The iconic Paddle Steamer The Waverley has been awarded the National Flagship of the Year by National Historic Ships UK in recognition of the breadth and geographic coverage of her sailings and an extended programme with a record-beating 70 ports and piers included in this year’s cruising itinerary.
The Waverley’s ambitious 2024 sailing programme commences on Friday, May 17 calling at Kilcreggan and the Clyde Coast before sailing to Oban and the Inner Hebrides. Early June The Waverley will depart for the Bristol Channel where her sailings were well received last season. The highlight of the 2024 season will be Waverley’s return to the South West and River Dart in late August.
The ship now supports approximately 184 full-time equivalent jobs with her presence in Argyll and Bute reportedly contributes an estimated £1.4 million annually to the local economy.
Waverley’s first sailing of 2024
With just two weeks to go until Waverley welcomes her first passengers of 2024 on Friday 17th May the crew are very busy preparing the ship. In the coming week Waverley will undertake sea and berthing trials to allow the crew to undertake various training activities – look out for her around the upper Firth of Clyde.
Bookings for the opening weekend are encouraging and we are delighted that advance bookings across the 2024 season to date are already reaching the 30,000 passenger mark and that’s before we have started sailing – there is clear demand for the National Flagship of the Year 2024!
Bookings are now open for all sailings in Scotland, the Bristol Channel, North Wales and the Mersey, and London & the Thames Estuary.
The South West, South Coast and Isle of Wight timetable will be released on Friday 10th May. There will be a surprise “First Ever” calling point in the South West programme so be sure to check back once the timetable is released.
Check out the timetables in this post and get set for a cruise on one of the UK’s greatest historic vessels. Book online at waverleyexcursions.co.uk or call our Booking Office on 0141 243 2224.
