Find out what you need to know about booking ferry travel with Caledonian MacBrayne, from the most convenient way to buy tickets to advice on your journey.
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Our booking process
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Booking information
Winter 2024/2025 timetable bookings and advance purchases are available for the period 21 October 2024 - 27 March 2025.
Summer 2025 timetables for the period 28 March – 19 October 2025 are being released in phases. The first phase is now available to view, and routes included in this phase will open for booking on 19 December 2024 from 08:00 online and 09:00 by telephone. Read our customer update for details on which routes are included in each phase.
Important ticketing advice
Ticket validity on Turn Up and Go routes
Tickets for our Turn Up and Go routes, including 10-journey tickets, are valid only for the timetable season in which they are purchased, either summer or winter - but not both. They must be used within that season and cannot be transferred to another. These tickets are non-refundable and cannot be amended. For 10-journey tickets specifically, select W24 (Winter 2024) 10 journey tickets which are valid for use from 21 October 2024 - 27 March 2025.
Travelling with a vehicle on only one leg of your journey
For Turn Up and Go routes, if you intend to travel as a foot passenger on one leg of a return journey, and with a vehicle for the other, please purchase separate tickets online for each leg.
Travelling in a group
If you purchase tickets online for a group or multiple travel companions, the entire party must travel together - on both legs of your journey. If you're not certain whether all members of your group will be travelling together, we recommend purchasing separately.
Destination-specific information
Travelling to Arran?
We have three route options for travel to Arran - Ardrossan to Brodick, Troon to Brodick and Claonaig to Lochranza. If your preferred route is unavailable, please consider trying one of the alternatives.
Travelling to Islay?
When booking travel to/from Islay online, choose either Port Ellen or Port Askaig. For a return journey using different Islay ports, use the 'multi-Island' booking feature to combine multiple journeys and facilitate travel between different ports.
Travelling to Tiree?
Argyll & Bute Council require that campervan/motorhome owners secure a pitch for their vehicle in advance of travel to the island. Please visit the Tiree Community Development Trust for details about campsites and croft pitches. Wild camping is not permitted on Tiree with any vehicle.
Travelling to Kerrera, Iona or the Small Isles
If you are planning to take a vehicle on our Gallanach-Kerrera, Fionnphort-Iona or Mallaig-Small Isles routes, you must have a permit to travel with your vehicle before purchasing your tickets. Please see our individual timetable pages for more information.
eTickets
If you book online, you'll immediately receive an eTicket in your email inbox. The ticket(s) have a QR code which means that you don't have to print tickets at home or collect them from a port office - you instantly have a copy in your inbox and are ready to board.
If your preference has been to book tickets via the telephone or at our port offices, then you'll still be able to do that too.
Advance purchase tickets for Turn Up and Go routes
You can advance purchase your tickets for travel on our Turn Up and Go routes online and ahead of your journey. When you do so, you'll be purchasing an 'open' ticket without a specific sailing time on your chosen date of departure.
10 journey tickets
You can also purchase 10 journey tickets for every one of our Turn up and Go routes. They are available for purchase online, in digital form issued via email and accessible through your online account. Or you can purchase these in paper ticket form issued by the relevant Port/Vessel. You will need an online account to purchase 10 journey tickets.
Multiple vehicles
If you travel as part of a group with more than one vehicle, you can add more than one vehicle to your reservation instead of having to make multiple bookings. (If you have purchased tickets online as a group or for any number of travel companions, for use on any of our Turn Up and Go routes, the full party must travel on the same sailing. This applies to both legs of your journey. If you are unsure if all members of your groups are travelling together, it's best to complete separate transactions online.)
Multiple journeys
If there are multiple parts to your journey, or your planning to plan a trip visiting more than one island, you can purchase all tickets at the same time in one single transaction - this applies to both our Bookable and Turn Up and Go routes.
Travelling with bikes, kayaks or similar
If you're a foot passenger travelling with a bike, kayak or similar equipment, or if you're a vehicle passenger with a bike or roof rack you'll be prompted to let us know you're bringing one with you when you make your booking online. This information helps us manage capacity, and lets you know if we have space on that particular sailing.
Pet bookings
You can now add a pet booking to your online reservation - removing the previous manual process and giving you more certainty on pet space availability on your sailing.
All pets will need a ticket, and these tickets will remain free of charge. Find out more.
Concessions
SPT Ferry Card, Companion SPT Ferry Card and Blue Badge concessions are available online. If you hold any of these concessions, you can select these options online and in advance of travel. Find out more.
Where will your next adventure take you?
Buy tickets for your next journey on any of our routes.