Waverley Excursions Reviews 47

I have been on The Waverley many times over the years since I was child. Mainly in Scotland, We took a trip last year (Wife, Daughter (11) & Myself) to London for a sail under Tower Bridge and out to the Sea Forts which was fantastic.
My daughter absolutely loves the old steamer (she's got half the gift shop in her bedroom!) We are currently camping in Loch Lomond and surprised her with a Sunset Cruise down the Clyde last night, she was over the moon when she caught her first glimpse of the funnels! we didn't get much of a sunset but another wonderful evening cruising along the Clyde.

I see alot of negative reviews on here, I think if you are planning a trip on the Waverley you need to realise you are going on board a 77 year old boat that is extremely complicated, if something mechanical goes wrong a new part cant just be picked up. This is no modern cruise ship!

I have had 25+ trips over the years and other than a couple of delays have never had a cancelled trip. This vessel is far more reliable and far better maintained than calmacs far newer ferry fleet!

It is a testament to the crew and everyone involved.

Can't recommend enough, fantastic day out for a family or with friends. A trip back in time and a great opportunity to visit places you normally never would.

Memories that will stay with us forever.

Our excursion got cancelled due to technical issues. Extremely hard to get a refund. Emails are replied with an automatic message. No communication what so ever. Don't EVER book anything with Waverly Excursions. When its cancelled you won't get a refund.

A few years ago, we had booked a cruise from Girvan, only for it to be cancelled on the morning of departure (by which time we had committed to having to pay for a hotel for two nights). This time we had booked for a cruise from Girvan to Ayr on 28 July and a cruise from Ayr to Campbelltown on 29th July. Have just received notification that both trips are cancelled. While we shall receive a refund for the cruises, £285 for two nights in an Ayr hotel is wasted. If you are foolish enough to book one of these cruises, don't take any special holiday time out and don't combine it with a hotel booking. Never again with The Waverley for us!

Waverley cruise from Penarth cancelled at short notice. The Captain just appeared at the front of the queue and said there was an engineering problem and the cruise was cancelled. He was persuaded to go back along the queue telling all the people about the cancellation - it looked as though this wasn't an uncommon experience !

We had a wonderful 6 hours on The Waverley yesterday , leaving from Bideford and returning from Ifracombe via organised coaches .
Very lucky with the weather . Sat out on deck for virtually the whole cruise enjoying the north Devon coastline . The ship and loos were clean,and watching the engines work was amazing .Yummy fish,chips and the best mushy pea lunch . We'll be back !

What a lovely day! We went from Tower Pier to the Maunsell Sea Forts in Thames Estuary stopping at Gravesend and Southend on the way. Long day 9.30. am - 9.0.pm. but lots to see, with commentary, including Tower Bridge opening twice for us, Thames Barrier, two Antony Gormley art works, O2 dome, under QE11 River Bridge Crossing and all the amazing and interesting places along the way! Facilities on board are adequate and the quality of the cooked food was good and freshly cooked - how do they do it? Lovely friendly and informed staff. Felt it would have been more comfortable with less people. We were lucky with a beautiful day but no idea where everyone would be seated if weather was poor. Reason for 4 not 5 stars!

We had a wonderful day travelling from Portsmouth to Yarmouth and back. The crew were super friendly (special mention for Bob). They clearly love the jobs they do and love the oldest sea-going steamer in the world. Seeing and smelling the engine and paddle wheels at work was a unique pleasure. And Yarmouth was a great day trip destination too!

Booking for our group was easy. Just one phone call and adding one more was simple too.
The ship is so interesting and a history lesson on its own.
Staff were all so courteous and friendly. Food was excellent and good value as were the drinks.
The trip around the Isle of Wight allowed us views we’d never see any other way along with a really interesting commentary.
A wonderful experience enjoyed by all 17 of us. Thank you

What a fantastic experience. Excellent staff , some volunteers , and the most beautiful scottish views from Largs to Tarbert . So impressed by the passion & enthusiasm of all friends of The Waverley . Makes me feel so proud . Well done to all who contribute to its success . Fantastic .

Given the fact that this is a charity owned and operated vessel you can forgive the loose taps & the odd damaged table leg etc. The company & crew work well keeping this vessel in operation. However 'customer facing' customer service requires a certain type of attitude that needs a little attention. Many people have a great deal of pride connected to sailing on the Waverley. Particularly in Scotland - if you have a family history that included going 'doon the water'. So its important to keep details like that in mind when handling customers face to face. The purser - was a gentleman.
The barman - also a gentleman. Staff around the decks - polite, attentive and approachable. The kitchen staff ..?
Well, they were rude, abrupt, direct and unsympathetic. If they don't want to be there - replace them. Some cooking skills might be a good idea also. When I got home - my dad laughed and said 'oh no, you don't eat on the boat - your mum and I had a meal on the boat years ago and it was rotten' (He's 82 and has been aboard many, many times from a boy to lockdown). The Waverley in Scotland is right up there with Irn-bru and Tunnocks tea cakes. A proud tradition that deserves respect from all parties. Even wee lassies working in the kitchen who canny be bothered. At least try the food you are serving to make sure it has some flavour. For us the battered Haddock was tastless. Cooked too quickly I suspect - No amount of seasoning was going to fix, and service with a genuine smile costs nothing but is worth so, so much. We'll be sailing again next season hopefully. 👍. We're already making plans for Waverley based family days. Give me the opportunity to give you that extra star!!

We booked the cruise to Kyle's and Loch Fyne scenery was beautiful.
The big let down was the cleanliness of the bar and restaurant areas, tables were unclean and had a sticky residue feel to them, I would suggest a deep clean is needed in these areas, after all eating on board is not cheap so you would expect to be able to sit down to a clean environment.

My wife and I booked an excursion to swasea bay mumbles and gower on 13th June it only managed to get to swansea then turned back we know that people were waiting at the dock to go to penarth but while they had their full trip we were left short changed yours a disappointed Allan and Betty Hopkins 23 yr ysfa maesteg cf34 9ag

We took the Waverley from Tenby to Milford Haven in Jun-23 and it was lovely to be part of such a nostalgic trip on such an historic vessel. Our kids also similarly enjoyed the experience, waving to the bystanders on the shoreline etc was a fab experience for them. A couple of downsides however; The trip was obviously highly in demand and we felt 600 people on board was too many and took away from the experience. After waiting a good hour to queue up, we eventually found a seat on side of the boat but immediately after sitting down our view of the sea was obscured by the lines of passengers standing around the perimeter railings. We ended up standing for the entire 3 hour journey, so think about that if you have elderly guests. The other thing we noticed was the queueing for the buses at disembarkment was chaotic. Luckily we'd planned ahead with transportation but if you're reliant on the official bus to return back, it's worth adding a further couple of hours onto your journey time. A decent historic experience on a lovely vessel but not quite up to a 5* occasion. With thanks, The Nand-Lal family

ABANDONED. DANGEROUS COMPANY!

70 people including elderly, disabled and children abandoned in Minehead after an organised trip off the boat. All left for over 2 hours with no contact from the boat after a coach failed to pick everyone up.

We're then left to find own way back to Penarth from Minehead at own cost.

Absolutely disgusting, traumatising and dangerous.

This company should not be allowed to run! Do not book!

Do not use this company, They have no regard for the care of their customer! They abandoned children, the elderly the disabled in England yesterday and expected then to make there own way back at their own expense! Cost us, my mother in law and her 84yr old mothrr over £200 to get home!

Recently went on the 12 hour cruse from Weston super mare. I am disabled but knew in advance I would not be able to use the main toilets downstairs or view the engine room etc because of the steep stairs. There was a disabled toilet on the main deck so it should have been all good. However the disabled toilet was disgusting. There was faeces all over the toilet, floor, door and seat and no soap at anytime during the day even just after 1 hour at sea. The toilet was locked and accessable with a radar key. I reported the filthy toilets 5 times during the day and each time I was informed not to worry it had already been reported because other disabled passengers had complained. During the 12 hour cruse the disabled toilet was not cleaned once and even at the begining of the cruise there was no soap. I found it embarrassing asking for the toilets to be cleaned and undignified being forced to use them. I even stopped drinking fluids to avoid using them, which isn't right. I have emailed a complaint but no reply as yet. The cost of our tickets were £171 in total which should have included a clean disabled toilet!

Following a direct complaint to the company they have given us 3 free tickets for a future sailing of our choice.

I had a great experience aboard the waverly today from Penarth in the Bristol Channel. Took my eleven year old son aboard for the first time. I would often go with my father when I was a child. I recognised an old crew member who I spoke to and he kindly offered to take myself and my son into the boiler room for a private tour. Thank you Davey. Great day out and highly recommend a trip on the waverly to anyone who loves the sea and good old engineering.

I had an absolutely fabulous day out on Sunday 21st May 2022.

My Birthday Treat was a ticket for THE WAVERLEY - The Clyde Steamer, leaving from The Science Centre at 10.00 am (which was so easy to find by car), who sails in Scottish waters before heading south for August until mid September when she returns for a few more day cruises for the season.

She is a beautiful vessel and run by a very hard working charity who tries desperately hard to keep her afloat.

It’s an experience everyone should have and thoroughly enjoy, as I did.

If you like the wind in your face, seeing our magnificent scenery and traveling in the time of by-gone days, then it’s for you.

It’s a totally different feeling being on the water. The Clyde was mirror like and it stayed calm all day.

It was a cloudy day with a few break of sunshine in the afternoon. Picking up passengers from various piers along the way and dropping passengers off.

The Waverley is reliant on donations for her annual maintenance. What better way to keep her on the water but to go and have a great day out?

I couldn’t believe we we’re heading back up The Clyde as the time had passed so quickly!!

For me it was a very memorable day indeed!!
Thank you to all The Waverley Crew and their supporters for making it happen.

Boat trips are fine.Rating them badly for latest appeal they sent...Donate £100 and they will give you a teatowel... How arrogant is that

Day cruising around the Isle of Wight greatly helped by perfect weather. Food available and fairly priced. Commentary as we went and crew were competent and agreeable. I would recommend it but don’t forget the old lady is 75 and it is a charity not a ferry service.