Full comparison inside the Isles of Scilly ferry price war

For more than 100 years, travel to the Isles of Scilly has involved taking the Scillonian from Penzance to St Mary’s, and since the 1960s there has also been the option of traveling by air, first by helicopter, then by plane since 1984 .

As travel by helicopter or plane remains more expensive, most visitors and islanders go back and forth by sea. Until now passengers had to sail aboard the Scillonian III. The sailing season, however, is limited from March to November, after which the seas are too rough and dangerous for the boat to make the crossing safely.

Scillonian III, which will be replaced by a new Scillonian IV from 2026, is operated by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group (ISSG), which has enjoyed a monopoly for many decades. That monopoly could now be seriously damaged by competition from Scilly Ferries, a subsidiary of Belfast shipbuilder Harland & Wolff.

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For months, H&W has been making waves with its plans to take the IOSSG at its own game with a new passenger and freight ferry. H&W first announced its intention to build a cargo boat and a passenger ferry last year. The company has since acquired local cargo firm KMS, which was rebranded Harland & Wolff Marine Services, providing two freighters between the islands and mainland Cornwall.

After several delays, passenger catamaran Atlantic Wolff sailed from a shipyard in Portsmouth to Newlyn ahead of a maiden voyage to the Isles of Scilly on Monday (July 22).

For months, H&W has claimed its ferry will be faster and cheaper than the Scillonian, taking an hour less than its rival’s 2.5 hour crossing. For months H&W boss John Wood has said the Atlantic Wolf will be cheaper than the Scillonian.

Ahead of the first planned passenger journey to the Isles of Scilly, we look at how the prices of the two ferries compare. All prices below are taken from the companies’ rate lists on their websites.

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Scillonian Rates III

Standard single

Standard (12+) from £83.90

Child (2-11) from £47.00

Baby (0-1) from £23.40

Dogs £11.00

Day trip return

Standard (12+) from £35

Child (2-11) from £17.50

Infant (0-1) from £10.50

There are also discounted rates for local residents.

Locals day trip

Standard (12+) £25

Child (2-11) £15

Infant (0-1) £10

However, if you book the crossing from Penzance on Monday (the day the Atlantic Wolff service is due to start – so it may just be a short term promotional offer) at 9am which will get you to St Mary’s at 11am: 45 and returns on the same day on the 16:30 Isles of Scilly to Penzance crossing, fares are £24 for an adult.

Atlantic Wolff rates

Standard single

Standard (16+) from £49

Child (5 – 15 years) from £40.25

Infant (0 – 4 years) from £13.75

Dogs: £15.60

Day trip return

Standard (16+) from £48.75

Child (5 – 15 years) from £27.71

Infant (0 – 4 years) from £11.81

Discount for locals

Scilly Ferries has launched its Scilly Ferries Residents Club. The scheme gives each member three free return journeys on Atlantic Wolff and two 20% discount vouchers per calendar year (January-December). Free return passes are non-transferable, however 20% off vouchers can be shared with friends and family.

Club membership is free, but you must be a permanent resident to enjoy these exclusive benefits. Your resident status will be verified during the application process. Membership is individual, so you’ll need to apply for each person living at your address, including children of all ages.

If you book your crossing from Penzance on Monday 22nd July on the 9.45am Atlantic Wolff service which will take you to St Mary’s at 11.15am and return the same day on the 5pm crossing to the Isles of Scilly to Penzance (arrive in Penzance at 8.30pm), fares are £73.13 for an adult.

All these prices will vary throughout the season, but based on the above prices alone, singles are cheaper on Atlantic Wolff, but day returns are cheaper on Scillonian.

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