Poole - Jersey
Crossing approx. 4 hours 30 minutes
From
€53
The Channel Islands
Ferries to the Channel Islands
Jersey and Guernsey by sea - from Portsmouth and Poole, with the inter-island boats and the St Malo links completing the picture.
- Two operators since 2025 - your island picks the line
- Prices shown live at the booking step
Popular routes
Crossings to and between the islands
The main Channel Islands crossings with duration, operator and a booking route.
Prices per person, one way
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Route map
Channel Islands ferry routes at a glance
The sea links of the Channel Islands - from Portsmouth and Poole to Jersey and Guernsey, between the islands, and across to Saint-Malo. Click a line for duration and operator.
- DFDS
- Brittany Ferries
- Islands Unlimited
- Manche Iles Express
DFDS9 hours
Check prices →DFDS4 hours 30 minutes
Check prices →Brittany Ferries10 hours 15 minutes
Check prices →Brittany Ferries3 hours
Check prices →Islands Unlimited1 hour 10 minutes
Check prices →Brittany Ferries1 hour
Check prices →Manche Iles Express1 hour 20 minutes
Check prices →DFDS1 hour 55 minutes
Check prices →Brittany Ferries2 hours
Check prices →Table of Contents
Two islands, two operators
The Channel Islands changed hands in 2025, and it is worth understanding before you book. After more than sixty years of Condor Ferries serving both islands, Jersey awarded its 20-year ferry contract to DFDS, whose service began on 28 March 2025, while Guernsey chose Brittany Ferries - with Condor continuing as Brittany Ferries' sister brand. Nothing about the geography changed, but the booking does: your island decides your operator.
Getting to Jersey
DFDS sails to Jersey from both Portsmouth and Poole. The quick way is the Levante Jet from Poole, a fast ferry of about 4 hours 30 - tide- and weather-dependent, as all Channel Islands schedules are. The Portsmouth sailing is the conventional alternative, a much longer crossing suited to overnight plans and heavier vehicles. Foot passengers travel on both routes, and pets are carried with advance booking. The island overview lives on the Jersey page, the route detail on the Poole to Jersey page.
Getting to Guernsey
Brittany Ferries runs Guernsey's lifeline: high-speed from Poole in about 3 hours - the fastest UK-to-islands crossing of all - and conventional sailings from Portsmouth up to six times a week. St Peter Port lands you in the middle of the island's small capital. The island overview lives on the Guernsey page, the route detail on the Portsmouth to Guernsey page.
Between the islands, and on to France
The archipelago hangs together by boat. Jersey - Guernsey runs as an inter-island service of about an hour, seasonal fast boats link Sark and Herm from St Peter Port, and both main islands connect to St Malo on the French side - which turns a Channel Islands holiday into the first leg of a Brittany trip. The Poole - St Malo crossing even builds the stop in, calling at Guernsey on its way south.
Which crossing fits which trip?
For a short break on Guernsey, the 3-hour Poole fast ferry is hard to beat. For Jersey with a car, weigh the quick Poole jet against the steadier Portsmouth ship. For island-hopping, start with the island you will spend most time on and add the inter-island boat rather than a second UK crossing. And if the islands are a stage on a longer French journey, look at the St Malo links before you book a separate crossing - the current departures for every route are in the timetable.
FAQ Channel Islands
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Channel Islands crossings.
What happened to Condor Ferries?+
Since 28 March 2025 the islands are split between two operators: DFDS holds Jersey's 20-year contract, Brittany Ferries serves Guernsey, and Condor continues as Brittany Ferries' sister brand. For travellers the rule is simple - your island decides your operator, and through trips combining both islands mean two bookings or the inter-island boat.
What is the quickest way to the islands?+
The fast ferries. Poole - Guernsey crosses in about 3 hours with Brittany Ferries, and Poole - Jersey in about 4 hours 30 on the DFDS Levante Jet - both tide- and weather-dependent. The Portsmouth sailings are conventional ships and take considerably longer, with overnight options.
Do I need a passport?+
Jersey and Guernsey are inside the Common Travel Area, so UK citizens do not need a passport for a direct crossing from the UK - but carriers ask for photo ID, and non-UK nationals should carry their passport. Travelling on to St Malo means entering France, with full passport checks.
Can I take my car, or travel on foot?+
Yes - the UK routes carry vehicles, and foot passengers are welcome on the DFDS Jersey sailings from both Portsmouth and Poole as well as on the Guernsey services. Pets travel with advance booking. A car is genuinely useful on Jersey; on the smaller islands, less so.
Can I combine both islands in one trip?+
Take the boat: Jersey - Guernsey runs as an inter-island service, and both islands link to St Malo on the French side. A Channel Islands stop also works as a break on the Poole - St Malo crossing, which calls at Guernsey on the way.
Ready for the islands?
Compare the crossings, check the departures for your date and continue to the booking step.