Red Funnel is ready for a busy Bank Holiday weekend, with most sailings already booked for today (Friday) and some crossings sold out for Bank Holiday Monday.
The operator has re-opened its retail, coffee shop and outdoor Terrance Bar in Terminal 1 Southampton, with a newly refurbished interior and a wider selection of food and drinks.
Sailings are filling up as Red Funnel continues to run at reduced passenger capacity, carrying 56% of normal limits in support of social distancing. The company is operating a 2-boat service, as Red Falcon is out for engine crankshaft repair.
At this time, there is plenty of space is available for crossings on Saturday and Sunday.
The cross-Solent operator notes that some sailings may indeed feel busier for frequent travellers who have been used to fewer people travelling and is encouraging passengers to take advantage during times of favourable weather and help support social distancing by spreading out around the vessel.
Red Funnel also reminds passengers that despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, it remains a legal and safety requirement to wear a face covering while onboard, inside terminals and while embarking and disembarking on foot. For this same reason, the operator is continuing to uphold its ‘no food/drink indoors’ policy, unless required for medical reasons.
Staff continue to do their best to encourage compliance, and the company thanks all customers for their continued support and cooperation, especially in taking an active role in practicing social distancing and maintaining good hygiene practices throughout the crossing.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, says:
“We are looking forward to welcoming more passengers over the Bank Holiday weekend and would especially like to thank all passengers for their cooperation when it comes to complying with our ‘Sail Safe’ safety standards. We also politely remind all visitors to the Island to respect the safety standards put in place by local businesses and attractions and do their part to help keep the Island safe in accordance with the Isle of Wight Visitor Charter. We want everyone to relax and enjoy their stay, but it’s so important that everyone keeps doing their part to stay safe.”
Who’s this Terrance Bar?
He’s the guy they barred from the terrace.
Here we go, is it just me who actually did not mind or even enjoyed full lock down, especially the first one,no people about, loads of empty beaches during your one hour of exercise,no kids,no arguing couples, meeting like minded people with a wink and a smile, clapping for carers, community spirit,and in the evening, just Netflix and chill en, x
You sound like a furloughed lazy person to me
Yep, jealousy gets you no where,jog on and get back behind your till,x
Thank goodness its going to be cold and wet over the bank holiday that should
stop some of the aliens from coming over.. Also hopefully the old people who are moving over here in their droves.
Yep spot on and the benefit scrounges who give up their jobs just to live here !
What’s wrong with being old Ron?
Nothing as long as they do not move here
There is nothing wrong with old people (old school) who lived through the blitz and the little old ladies with there hair scarfs on struggling up hills with hunched backs and a walking sticks with a fag hanging out of their mouth in the pooring rain,total and utter respect x, they built this country, for better for worse, the new generation of older people (the f’in baby boomers) bring nothing to the party and are fat and lazy,plodding about on there scooters with there yapping little rats tied on to the front basket and they have got the balls to judge people,as if they are old and wise,
Bet there won’t be any technical issues this weekend
Didn’t see much “encouragement” from staff for passengers to follow the COVID rules on early Friday morning sailing from the island – people were sitting inside without face masks and others eating food sold aboard in paper bags at tables as if there were no pandemic restrictions.
So some countries have increased deaths people are slipping through the net coming back to UK we know this, there’s no “red zone” checking on the red funnel, yes who cares we got your money ???? Just come spread the virus and see ya…..
Holibobs are here in droves already, and wow are they a rude bunch this time, just because you have to buy a bag in a shop now is no reason to swear at the staff. Most of them not sticking to the rules still in place. Say goodbye to a covid free hospital and island, in the next week or two.
HERE WE GO. It’s started already. IOW saturated with holiday makers. 20, 30 and very few 40 year olds haven’t had the vaccine yet!
got your tin foil hat on sunshine – jeez..bet you must be at least 85
You are SO wrong. Just remember, HANDS, FACE, SPACE or we’ll be infected again and in lockdown by September.
It will be interesting to see what our low infection figures become in two week time. They will most certainly not be 1 or 2. Without tougher restrictions at the ports we will never be rid of this virus.
The ports don’t care, why do you think hovertravel staff got the vaccine before many care workers last year. All the ports care about is how much money they can get out of people.