Friday 26th April – Monday 29th April 2013

2 or 4 Day “Royal Route” Highland Tour from Fort William to Inverness via the Caledonian Canal by mv Rover

The “Royal Route” is a unique sailing experience from Fort William through the Caledonian Canal to Inverness.

This truly magnificent journey is home to some of the most captivating scenery and abundant wildlife on the West coast of Scotland. A sail through the Great Glen, along the world-famous Caledonian Canal is an unforgettable sailing experience.

In order to make the excursion as flexible as possible customers can book this trip in individual day journeys and join us on specific days, or they can book for the full 4 days. No sleeping berths are available on-board but customers will receive a helpful information booklet to aid travelers with accommodation.

This really is an unmissable opportunity to spend a day sailing through an area rich in scenery and wildlife at an affordable price!

Click here for more information or download our brochure.  You can even book online!

Built in 1974 for the Gosport Ferry Company near Portsmouth, MV Cruiser was originally named Southsea Queen, and her arrival in Gosport signalled the end of the last three remaining traditional ferry boats working there; Vita, Ferry Queen and Vesta.

However, MV Cruiser, or Southsea Queen as she was then known, lasted just four years at Gosport before being sold to White Horse Ferries for use on its Hythe Ferry service.

In 1995, she was chartered to Brownsea Island Ferries Ltd for service in Poole Harbour, and although she initially kept the name Hythe Hotspur, she was later sold to Blue Funnel Cruises in 1997 and renamed Poole Scene.

MV Cruiser – The Perfect Venue

The Clipper, the newest addition to the Clyde Cruises fleet, has been designed and built to the latest modern day design requirements.

Built by Abels Shipbuilders in Bristol in 2009, it has many outstanding features, including a wide open viewing deck for you to clearly see all the famous sights along the river.

As well as this, there is also a spacious interior passenger cabin which is heated to keep you warm on those cold winter days.

As we have discussed in a previous blog post, The Clipper caters for special occasions and has a fully stocked licensed bar, a well equipped gallery kitchen and a dance floor on board. The vessel is also able to install sound systems and AV equipment.

We are very proud of the fact that the Clyde Clipper is fully licensed for weddings and civil partnerships – it features a raised platform, ideal for a stage or top table and a main function room, catering for up to 140 guests.

The function room  has all round glazing (with curtains) and ceiling mounted down lighters, it is decorated with high quality finishes, and tables are set out in groups of six or eight with a beautiful wood finish and complementary seat covers.

Vessel Facts and Information

The vessel is certified to transport 250 persons up to 3 miles from land and is equipped with a galley and toilet facilities to DDA standard

Maximum Capacity: 250 passengers

Maximum Capacity for Seated Dining: 120 passengers

Maximum Capacity for Buffet Style Dining: 140 passengers

Safety

Safety is of the upmost importance to Clyde Cruises, and the Clyde Clipper conform to all safety regulations and undergoes annual drydocking and certification by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Clyde Clipper is equipped with electronic navigation equipment, is in full radio contact with the harbour authorities and coastguard at all times and is also fully equipped with lifejackets and self inflating life rafts.

Do you have any pictures of the Clyde Clipper? If so, share them with us on Facebook or Twitter. If you are interested in using the Clyde Clipper as a party, wedding or corporate venue, please get in touch with Julie on 01475 721281 or email her at julie@clydecruises.com

Clyde Cruises‘ previous Glasgow by Night cruise was a resounding success – and even on a very cold and dark October evening, there was something hauntingly beautiful about our beautiful River and its stunning bridges lit up at night.

Some of the highlights of this fascinating, atmospheric trip include sailing underneath the five bridges with their breathtaking array of lights, and sailing past the Titan crane at John Brown’s shipyards, which looks spectacular at night with its changing colours.

There are other famous landmarks included in the cruise, including the Finnieston Crane, BBC Studios, Glasgow Science Centre, The Armadillo, New Riverside Museum, The Tall Ship and Braehead Shopping Centre.

This exciting journey, which is ideal for photographers, tourists and proud Glaswegians alike, will take place in an extremely comfortable vessel, which has a heated interior cabin to keep you warm.

Departing from Broomielaw Pontoon on Monday 8th October at 7pm, the cruise will sail down the River Clyde, turn at the Erskine Bridge, before arriving back at the city centre at 9:30pm.

The cost of this fantastic experience is just £20 per person. To book your place on the vessel, please contact Clyde Cruises on 01475 721 281.

Sailing Schedule

• Depart city centre (Broomielaw Pontoon) 1900
• Sail down the Clyde turning at Erskine Bridge
• Arrive city centre  2130
• Sailing times are subject to tidal conditions.

Vessel Details

• Comfortable, heated vessel with interior cabin.
• Cost: £20 per person including live, historical commentary

Well, on Friday we had our very own special occasion, as we bid a fond farewell and celebrated the retiral of John McMonagle, a much loved and respected member of our team.

John, who was one of our duty managers, has amassed a quite remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable 33 years’ service at Clyde Cruises.

His knowledge of the entire area, our work and our vessels is admirable, and thankfully for us, it is something that he has passed on to all our younger crew members.

There is nothing that John doesn’t know about the River Clyde and its history, and he has been an invaluable source of information and learning for all of our staff.

We celebrated John’s outstanding service with a reception onboard the Clyde Clipper, surrounded by colleagues, close family and friends that John has worked closely with over the past 33 years.

Then give your guests something to really look forward to and make your celebration instantly memorable by hosting it on a cruise on the River Clyde.

With flexible layouts, fully licensed bars, dance floors and first class catering facilities, Clyde Cruises‘ vessels are ideal for a range of special occasions; from birthday and retirement celebrations, to kids’ parties and Bar Mitzvahs!

And with the ever-present backdrop of the Scottish hills and mountains and exciting sights along the River Clyde, your special occasion will be one to treasure.

Food & Drink Packages

From a light finger buffet to a mouthwatering 4 course sit-down meal, our experienced and specialised caterers have created a varied selection of special occasion menus.

Where possible, we endeavour to use locally sourced, seasonal and fresh produce to ensure that our food is of the utmost quality, however if you don’t see what you are looking for, we would be more than happy to create or tailor a menu to your tastes.

Clyde Cruises’ boats are also fully licensed with their own bar, and as the prices are carefully kept in line with local prices, there is no reason for you to bring your own bar.

Cruise Options

Our cruises are specially designed to allow choice and flexibility to suit all types of celebrations.

Whether it be a scenic or city cruise, you can choose between our carefully planned cruise options, and depending on the size of your party, we have a range of vessels to suit your requirements.

Vessels

Clipper

Our stunning, brand new, state-of-the-art catamaran is the ultimate in luxury and comfort. The newest addition to the Clyde Cruising Fleet has been designed and built to the latest modern day design requirements. With a maximum capacity of 240 passengers, including seated dining space for 120, the Clipper is the perfect venue for any celebration.

Cruiser

Our much loved, traditional passenger vessel is perfect for any type of function. Spacious and flexible, with excellent onboard facilities, this charming boat is an ideal choice for any occasion. The Cruiser also has a maximum capacity of 240 passengers, as well as seated dining space for 80 passengers and buffet style dining space for 120.

Second Snark

Perfect for a smaller, more intimate gathering, the Second Snark is a traditional heritage vessel, which has been beautifully restored to its original condition. Although it does not have a fixed bar and catering area, a small informal area could be set up in the interior cabin for drinks and catering for 48 passengers.

Has this whetted your appetite for hosting a special occasion aboard one of Clyde Cruises’ vessels? If so, call 01475 721 281 to make a booking, and let us help you experience unforgettable moments cruising on the stunningly beautiful West Coast of Scotland.

At Clyde Cruises, we are fully aware that every bride wishes for her wedding day to be extra special – and if you are looking for a wedding venue with a difference, then you are in exactly the right place.

The romance of the river sets the perfect scene for your wedding day, and thanks to the Clyde Clipper, we have a purpose built, 250 passenger Catamaran perfect for a wedding.

As well as having the perfect venue, the spectacular coastal scenery, pretty villages and rugged mountains surrounding the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde make an idyllic backdrop for photographs.

Whether it is a traditional Scottish wedding or a stylish contemporary celebration, our experienced and creative wedding coordinator will personally ensure the smooth running of every element your day.

Each wedding ceremony and reception is expertly designed to completely express the personality of the bride and groom;  we really can tailor every single detail to your exact requirements.

Choose from various packages and we can make your dream day a reality:

Cruise Options

Our Cruise options are specially designed to allow choice and flexibility. Choose from one of our cruise options or talk to us about how you would like to use the boat on your special day. Our boats are licenced for weddings and civil partnerships so you can even get married on board.

• 2 hour city cruise
• 4 hour city cruise
• 2 hour scenic cruise
• 4 hour scenic cruise
• 6 hour scenic cruise

Have you ever contemplated using the Clyde Cruises fleet for a corporate event with a difference? If not, why not?

The charm and excitement involved in sailing on the open water is a must for companies looking to deliver that special message, build strong business relationships or deliver a training session that will be truly memorable.

We have had a wide variety of corporate events onboard including training days, team building days, product launches, staff reward days, presentations and client entertainment.

Just last week, we welcomed STV aboard for a Corporate Teambuilding and Training Day, while CBRE, one of the world’s leading commercial property and real estate services advisers,  joined us for a Team Outing.

If you want to add more activities on to your cruise, simply tell us your ideas and we’d be delighted to make recommendations. In the past, we have organised activities as diverse as quad biking, mountain biking, ceilidhs and whisky tasting.

We also know that organising a corporate event can be a daunting task, so we have compiled a FAQ section, where you can find more information on all the finishing touches and details.

Cruise Options

Our Cruise options are specially designed to allow choice and flexibility to suit all types of event:

2 Hour City Cruise

Our 2 Hour City Corporate Charter Cruise is the perfect way to see Glasgow from a different perspective. With major regeneration works transforming the world famous River Clyde, there’s no better way to showcase Glasgow to clients or simply enjoy a leisurely, memorable cruise with family and friends in our vibrant city.

4 Hour City Cruise

Our 4 Hour City Corporate Charter Cruise is the perfect way to enjoy a leisurely cruise through the city centre. Sail down as far as the famous Dumbarton Rock, allowing plenty of time for food and entertainment of your choice.

On the two hour cruise, which departs from the Broomielaw Pontoon at 18:30, you will learn about the ships and shipyards that made Glasgow famous and the Clyde world renowned.

The River Clyde has been a centre for shipbuilding for hundreds of years, with boats being built in the area as early as the 15th century, however it was during the 19th century that shipbuilding became a real source of commerce for Glasgow.

Our highly knowledgeable guide will talk you through the fascinating cruise, which will visit three docks; Rothesay Dock, King George V Dock and Princes Dock, along with four shipyards; John Brown’s, Yarrow’s, Fairfield’s and Alexander Stephen & Sons, where a certain Mr. Billy Connolly served his apprenticeship as an electric welder.

Connolly has often spoke fondly of his time in the shipyards (check YouTube!), and in Pamela Stephenson’s book ‘Billy’, he refers to the shipyards as ‘an extraordinary society of men’.

Only last year, as part of a £50 regeneration project, a huge steel mural of him was unveiled on a building overlooking the shipyards.

The Lord Provost of Glasgow at the time, Councillor Bob Winter, said: “This iconic mural looking out across the shipyards where Billy worked is a fitting tribute to one of the world’s most recognised, living Glaswegians… it will be a great source of pride for Billy and Glaswegians everywhere.”

Unlike Connolly’s stand-up shows, children of all ages are welcome onboard. This educational and informative cruise, which includes an onboard ‘Clyde Quiz’, will be sure to keep their curious minds stimulated.

Tickets for this fascinating cruise are priced at just £25 per person. To book, call us on 01475 721 281.

Sailing Schedule

• The cruise departs from the Broomielaw Pontoon on Wednesday 29th August
• Departure time: 18:30
• Duration: 2 hours
• Sailing times are subject to tidal conditions.
• Please contact us for further details

Vessel Details

• Comfortable, heated vessel with interior cabin
• Cost: £25 per person including live, historical commentary

Departing from the Broomielaw pontoon this Saturday at 18:30, you will enjoy a leisurely sail on the River Clyde, while Journey With Taste tantalise your taste buds with their tailored whisky tasting session onboard.

Presented by Journey With Taste’s director, Raymond Brown, the emphasis of the night is for you to own and enjoy the experience.

What makes this event different from others on the market is that this will not be about what others think and say about Malt Scotch Whisky, but about what you learn from your own feelings, thoughts and tastes.

The concept of Journey With Taste is taking a virtual ‘Journey’ to unique and interesting distilleries. Each distillery is brought to life with vision, music, and a brief resume of their history and special features, followed by the tasting of the malts of those distilleries.

The style of tasting will be ‘Step in – Step out’ tasting, which allows guests the freedom to approach the Whisky Station and sample three unique Scotch Malt Whiskies from different regions of Scotland at a pre-arranged time.

A selection of Scottish made food products is used to compliment the event. As Raymond explains: “To taste and explore fine Malt Scotch Whisky is an experience in itself, but when combined with fine Scottish food and a warm friendly atmosphere, your journey will be a lasting memory.”

On the night, there will also be an opportunity to participate in a prize draw for a bottle of Malt.

For more information, or to book our Whisky on Water Cruise, call us on: 01475 721281 or visit our website.

To contact Raymond Brown, you can email him at raymond@journeywithtaste.co.uk or follow him on Twitter.

Sailing Schedule

• The cruise departs from the Broomielaw pontoon on Saturday 4th August
• Departure Time: 18:30
• Duration: 2 Hours

Vessel Details

• Vessel: MV Rover
• Comfortable, heated vessel with interior cabin
• Cost: £30 per person including historical commentary