The world’s last seagoing passenger carrying paddle steamer will be making a welcome return to Clacton Pier next week.
There are still tickets available on four of the five trips on the Waverley which begin on Wednesday (September 24) with the final cruise on October 10.
Three of the voyages involve the ever popular River Thames sailings passing under a floodlit Tower Bridge and two others offer live entertainment on the way to their destinations.
This year’s programme sets sail with a cruise along the coast and round the Principality of Sealand. Musical duo Eclipse will perform hits from the Sixties and there will be a special commentary on the Sealand story.
The next day (September 25) Waverley heads off along the coast and down the Thames for the first of its trips to Tower Bridge and is already a complete sell out.
On Tuesday September 30 the ship will cruise the River Blackwater and round MV Ross Revenge. There will be a chance to meet Radio Caroline DJs and DJ Ray Clarke will provide a running commentary. Musical duo Eclipse will again be on board with hits of the Sixties.
The final cruises will be on Wednesday October 1 and then Friday October 10 – both of which takes passengers along the coast, and up the Thames to a floodlit Tower Bridge.
Nigel Brown, Clacton Pier’s communications manager said that the Waverley crew will be hoping for better weather than last year when there was disruption to the programme.
“So many people look forward to the cruises and we will all be keeping our fingers crossed for favourable conditions for the sailings,” he added. “A lot of hard work goes into preparing the trips and they are always extremely popular.
“It is magical to see the Waverley arrive at our berthing arm and then leave again full of happy passengers.”
The vessel, which was built in 1947, has undergone a £1 million refit in Scotland following a record 2024 season.
Tim Wardley, Waverley’s piers liaison officer, said that the crew are grateful for the ongoing relationship with the pier.
“We run as a charity and rely on the goodwill of the team at Clacton Pier and other piers on the programme to host us and make the venture work,” he added.
Last year Waverley completed almost 158,000 passenger journeys over 125 days which was its most ever.
Book online at waverleyexcursions.co.uk or call 0141 243 2224.
