Ferry to the Isles of Scilly
The ferry to Scilly is the Scillonian III. She sails from Penzance to St Mary's in about 2 hours 45 minutes, from spring to early November. For many visitors the crossing is where the holiday starts, with gannets diving off the bow and the islands slowly rising out of the sea.
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Key Takeaways
- The Scillonian III sails from Penzance to St Mary's in about 2 hours 45 minutes, usually leaving at 09:15.
- 2026 is her final season. The last sailing is Sunday 8 November, and Scillonian IV is due to take over from March 2027.
- A day trip costs £35 for adults and £17.50 for children in 2026, with no hold luggage.
- Each passenger can take two bags up to 25kg in total, plus 5kg of hand luggage. Dogs must be booked ahead.
- Embarkation closes 30 minutes before sailing, and late arrivals get no refund.
2026 is a special year. It is the Scillonian III's last season after nearly 50 years, and a new ship takes over in 2027. This guide covers sailing times, fares, luggage, parking, dogs and what happens when the weather turns. Check today's sailing on our live Scillonian timetable before you set off.
The ferry to Scilly at a glance
| Ferry | Scillonian III |
| Operator | Isles of Scilly Travel |
| Route | Penzance (Lighthouse Pier) to St Mary's quay |
| Crossing time | About 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Season | Mid March to early November |
| Sailing days | Monday to Saturday, plus Sundays in the summer holidays |
| Usual times | 09:15 from Penzance; 16:30 or 14:00 from St Mary's |
| Day trip fare | £35 adult, £17.50 child (2026) |
There is one passenger ferry to Scilly. It is run by Isles of Scilly Travel, part of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, which also flies Skybus. Since 1977 the Scillonian III has carried more than five million passengers, according to Baird Maritime. You can't take a car on board, so it stays in Cornwall.
Scillonian sailing times for 2026
On most sailing days the Scillonian leaves Penzance at 09:15 and reaches St Mary's around 12:00. The return leaves St Mary's at 16:30 in summer. At the start and end of the season it often leaves at 14:00 instead. Our Scillonian timetable lists every sailing left this season, with times both ways.
When does the ferry run?
The ferry sails Monday to Saturday from mid March to early November, with Sunday sailings in the summer holidays and on some other dates. It does not sail in winter. In 2026 the last sailing is on Sunday 8 November. Through late October and into November, most return sailings leave St Mary's at 14:00.
Times can change at short notice for weather or tides. Always check on the day.
Live sailing times on your phone
Already on Scilly? Scilly Live shows today's Scillonian, Skybus, helicopter and island boat times on one page, with tides and weather. It updates through the day when a sailing is changed or cancelled. Save the site to your phone and it works with no signal, which helps on the quay at St Mary's.
Scillonian IV: the new ferry to Scilly in 2027
This is the Scillonian III's final season. Afloat reports she began her last year of service in mid March, after 49 years on the route. Her replacement, Scillonian IV, is being built at the Piriou shipyard in Vietnam and is due in March 2027, according to Cruise and Ferry.
The new ship will carry up to 600 passengers, 24 per cent more than today, Baird Maritime reports. She will have systems to reduce roll and pitch, which matters on a crossing known for its swell. She is part of a £40 million investment in passenger and freight links for the islands.
Her start date is still to be confirmed. We will add her timetable to our Scillonian timetable page as soon as it is published.
How much is the ferry to Scilly?
Standard fares change with the date and season, so the price you see when booking is the one to trust. The day trip fare is fixed, though. Isles of Scilly Travel lists it at £35 for adults and £17.50 for children in 2026. Infants travel from £10.50.
- Adult day trip: £35
- Child day trip: £17.50
- Infant: from £10.50
- Dog: from £15, booked by phone
Cornwall residents can ask about the locals' fare. On selected dates, early departures or double sailing days give day trippers up to seven hours ashore, rather than the usual four and a half in summer or two in spring and autumn. These dates are popular, so book early if you want the longer day.
Bikes, kayaks and other kit
Bulky items travel as freight and must be booked before you sail. Isles of Scilly Travel charges £37.20 return for an adult bike, £35 for a deflated paddleboard and £99.30 for a kayak or surfboard. Diving and camping kit costs £37.26 per 50kg return. Wheelchairs travel free, but book them ahead.
Getting to the ferry in Penzance
The Scillonian leaves from the ferry terminal on South Pier, the Lighthouse Pier, on Wharf Road, Penzance TR18 4AH. Its what3words address is ///spud.journey.denser. There is no parking on the pier itself. Drop off passengers, pets and bags at the quay first, then park. That one step saves a lot of stress on a busy morning.
By train or coach
Penzance railway station is a ten minute walk from the quay. Great Western Railway and CrossCountry both run trains there, and GWR sells combined rail and ferry tickets on 03457 000 125. National Express and FlixBus coaches stop at the bus station next to the railway, so the walk is the same.
Parking and the Scillonian Park and Ride
The Scillonian Park and Ride is just outside Penzance, off the A30 at Trereife Park. You must book it at least 48 hours ahead. It opens 2 hours 15 minutes before sailing and closes an hour before. Only the driver goes there, then takes the free shuttle bus back to the quay.
The park and ride is not for day trippers. If you are only going for the day, use the council's long stay car parks instead. The Harbour car park is about a ten minute walk from the quay, and Wherrytown is about fifteen minutes away, according to Isles of Scilly Travel.
Check in, luggage and dogs
Checking in
You can check in online 24 hours before you sail. A text arrives with a link, and your boarding passes come by email as QR codes. On the day, embarkation opens 1 hour 15 minutes before departure and closes 30 minutes before. Isles of Scilly Travel says late passengers get no refund or credit.
Roads into Penzance get busy in the school holidays. Leave more time than you think.
Scillonian luggage allowance
- Hold luggage: 2 pieces per person, 25kg in total, no single bag over 20kg
- Hold bag size: up to 85cm x 60cm x 40cm
- Hand luggage: 1 piece up to 5kg, plus a camera bag and laptop
- Day trips: no hold luggage
- Extra bags: book and pay before you travel
Hold bags go into containers on the quay, and you can't get at them again until St Mary's. The drop off point in Penzance closes 30 minutes before sailing. On St Mary's, Island Carriers will deliver bags to where you are staying for a small charge per item, if you add the address to your label.
Travelling with dogs
Dogs are welcome on the Scillonian but must be booked ahead, and space is limited. Each adult can bring up to two. Dogs stay on a lead and can use the outer decks and indoor areas, but not the main deck café, the lower deck or the seats. Walk them well before boarding.
Staying on Tresco, Bryher, St Martin's or St Agnes?
Your Scillonian ticket takes you to St Mary's quay only. To reach the off islands you catch an inter island boat, which is paid for separately. Label your hold bags with the right colour so they follow you: green for Bryher, yellow for St Agnes, red for St Martin's and blue for Tresco.
Labels are handed out on the quay in Penzance. Island boat times depend on the tide, so check the island boat timetable before you travel. Our guide to Isles of Scilly boats explains how the boatmen work and what the crossings cost, so you know what to expect at St Mary's Harbour.
When the weather turns
The crossing is open Atlantic, and strong wind can stop the ferry. Day trips are usually the first to go. In April 2026 a sailing was cancelled for 40 knot easterly winds, and Isles of Scilly Travel moved passengers onto the next day's ship. Day trippers were offered a refund or a new date.
- Check Scilly Live the night before and again in the morning.
- Leave a spare day at each end of your trip.
- Choose travel insurance that covers delays.
- If you feel queasy, stay out on deck and watch the horizon.
On board the Scillonian III
The Scillonian has cafés serving hot and cold snacks, a lounge with reclining seats and a quiet area, and an open sun deck. In her last season there is also a small shop selling a commemorative range. On a calm day, head outside as you pass Land's End. Dolphins and shearwaters are regular sights in summer.
Ferry or fly to Scilly?
The ferry gives you the biggest luggage allowance and the best of the view. It is also the slowest way across. Skybus flies to St Mary's from Land's End and Exeter, and the Penzance helicopter lands on St Mary's and Tresco in about 15 minutes. In winter, flying is the only way over.
Our full guide to getting to the Isles of Scilly compares all three side by side.
Plan the rest of your trip
Once your crossing is booked, the fun part starts. Make a free day by day itinerary with boat times and tides worked in, find where to eat and stay, and keep Scilly Live on your phone for the morning you sail.
Ferry to Scilly FAQs
Asked most often about the Scillonian: sailing times, fares, luggage, cars and the crossing.
How long is the ferry to Scilly?+
The Scillonian III takes about 2 hours 45 minutes from Penzance to St Mary's. The morning sailing usually leaves at 09:15 and arrives around 12:00.
Where does the Scillonian leave from?+
It leaves from South Pier, Wharf Road, Penzance TR18 4AH. The pier is a ten minute walk from Penzance railway station and bus station.
Can you take a car on the ferry to Scilly?+
No. The Scillonian carries foot passengers, bags and booked freight. Leave your car at the Scillonian Park and Ride or a long stay car park in Penzance.
Does the ferry to Scilly run in winter?+
No. The 2026 season ends on Sunday 8 November. Sailings return in 2027 on the new Scillonian IV, expected from March. Skybus and the helicopter fly through the winter.
Can I do a day trip to Scilly by ferry?+
Yes, on most sailing days. You get about four and a half hours on St Mary's in summer, or about two hours in spring and autumn. The adult fare is £35.
Is the crossing to Scilly rough?+
It can be. The route crosses open Atlantic water, and a westerly swell is common. On calm days it is a smooth and lovely trip. Scillonian IV will have systems to reduce roll and pitch.
Island boatsSt Mary's to the off islands
Scillonian ferryPenzance to St Mary's, 2 hours 45
Menawethan freightAll year, times move with the tide
Skybus flightsLand's End, Exeter and Newquay
HelicopterPenzance to St Mary's and TrescoScilly LiveEverything today, with weather and noticesLive trackerWhere the planes and the Scillonian are nowTravelling today?
Flights, the Scillonian, island boats, tides and weather for all five islands, in one place.