Blue Funnel Group


Blue Funnel Group refers to a related set of companies providing boat charter, cruise and ferry services around the Solent and Isle of Wight in vessels up to 500 passengers. The Blue Funnel Cruises operating out of Southampton Port and the [|Solent and Wightline Cruises] operating out of Portsmouth and Cowes as well as Blue Funnel Ferries Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry operations are all run independently but co-operatively.
The 75-126 seat Jenny series of boats are noted for their high speed of up to 19 knots.

Blue Funnel Cruises

Blue Funnel Cruises offers cruises from Southampton Port and Bucklers Hard.

Blue Funnel Ferries

Blue Funnel Ferries took over operation of the Hythe Pier, Railway and Ferry on 21 April 2017.

Solent and Wightline Cruises

Solent and Wightlink Cruises offers cruises from the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.

Blue Line Cruises

While the operation Blue Line Cruises and the vessel Solent Scene were once owned by Solent Cruises under the Blue Funnel brand they were sold in May 1998 and are now independent of Blue Funnel.

Operations

The groups operations include:
Current vessels operated by the group include:
Blue funnel Cruises was formed from two or three companies including the boatbuilding Barkham family who pioneered viewing ocean liners in the 1930s. The trading name Blue Funnel was adopted about 1965. Walter Charles Hogg bought out the operation in 1979 but ran into financial difficulties in 1992 and was bought out by the Solent and Wightlink Cruises operation.
Solent and Wightlink Cruises originated from the Rayment Family providing fishing trips from Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and eventually taking over Blue Funnell