travel trade partners/ group bookings
Download the Isles of Scilly Travel Group brochure IOST-Group-Brochure
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company – One of the oldest continually operating passenger shipping companies in the world, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company now operates both conventional and fast craft ferry services. They operate year-round sailings between the Isle of Man and Heysham in Lancashire, as well as seasonal services to Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company partners with group organisers and coach operators for both package holiday bookings as well as ferry services only across all its routes.
For more information on deals and bookings, contact: groups@steam-packet.com
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight Ferry service, with their terminal located at Southampton. They operate over 35 ferries to the Isle of Wight every day, with crossing times as short as 23 minutes for their Hi-Speed Service.
Red Funnel offer a wide range of services to tourism businesses who would like to package accommodation with ferry travel, find out more here or contact sales@redfunnel.co.uk
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers – London’s fastest and most frequent fleet of boats have a number of products that are available for partners to book, including the popular River Roamer tickets.
Ideal for a day of sightseeing and visiting London’s sights, River Roamer tickets are valid for passengers to hop on and off between 24 piers, including North Greenwich for The O2, Greenwich, Tower, London Eye, Westminster and Battersea.
Contact Uber Boat by Thames Clippers trade booking team atl sales@thamesclippers.com or complete a group booking request.
Wightlink – With more routes and more ferries that sail more often to and from the Isle of Wight than any other cross Solent operator, Wightlink is the way to get you to the Island. Travelling by foot, car or coach is easy with Wightlink.
Wightlink ferries sail from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth
Wightlink FastCat services sail from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head
Find out more about Wightlink’s trade services or call the sales team on: 02392 855260
Ferry Services to Ireland
Irish Ferries – Ireland’s premier ferry company links Britain and Ireland, and Britain and Ireland with France via its modern fleet of Cruise Ferries and the Dublin Swift catamaran.
Irish Ferries sails from Dublin to Holyhead (Wales) and Cherbourg (France), from Rosslare to Pembroke (Wales) and from Dover (UK) to Calais (France).
Tickets are bookable for cars, coaches and foot-passengers, as well as pets with passports. You can also book Irish Ferries’ self-drive short break or family holiday packages for customers.
Find out more about group travel or contact: tradesupport@irishferries.com
P&O Ferries – Voted Best Ferry Company and Favourite Ferry Company by consumers at the Globe Travel Awards 2018, P&O Ferries operate routes from Larne to Cairnryan (Scotland) across the Irish Sea.
Partners can book great value crossings for customers with no baggage restrictions, no long queues and plenty of on board facilities. Further details on P&O Ferries or enter the P&O Ferries’ agent portal, or contact rts.agents@poferries.com
Stena Line – An international transport and travel service company, Stena Line operates services across the Irish Sea and the North Sea. Designed in Sweden, their fleet of ultra-modern ships on the Irish Sea have Scandinavian inspired interiors, including the new ships Stena Edda, Stena Embla and Stena Estrid, which offer incredible lounges and plush deluxe cabins.
Stena Line operates routes from Belfast to Cairnryan (Scotland) and Liverpool, Dublin to Holyhead (Wales) and from Rosslare to Fishguard (Wales).
Stena Line has a dedicated coach and groups team, with further information available here. Alternatively, you can contact their reservations team at group.travel@stenaline.com
Ferry services to Europe and the Channel Isles
Brittany Ferries – This French operator offers a wide choice of cross Channel ferries to France from the UK ports of Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, as well as routes from the UK to Santander and Bilbao in Spain, and from Ireland to France and Spain. New cruise ferries to Spain, Salamanca and Santoña, offer an elevated customer experience on board and a greener way of travelling with LNG-powered vessels. These will be joined in 2025 by two new Hybrid-LNG vessels Saint Malo and Guillaume de Normandie sailing to France.
Brittany Ferries sails from Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg, Le Havre and St Malo in France, as well as to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and Santander and Bilbao in Spain. They also sail from: Poole to Cherbourg and Guernsey; Plymouth to Roscoff (France) and Santander (Spain); Rosslare (Ireland) to Roscoff and Bilbao; Cork to Roscoff.
Trade partners can access booking details and information via Brittany Ferries’ dedicated webpage. Booking options include a range of travel and holiday packages for France, Guernsey and Northern Spain.
DFDS – Voted Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator, DFDS runs short-sea crossings from Dover to France, as well as a Western Channel service from Newhaven to Dieppe. Services to Jersey in the Channel Islands will start from 28 March 2025 from Portsmouth and Poole and from Jersey to Saint-Malo. An overnight cruise ferry service between Newcastle and Amsterdam in The Netherlands also operates daily.
Trade partners can book a range of travel products with DFDS, including Amsterdam mini cruises and hotel breaks, as well as cruise and stay packages. They also have group and coach travel bookings and packages. For more information, click here or contact sales.support@dfds.com.
Irish Ferries – Ireland’s premier ferry company links Britain and Ireland, and Britain and Ireland with France via its modern fleet of Cruise Ferries and the Dublin Swift catamaran.
Irish Ferries sails from Dublin to Holyhead (Wales) and Cherbourg (France), from Rosslare to Pembroke (Wales) and from Dover (UK) to Calais (France).
Tickets are bookable for cars, coaches and foot-passengers, as well as pets with passports. You can also book Irish Ferries’ self-drive short break or family holiday packages for customers.
Find out more about group travel or contact: tradesupport@irishferries.com
P&O Ferries – Voted Best Ferry Company and Favourite Ferry Company by consumers at the Globe Travel Awards 2018, P&O Ferries operate routes across the English Channel, North Sea and the Irish Sea.
In addition to its Irish Sea route, P&O Ferries’ sail from Dover to Calais and Hull to Rotterdam.
Trade partners can book great value crossings for customers with no baggage restrictions, plenty of on board facilities and two of the greenest ships on the Dover to Calais Channel route .
More information on P&O Ferries routes or visit P&O Ferries’ agent portal, or contact rts.agents@poferries.com
Stena Line – Stena Line operates a service from Harwich to the Hook of Holland on the North Sea.
The most direct route to the Netherlands from the UK, Stena Line runs both day and overnight sailings on this route with its refurbished Superferries. Tickets can be combined with Rail and Sail options.
More information on Stena Line’s dedicated coach and groups team can be reached here. Alternatively, you can contact their reservations team at group.travel@stenaline.com