Devon cruise company unveils festive cruises and wildlife watching trips
A popular Devon cruise company has revealed a series of sailings with a festive theme along the county’s coast during December.
Stuart Line Cruises is offering day-trippers the chance to explore the Exe Estuary and its wildlife in winter – and says ’tis the season to be jolly aboard its festively decorated, covered and heated vessels.
Passengers can hop aboard this holiday season for a warming River Exe Cruise on calm-assured waters and the opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery and fascinating wildlife of the Exe Estuary, from the entirely unique perspective of the water.
There are a variety of sailing dates on offer from 8 December to 1 January 2021 inclusive, all departing from Exmouth Marina.
The cruises are led by the skipper who will deliver an informative, live commentary which details the rich history, stunning beauty and diverse wildlife of the estuary and surrounds. And homemade mulled wine and warm, locally baked mince pies are included!
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Stuart Line will also be running its Sail with Santa trips throughout December. These have been a family favourite in Devon for over 20 years and once again boats will be taing to the calm-assured waters of the River Exe, allowing passengers to take some well-deserved time out to enjoy Christmas together.
The children will be able to meet Santa in his enchanting on-board grotto, where they will receive an amazing, handpicked gift, whilst the grown-ups can enjoy a glass of secret recipe homemade mulled wine and locally baked mince pies. There will be entertainment, refreshments and a hand-picked present for every child included.
And in addition to the festive sailing dates, Stuart Line Cruises is also timetabling a series of guides bird watching cruises on dates from November through to March 2021.
The Exe Estuary is one of the top-rated places in the country for its wildlife and passengers can join leading ornithologists to discover thousands of migrating birds on the calm and sheltered waters of the River Exe in winter.
Stuart Line Cruises are a family-run passenger boat company based in Exmouth at the mouth of the River Exe, and have been operating for over 50 years. Cruises are generally scheduled around low tide, when the sandbanks and mudflats are most exposed, offering unrivalled views of the birds when they are most active. These cruises have become very highly regarded across the country and are largely over-subscribed, with people travelling many miles to join them, so advanced booking is highly recommended.
The format of the guided bird watching cruises has been adapted for the 2020/21 season, in order to meet official Covid-19 safety guidelines. Onboard capacity has been reduced to around a third of what it would usually be and seating positions will be allocated as passengers board, on a first come, first served basis, in order to facilitate appropriate social distancing. Passengers will also be politely asked to limit their movement around the vessel during the cruise.
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