There are two ways to take a ferry to Guernsey from England: a fast crossing from Poole or an overnight one from Portsmouth. Condor Ferries runs both, and says it "is the only ferry operator offering sailings between the UK and Guernsey." Parts of its website now carry the Brittany Ferries name too, so you'll see both on tickets and at the ports.
Below I've set out what Condor's own pages and timetables say about crossing times, sailing days, ships, fares, cars, foot passengers, pets and check-in. I've also covered what the States of Guernsey says about ID. Times and prices are the ones shown when I checked on 13 November 2026, and the timetable figures come from Condor's downloadable timetable, which was marked "Last Updated: 13/11/2026 09:31".
Guernsey ferry routes compared
| Route | Ship | Crossing time | Sample times | When it sails |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poole – Guernsey | Voyager (fast ferry) | 3 hours | Poole 14:30, Guernsey 17:30 | Mostly Mondays and Fridays in January and February 2027, more days from March |
| Portsmouth – Guernsey | Islander (conventional) | 9 hrs 30 mins or 10 hrs 45 mins | Portsmouth 20:30 or 19:15, Guernsey 06:00 | Overnight, all year |
| Guernsey – Portsmouth (direct) | Islander | 9 hrs 30 mins | Guernsey 07:00, Portsmouth 16:30 | Some days only (see below) |
| Guernsey – Cherbourg – Portsmouth | Islander | 3 hrs 30 mins, then 5 hrs 45 mins | Guernsey 06:30, Cherbourg 11:00 and 13:00, Portsmouth 17:45 | The other return days |
Condor says the timetables "are accurate at time of production" and that "sailings and vessels are subject to change." Its sailings are also "scheduled taking into account tidal restrictions in one or more of our ports enroute", which is why departure times shift a little from week to week.
Poole to Guernsey: the 3-hour fast ferry
Condor describes Poole as its fastest route, "taking just 3 hours". Every Poole sailing in the timetable I downloaded is on Voyager and is listed with a duration of 03:00. A typical sailing leaves Poole at 14:30 and reaches Guernsey at 17:30, as on Monday 4 January 2027. Coming back, the Voyager typically leaves Guernsey at 10:15 and reaches Poole at 13:15.
Poole is the route that changes most with the seasons:
- Late autumn gap. When I checked, the first Poole sailing in the timetable was on Friday 11 December 2026 (14:15 from Poole, 17:15 into Guernsey). There were none listed between 13 November and then.
- Winter. In January and February 2027 the timetable lists Poole sailings mostly on Mondays and Fridays, for example Friday 8 January.
- Summer. Condor's Guernsey page says "Our fast ferry runs up to 4 times a week", while its Guernsey-to-UK page says "we sail between 4 to 6 times a week each way". From March 2027 the timetable adds Saturday and Sunday sailings from Poole, and in July and August Tuesdays and Thursdays too, such as Friday 2 and Saturday 3 July.
Condor puts the distance at "82miles (131km) across the English Channel". The Poole terminal is in Hamworthy, postcode BH15 4AJ. Condor says Poole Railway Station "is approx a 20-25 minutes walk to Poole Ferry Terminal" and suggests a 10-minute taxi from the station.
Portsmouth to Guernsey: the overnight crossing
Portsmouth is the year-round route. Condor's fleet page talks of "our all-year-round service provided by Islander", and its timetable lists Portsmouth sailings every month from November 2026 to October 2027.
All the sailings from Portsmouth in the timetable reach Guernsey at 06:00. Some leave at 20:30, taking 9 hours 30 minutes, such as Friday 13 November 2026. Others leave at 19:15 and take 10 hours 45 minutes, such as Monday 16 November 2026. Through the winter there's a sailing every night of the week.
Coming home is less simple, because Condor now runs some Portsmouth sailings via Cherbourg in France:
- Direct. Islander leaves Guernsey at 07:00 and reaches Portsmouth at 16:30, for example Monday 16 November 2026. Through the winter, these direct sailings appear only on Mondays and Tuesdays. From April 2027 they run on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
- Via Cherbourg. On other days Islander leaves Guernsey at 06:30, reaches Cherbourg at 11:00, then leaves Cherbourg at 13:00 and reaches Portsmouth at 17:45. That was the pattern on Friday 13 November 2026.
Condor says: "Our Guernsey-Portsmouth sailing via Cherbourg leaves the Common Travel Area and is therefore subject to UK re-entry requirements." It adds that "Direct sailings between Guernsey and the UK are not affected" and that "The States of Guernsey and Brittany Ferries are seeking an exemption for passengers who remain on board in Cherbourg." If you have no passport, pick a direct sailing home or come back via Poole.
Portsmouth International Port is at George Byng Way, postcode PO2 8SP. Condor says trains from London Waterloo take 85 minutes and the station to use is "Portsmouth & Southsea", "a short bus or taxi ride from the Port".
If you have no passport, pick a direct sailing home or come back via Poole.
The ships: Voyager and Islander
Condor's fleet page says: "Enjoy the comfort and convenience of our high-speed vessel, Voyager, and our all-year-round service provided by Islander, in addition to support from Clipper."
- Voyager "entered service in July 2021. The high-speed catamaran carries up to 850 passengers and 235 cars and can travel at 42 knots." Condor says "your fare includes a Standard Voyager seat anywhere on the vessel."
- Islander is described as Condor's "newest conventional passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off vessel." It "can carry 1,286 lane metres of freight and up to 400 passengers. 1, 2, 3 and 4-person cabins are available, including the addition of fleet-first pet-friendly cabins (limited to 2 per cabin)."
Fares
Condor doesn't show a "from" fare for the UK to Guernsey on its route pages, and its offers page listed no offers when I checked. What it does say:
- Guernsey to Poole: "With our Super Saver Fare you can now sail to Poole from £62.50."
- Jersey to Guernsey: "Ferry prices from Jersey to Guernsey start from £32.50pp".
- On getting there cheaply, Condor says: "The cheapest way to get from England to Guernsey is by ferry as a foot passenger. Prices will vary based on the time of year and sailing you choose."
These were the prices shown when I checked on 13 November 2026. For the UK to Guernsey you'll need to run a live search on Condor's booking form.
Taking your car
Condor says: "Vehicles up to a height of 3.1 metres can be booked online." It sorts cars by height when you book, from "Standard Car Up to 1.85m High" up to "Medium Car & Roof Load Up to 3.1m High". The booking form gives a "Max length of car + towed vehicle 10m" and says "Max length of motorhome 7m. For lengths over 7m please call 0345 609 1024 to book."
Book the right height: Condor warns that "if your vehicle height is different to your booking, an increase in fare and an amendment fee may apply."
Don't expect first on, first off. Condor explains that "because our ships stop at more than one port, cars have to be loaded in a specific order."
If you're parking in Guernsey, Condor says "A Guernsey Parking clock is required and available to be purchased onboard our ships."
Travelling as a foot passenger
Condor says: "Your fare includes personal luggage of up to 25kg". Larger items such as camping kit, surfboards and musical instruments "will incur an excess baggage fee of £30 per item."
When you arrive at St Peter Port, Condor says "you are just 5 minutes from the town centre, tourist information and bus stops."
Check-in times
| Port | With a car | On foot |
|---|---|---|
| Poole and Portsmouth | Arrive 90–120 mins before, check-in closes 60 mins before | Arrive 70 mins before, check-in closes 40 mins before |
| Guernsey | Arrive 90–120 mins before, check-in closes 60 mins before | Arrive at least 70 mins before, check-in closes 40 mins before |
On its Cherbourg page, Condor gives different Guernsey times: "Car travellers: Check-in will close 90 minutes before departure" and "Foot passengers: Check-in will close 60 minutes before departure."
Condor says "Before you travel, we will have emailed you an e-boarding pass." You can print it or show it on your phone. If you're driving, put the itinerary page (pink copy) on your dashboard.
Taking a dog to Guernsey
The States of Guernsey says pet cats, dogs and ferrets travelling with their owners from the UK "do not require a pet passport or any other documentation." It adds: "The UK requires all dogs older than 8 weeks to be microchipped."
Condor's rules on board:
- Price: "Pets are charged £11 each way if travelling with a passenger on foot. There is no charge for pets travelling inside a vehicle."
- On foot: your pet "will need to be in a cage that meets RSPCA requirements for pet animals, which will be kept in a dedicated pet area on the car deck."
- Muzzles: "the dog must wear a muzzle when outside a vehicle, cabin or kennel." Condor asks you to show the muzzle at check-in.
- Cabins on Islander: "Only pet cabins can accommodate pets", with a maximum of two pets per cabin.
The Cherbourg sailings matter here too. Condor's Cherbourg page says that "From 01 November, domestic pets travelling from Guernsey to Portsmouth on our sailings via Cherbourg will need an animal health certificate (AHC)", and that "Pets can still travel without additional paperwork on our direct Guernsey–Portsmouth sailings." Condor's Guernsey-to-UK page still says pets on the Cherbourg route need nothing extra, so if you're bringing a pet home that way, call Condor before you book.
ID and documents
The States of Guernsey says: "On arrival in the Bailiwick from Jersey, Isle of Man or UK you don't need to carry a passport. However, you're required to carry some form of recognised photographic identification". It adds that Customs and Immigration "will accept whichever form of photographic identification that is accepted by your airline or ferry company for security purposes."
Condor asks for photo ID "if you’re 16 years or older". Its accepted list includes a "Valid driving licence (full or Provisional are accepted)" and says an expired passport "will be accepted for domestic sailings only, up to two years after expiry." Condor also says "digital copies of your photo ID are not acceptable."
The exception is the return via Cherbourg, which Condor says leaves the Common Travel Area (see the Portsmouth section above).
Island hopping: Jersey, Sark, Herm and Alderney
Condor's timetable lists a Guernsey to Jersey sailing on Voyager that takes an hour. In winter it runs on Wednesdays, for example 10:00 from Guernsey on 18 November 2026. Condor says its Jersey to Guernsey ferry runs "Wednesday with a sailing duration of just 1 hour on Voyager."
For the smaller islands, Condor's page says "there are daily boat trips that run from St Peter Port to Sark, Alderney, and Herm". Condor doesn't list times for those boats on its site.
If Jersey is your main destination, DFDS says you can "Take a ferry to Jersey from Portsmouth, Poole or St. Malo". See my Portsmouth – Jersey and Poole – Jersey pages, or all the Channel Islands ferry routes.
Questions about the ferry to Guernsey
How long is the ferry to Guernsey?
From Poole it's 3 hours on the fast ferry Voyager. From Portsmouth it's an overnight crossing on Islander of 9 hours 30 minutes or 10 hours 45 minutes, arriving at 06:00, according to Condor's timetable.
Who runs the ferry to Guernsey?
Condor Ferries, which says it is the only ferry operator between the UK and Guernsey. Some of its pages, including its port pages, now use the Brittany Ferries name.
Do I need a passport to go to Guernsey?
Not from the UK. The States of Guernsey says you need recognised photo ID instead, and Condor asks for photo ID from everyone aged 16 or over. Condor's Guernsey to Portsmouth sailings via Cherbourg leave the Common Travel Area, so check its document rules if you come home that way.
Does the Poole to Guernsey ferry run in winter?
Yes, but less often. When I checked, there were no Poole sailings in the timetable between 13 November and 11 December 2026. In January and February 2027 they run mostly on Mondays and Fridays.
Can I take my dog on the ferry to Guernsey?
Yes. The States of Guernsey says pets from the UK need no pet passport or other documents. Condor charges nothing for pets in a car and £11 each way for pets with foot passengers, who need an RSPCA-standard cage.
Can I get from Guernsey to Jersey by ferry?
Yes. Condor's Voyager sails between the two islands in an hour. In winter it runs on Wednesdays, and Condor says Jersey to Guernsey fares start from £32.50 per person.
