Red Falcon gets £2m upgrade

SMC Design and Trimline will handle the interior refurbishment
Red Falcon gets £2m upgrade

By Rebecca Lambert |


Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries has appointed marine design agency SMC Design and Southampton’s marine interior refit specialist Trimline to refurbish the interior of its car and passenger ferry Red Falcon.

The £2 million refurbishment project will start in February 2014 and is due to be completed in time for the Easter holidays. It will see the ship’s interior design and facilities replaced with a bright, modern and stylish new look that will set the standard for cross-Solent travel.

In particular, the design team been tasked to increase the number of internal seats by 55% and create an interior design that optimises the space. New features customers can look forward to include a sun deck and promenade walk, two passenger lounges with additional toilet and baby changing facilities, a pet-friendly lounge, a child play space and new food and drink options.

A contemporary look and feel has been chosen for the design of the new lounges, which will be air conditioned and fitted with comfortable chairs and tables. The heavily glazed outer walls will provide plenty of light and give guests 180-degree views. Each lounge will have a Steam café bar serving freshly made snacks.

“We have listened very carefully to our customers over the last few years to develop a new travel experience which will meet their needs – significantly more inside seats, more tables for food and drinks, air conditioning, a new pet lounge, better facilities for wheelchair users and an improved food and beverage offer are just some of the highlights,” said operations director Murray Carter.

Red Falcon will also offer customers free wi-fi access throughout the ship, including connectivity on the new AA Deck – a sun deck located fore and aft of the ship’s bridge. TV screens have also been fitted throughout and will show live TV, news headlines, travel information and points of interest along the route.

“If the new design and layout proves as popular with customers as we expect, then I am confident that we can make further investments in customer service for Red Eagle and Red Osprey that would further raise our service standards in time for the 2015 summer season,” said acting CEO Paul Winter.

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