A Novel Festive Cruise

As always, the Scottish Branch’s Festive Cruise proved to be a great way to blow away the Christmas cobwebs. This year had the added bonus of cold, clear sunny day. It was also a great mid-winter catch-up opportunity for those who often see each other on Waverley’s decks.

So it was that two days after Christmas Clyde Marine’s MV Cruiser left Greenock’s Victoria Harbour at 1035 with 62 passengers from as far away as Bristol and Perth. This year’s cruise offered a rare opportunity to sail the Gareloch. Another new feature this year was 2 ½ hours ashore for an excellent lunch served at table at Kilmun’s Younger Hall by the shores of Holy Loch courtesy of The Pier Bistro.

The original plan had been to disembark at Kilmun’s pier. However, as a result of work at the pier, MV Cruiser had to dock at the Holy Loch Marina at Sandbank on the other side of the loch. As this was four miles by road from Kilmun, the Festive Cruise experience included another novel feature – a West Coast Motors double decker bus.

After two and a half hours MV Cruiser left Sandbank at 15:40 to sail across the Firth as the sun set behind us. Under the darkening moonlit sky the lights of the Inverclyde coast presented a fine sight, as did a floodlit Custom House as we arrived back at Victoria Harbour at 16:50.

From comments received it was clear that a great day was had by all on a cruise with some novel twists. As well as beng an enjoyable day, it’s good to know that the cruise (and its generously supported raffle) also raised funds for PSPS to preserve paddlers.

It will be interesting to see what 2015’s Festive Cruise will have to offer.