Sea the Future: What’s New for UK Ferry Travel in 2026

As the UK’s appetite for flight-free, accessible, and “authentic” travel continues to surge, Discover Ferries, representing 12 major operators, is pleased to share an overview of the headlines to expect from the ferry industry in 2026.

From the launch of cutting-edge hybrid and zero-emission vessels to the anniversaries of historic services, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for maritime travel.

New in 2026

New Routes: Starting 1 April, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company launches a year-round service from Larne to Douglas.
Zero-Emission & Hybrid Launches: Red Funnel will debut a pioneering zero-emissions ferry for Isle of Wight services, while Uber Boat by Thames Clippers adds the hybrid-electric Saturn Clipper to its London fleet.
Fleet Expansion: Caledonian MacBrayne is set to launch three new ships, significantly boosting capacity for the Scottish Islands.
Themed Mini-Cruises: A new wave of curated experiences from Brittany Ferries, DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O Ferries featuring themes from Wine Tasting, Gourmet Dining, Jazz and Wildlife Seafaris to “Noughties Music” and Bingo.

Anniversaries

2026 marks significant heritage milestones across the industry

175 Years: Caledonian MacBrayne
165 Years: Red Funnel’s services from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
160 Years: DFDS celebrates 160 years of service in 2026
100 Years: Wightlink’s operations between Portsmouth and Fishbourne (March)
50 Years: Portsmouth International Port & Brittany Ferries’ Portsmouth-St Malo route (17 June)
40 Years: Brittany Ferries’ Portsmouth-Caen ferry service (6 June)
25 Years: Marine Conservation Charity ORCA (June)

Seasonal Sailings

22 February – Ferry Sail-ebration Day

The first pan-European celebration of ferry travel with fun activities on board, in port and online.

16 March – 8 November: Scillonian III’s last season

The iconic Scillonian III service returns for her final season on the Penzance to Isles of Scilly route. The new Scillonian IV will replace her in 2027.

30 March: Daily service begins on Portsmouth-Le Havre route

Portsmouth-Le Havre service returns with daily sailings for the first time in several years.

April – September: Marine mammal deck watch season

ORCA Ocean Conservationists join Brittany Ferries and DFDS to host passenger deck watches to spot whales and dolphins.

Trends: Why are we sailing?

“Port Hopping”: Multi-destination breaks are on the rise. With no luggage limits and no airport queues, travellers are stitching journeys together by sailing into one port and out of another, meaning they can “sea more”.
Authentic Travel with built-in enjoyment: The journey is becoming the destination. With onboard spas, fine dining, and wildlife spotting, the “ferry experience” has become a key part of the holiday. These moments to pause and connect correlate with the “slow travel” movement.
Accessible & Multi-Generational: Ferries remain the most accessible way to travel, offering drive-on options and spacious decks that appeal to all ages and mobility needs.
The Flight-Free Boom: As an island nation, ferry travel offers UK holidaymakers the biggest variety of destinations. In 2024, the industry saw over 32.5 million passenger journeys. As sustainability remains a priority, 2026 numbers are expected to rise.
Rise in Pet Travel: More holidaymakers are sharing their trips with their dogs, as a result operators are continuing to invest in pet facilities including lounges, pet cabins, kennels and special treats. Irish Ferries has recently introduced a Pet Den on UK-Ireland and UK-France ships and Brittany Ferries has launched a handy online pet-friendly cabin availability search tool to help pet-owners find a cabin where they can travel together with their four-legged friend.

Press trips and enquiries

Press Trips: We are currently commissioning press trips and media travel so please get in touch with potential travel dates and destination dates for support.

We’d love to see more features on ferry travel and want to help you do that, so for images, lead in fares and other route information, please contact caroline@clsrelations.com or media@discoverferries.com