The Ship Canal Explorer Cruise
3
Nights Long
32
Miles of Cruising
4
Included Tours & Excursions
Cruise The World's First Ship Canal
The Ship Canal Explorer Cruise runs in Spring and Autumn and is a great short break to discover the Gloucester to Sharpness Ship Canal.
Highlights
The Gloucester to Sharpness Ship Canal
Capture glorious views of the Cotswolds escarpment, upper Severn estuary and Forest of Dean. Enjoy guided tours of Berkeley Castle to learn about the unique heritage of this place, and the ‘Purton Hulks’ graveyard of 80 barge wrecks scuppered to shore up the canal embankment.
You can also visit the Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre founded by the ‘father’ of nature conservation, Sir Peter Scott and the Cotswolds Canal Trust Heritage Centre to discover the history of the local waterways.
Limited Availability
This cruise is has limited sailings. Book today to avoid disappointment. Group Charters are available on this cruise.
Itinerary
Day One - Boarding and Sail to Gloucester's Historic Docks
Day Two - Gloucester and Berkeley Castle
Day Three - Purton Hulks Barge Graveyard and Slimbridge WWT
Day Four - Visit Saul and Depart
*Meal Times are 8.30 am Breakfast, 12.30 pm Lunch and 6.30 pm Dinner. Some cruises have lunch ashore during excursions which passengers must buy at their expense. The above itinerary is subject to change based on weather, tide and local conditions or events.
The MV Edward Elgar
All our cruises in England are on board the 4-star rated Edward Elgar hotel boat. With just 22 passengers and 5 crew, it provides a unique atmosphere whilst our crew look after everything.
98% of our passengers rate our service as "Good" or "Excellent" value for money. That's because we include:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the "Plus" package and the "Standard" package?
Both the plus and standard packages include your cabin on board, excursion entry fees if included in your cruise itinerary, food on the boat, unlimited tea and coffee, and house pour drinks from the bar. The packages relate to hotel upgrades and parking:
Standard Package: This includes the onboard amenities and services described above only. Parking is extra at a per-night charge.
Plus Package: This includes everything in the standard package but also dinner, bed and breakfast at our partner hotel (£32pp allowance on food items only for dinner at the hotel), parking during the cruise OR a taxi transfer from the hotel if you arrive by public transport, and a souvenir pack.
What do I have to pay and when?
Secure your booking with a 20% per cabin deposit. Balance payments must be paid in full 90 days before the cruise is due to depart.
I'm a single traveller. Do you have single cabins and single rates?
Yes. The Edward Elgar and Deborah only musthave twin cabins on board, but we do have single rates available on all cruises. Please note that to make a single booking, you will need to do so by phone by calling us on 01452 410411 as single bookings cannot be booked online.
All our scheduled cruises will have at least one cabin available at a single rate. Cruises departing in April and October will have two single-rate cabins on every sailing.
Is there parking & is it secure?
Yes. We have on-site parking at the boarding point in Gloucester which is covered, locked and has CCTV.
Parking is £7 per night on our standard package and included in the "Plus" package.
I have reduced mobility, is this suitable for me?
We have been inspected by VisitEngland and received an M1 mobility rating. This means we are considered to be suitable for older and less agile guests with sufficient mobility to climb a flight of steps but who would benefit from fixtures and fittings to aid balance. If you would like a full copy of our access guidance then you can find it here.
Do you allow children?
Our holidays are designed to be completely laid back and relaxed. We do not usually allow bookings with children as it is an adult only setting. However, if you charter the vessel in full for Christmas cruises, we do allow children but we ask that children are a minimum of 7 years old for safety reasons.
Do you allow dogs?
Non service dogs are not permitted on board. If you want to bring a service dog then please call us to discuss your needs on 01452 410411.
Do I need travel insurance cover?
Yes. It is very important in case you have to cancel unexpectedly. We do not sell travel insurance but we will provide you with details of travel insurance providers that can arrange suitable cover for one of our cruises. You can use any insurer and we don't insist you use our partner insurer. It is important you purchase coverage as soon as you have booked your holiday. Having travel insurance is a condition of travel with English Holiday Cruises. Here is the link to our partner insurer, Just Travel Cover.
What happens if I need to cancel? What are your terms of booking?
Please make sure you have familiarised yourself and everyone in your party with our terms of booking and cancellation policy.
I have already made a booking. Where can I get the boarding pack information?
Please go to our FAQ Page for boarding pack downloads and how to find us.
The Ship Canal Explorer Cruise
Pricing and Availability
Standard Package
£750
Per Person Twin Sharing
£995
Per Person Single Occupancy
Our three night cruises now welcome guests from 14:00 on boarding day.
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English Holiday Cruises Ltd. Registered in England and Wales Company Number 05207004. Registered Address: Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3AT. Please visit the Contact Us page for our correspondence address.
