Rutland Water Cruises
Rutland Water Cruises
4.7
Full view
About
Rutland Water Cruises enables visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery from the water, amidst the sailors, anglers and water birds, whilst listening to detailed commentary highlighting points of interest, (hearing induction loop fitted in lower saloons). Our bar offers a selection of beers, wines, spirits, hot and cold drinks and snacks. Wheelchair accessible from Whitwell. We welcome quiet, well-behaved dogs and now offer Single tickets for those that want to walk or cycle from the North or South shores. COVID-19: We are operating in a COVID-19 secure manner, in accordance with all up to date UK government advice for the safety of our employees and customers. To fulfil these requirements, we ask that our customers also adhere to the most recent UK government and social distancing guidelines to keep us all safe.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.7
90 reviews
Excellent
76
Very good
6
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0
ruthieca
Felixstowe, UK61 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Took boat trip on Rutland Belle during visit. Trip costs £13 return and lasts 45 mins. The boat leaves from Whitwell on the North Shore and calls at Normanton on South Shore. Good information is provided highlighting points of interest and information. Refreshments are available to purchase on board. Staff really friendly and accommodating. Lovely scenery and would recommend.
Written 1 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dawood1960
Leicester, UK63 contributions
Aug 2020
The cruise was around 45 minutes and covers the eastern end of Rutland Water.
The crew could not have been more helpful. They even come round and offer drinks (including alcoholic). The captain / owner who took us was very informative as well as light-hearted, making it a very pleasant way to spend time, but the weather does help.
At £10.00 per adult to do the round trip (you can get off/on at Normanton Church on a single journey) it isn't cheap, but there is a family ticket and I would argue that it is more than worth it.
With social distancing, he can only load to half capacity, but it is well organised by the crew.
The crew could not have been more helpful. They even come round and offer drinks (including alcoholic). The captain / owner who took us was very informative as well as light-hearted, making it a very pleasant way to spend time, but the weather does help.
At £10.00 per adult to do the round trip (you can get off/on at Normanton Church on a single journey) it isn't cheap, but there is a family ticket and I would argue that it is more than worth it.
With social distancing, he can only load to half capacity, but it is well organised by the crew.
Written 4 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're very glad that you enjoyed your time with and hope you'll come again :-)
As you mention, the round-trip ticket includes the possibility to spend a lot of time over on the South Shore, which as mentioned in a previous response is increasingly popular and highly recommended. We now offer single tickets at only £7 Adult or £4.50 Child and many of our passengers like to take a one-way trip and walk/cycle back (4 miles). Alternatively, an increasing number of our passengers are those that have parked over on the South Shore and walked round and would like an opportunity to rest their legs on the way back. Finally, we offer discounted Family Tickets cover two adults and two children for both Return and Single Journeys.
Thanks again for your kind review.
Written 26 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel W
Leicester, UK246 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
Lovely 45 minute round trip. Friendly staff. Good seating and dog friendly. Nice guided tour and you can get off if you want too, wait for an hour and come back. Only niggle is there’s a queue for online bookings and a queue for paying there and then and it just became a free for all with no order
Written 14 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Birdwatchingbabe
Leicester, UK6 contributions
Jul 2021
We went on the Osprey cruise yesterday, the commentary was poor and unprofessional, you couldn't hear it downstairs. A man on the ship told us more about Rutland water and the Ospreys than the young girl commentating! Not worth £25 we thought it was over priced. We thought there would be other wildlife to see, the seating was uncomfortable, for £50 per couple we should have had a free cuppa!!
Not worth it and wouldn't want to go again.
Not worth it and wouldn't want to go again.
Written 29 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NC0317
Leicestershire, UK49 contributions
May 2021
An hour’s trip around Rutland Water, leaving from Whitwell. Communication beforehand was excellent with a courtesy call from an email I had left assuring me we had two places on the noon sailing. Staff at this family run enterprise were excellent, genuinely pleased to see us and attentive with on board commentary thrown in. On board we had a gin and tonic which was a lovely touch. You can also have tea and coffee if you prefer. Highly recommended. You can do the trip in one go or get off at Normanton spend some time there and then rejoin a later cruise. You could also walk back if you prefer. The boat was absolutely spotless- it was so nice to see such attention to detail. We shall return with the grandchildren. We had a picnic afterwards although there is a takeaway cafe available. However, the larger Harbour Cafe was not open on this occasion. Toilets were clean at Whitwell. There are other facilities there too such as an aqua park, climbing wall but you would need to check internet before going to see if and when they are open.
Written 18 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clare S
3 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Excellent experience all round, with crew paying very careful attention to correct social distancing and hygiene regulations but in a way that didn't cause stress or anxiety. Even had drinks service at our seats to avoid unnecessary moving around. And the usual relaxed, interesting and occasionally humorous commentary from the captain.
Always worth spending some time enjoying the view at Normanton Church so if you're boarding at Whitwell, give yourself time to have a stop at Normanton and catch a later trip back or stretch your legs and walk back to Whitwell along the water's edge.
Always worth spending some time enjoying the view at Normanton Church so if you're boarding at Whitwell, give yourself time to have a stop at Normanton and catch a later trip back or stretch your legs and walk back to Whitwell along the water's edge.
Written 8 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review - We're glad you enjoyed your time with us.
As you mention, splitting the trip on the South Shore at Normanton is increasingly popular and well recommended as apart from being quite scenic, the South Shore has a number of amenities including an ice cream van, food kiosk, cafe, easy access to the Normanton Park Hotel and with the Wheatsheaf at Edith Weston being just one mile away. If we have room we carry bikes and many people like to do a ride on that side of the water and with our new one-way tickets, many choose to cycle / walk back.
We hope you'll come again soon!
Written 26 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wendy
Witham, UK5 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
Nice relaxing trip. A pleasant way to see the water on a day where the weather was not great, and not the best for walking around.There is an opportunity to get off at Normington Church and return on the next boat. The commentary was good. Refreshments were available which were bought to your seat, and good value for the £11 per person price paid. We enjoyed it.
Written 26 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerry S
leicester162 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We really enjoyed our cruise on the Rutland Belle Nd would definitely like to go back and do one of their social cruises.
We went over to Normanton and had an hour at Normanton before coming back on the next tour.
We took our 2 dogs after booking then on the specific cruise times as it says they allow 3 - so if you have dogs pls do check they have space first!
It was a lovely informative cruise and we very much enjoyed our time thankyou
We went over to Normanton and had an hour at Normanton before coming back on the next tour.
We took our 2 dogs after booking then on the specific cruise times as it says they allow 3 - so if you have dogs pls do check they have space first!
It was a lovely informative cruise and we very much enjoyed our time thankyou
Written 12 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
XLB
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
A fantastic cruise on a beautifully well presented vessel. She is a credit to her crew, who couldn‘t have been more helpful and friendly. The steward was particularly generous with his time in explaining to me all the work that was done every year in order to keep her in tip top condition. I was even afforded a glimpse of the extremely well turned out Gardner engine.
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaynor S
Solihull, UK496 contributions
Aug 2021
A nice way to see the sights, but not cheap and only 45minutes long.
The boat is a decent size, with a tiny bar/coffee place, plenty of seating, under cover and outside, and an informative commentary, via loud speakers.
Good to view everything in comfort.
The boat is a decent size, with a tiny bar/coffee place, plenty of seating, under cover and outside, and an informative commentary, via loud speakers.
Good to view everything in comfort.
Written 6 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sorry, missed your question but we were on a coach trip so I wouldn’t have been able to say.
Written 27 October 2019
On any cruise - but only from Whitwell. Plse let us know in advance so we can preboard you
Tks
Written 11 July 2019
One family ticket which is £28. If one of your children is less than three years old then he/she will go free of charge in which case the charge would be £19 for two adults + £6.50 for one child.
Written 4 September 2018
About £30 per person for the trip food and small gin samples for 3 hours.
Written 27 July 2018
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