Should I do it?

[boatone]

Hire costs

What they are advertising and what they might settle for at a quiet time of year may well be very different.

Have you tried giving them a ring and asking if they are prepared to negotiate?

 

[Stormin Norm]

but your own food should be better quality than a Herd cruise,


The one thing I will take from this thread is that when I get to hire a boat on the Thames I am going to search out No Regrets for his cooking skills and try to scrounge a free meal. It's a good few years since I have been on a cruise (P&O) but the food then was fantastic.

Maybe boatone is right making an offer might be a good idea.

As for byron, maybe he deserves to have people lob empties on his lawn for the quality of his jokes!!!! hee!hee!

 

[nickcred]

Hi

I know the guys from Kris Crusiers fairly well as they put the new engine in the Birchwood for us and do all the servicing and work on the boat for us. I have to agree the prices at first glance seems steep, however the last week of October is Half Term week for many schools which unfortunately, rightly or wrongly (wrongly in my view) puts all holiday and travel costs up. However I will say that their boats are immaculately kept, maintained and well equipped. I know during the 2006 floods they actually refunded in full anyone who had booked, despite Blakes terms and conditions saying that they were not responsible. Awlays worth speaking with Paul and seeing if he can move on price.

Also there are two other boats available the last week of October. One a 6 berth 37ft at £839 and another 38ft at £985

No connection with them other than as a satisfied customer

Cheers

 

[DWT]

We have just got back from a cruise with P&O. It was our first and we got a late deal so thought it was worth a try. I cannot fault the facilities, food, service and destinations, but being stuck on a ship with three thousand other Brits is not really our idea of a good time (although our 12 year old daughter loved every minute of it).

We were out on the river at the weekend, overnight with friends between Sonning and Shiplake, a hop up to Henley for lunch, heard Apollo shouting at the skipper of a speeding slipper launch and then afternoon tea in a remote spot back towards Sonning. Very simple, but absolute bliss (helped by the warm weather).

I suppose I am preaching to the converted, but it cannot be beaten in my view. We are now looking forward to our annual trip down to Penton Hook during the bank holiday week.

 

[boatone]

WWe are now looking forward to our annual trip down to Penton Hook during the bank holiday week.

Wow - thats a must see destination.....you sure know how to have a good time !!!

 

[Hummer]

For a 12 year old kid I cant thinkg of a better place to go, they have the best swings in the country a hop and a skip across the road from Penton!

 

[boatone]

For a 12 year old kid I cant thinkg of a better place to go, they have the best swings in the country a hop and a skip across the road from Penton!

I really do need to grovel, don't I ?

Should have noticed the comment re the 12 year old :-(

 

[Stormin Norm]

Hi

I know the guys from Kris Crusiers fairly well as they put the new engine in the Birchwood for us and do all the servicing and work on the boat for us. I have to agree the prices at first glance seems steep, however the last week of October is Half Term week for many schools which unfortunately, rightly or wrongly (wrongly in my view) puts all holiday and travel costs up. However I will say that their boats are immaculately kept, maintained and well equipped. I know during the 2006 floods they actually refunded in full anyone who had booked, despite Blakes terms and conditions saying that they were not responsible. Awlays worth speaking with Paul and seeing if he can move on price.

Also there are two other boats available the last week of October. One a 6 berth 37ft at £839 and another 38ft at £985

No connection with them other than as a satisfied customer

Cheers

Good point, personally I had forgotten about the half term so that probably explains it. I must say most people on here have only good things to say about Kris Cruisers and I had also forgotten about Thorpe Park being so close to the river. I think therefore a reconnaissance mission is called for, I am due a night or two in London in October so maybe I will spend one night in the Windsor area and check it all out. I will contact Paul and tell him how highly thought of he is by the Thames Forum.

Advice Needed Please

If I was to base myself near Kris Cruisers and take a day boat.

1 How far could I reasonably hope to get downriver (and back) in say 5 hours would I make Penton Hook or Chertsey ?

2 Could someone recommend a nice hotel within 30 mins drive of Dachet ?

3 How far could I reasonably hope to get upriver (and back) in say 6 hours would I make Bourne End or Marlow ?


Thanks

PS Coliholic I hope I am not hijacking your thread but I think the answer to your original "Should I do it " question is River Cruise One Med Cruise Nil.

 

[DWT]

I really do need to grovel, don't I ?

Should have noticed the comment re the 12 year old :-(

No grovelling necessary. Penton Hook would hardly be a destimation of choice if it were not for Thorpe Park. When people ask where I went for my week's holiday I tell them "Chertsey.... and back." I do get some odd looks.

Actually we have never been able to get further downriver than Penton Hook in 16 years of owning a boat on the Thames. Lack of time is one reason, a preference for going upstream of Reading and my wife not being too keen on the idea of the bumpy bits in London are the others. She's a bit of a wimp really. At Thorpe Park last year we managed to coax her on to one of the tamest rides they have. When it started she went white and swore like a trooper, much to the amusement of my daughter and her friend.

 

[nickcred]

lol , mention my name you will get a 10% increase in the bill no seriously they are nice people, family owned and trustwothy in my experience, Thorpe park from windsor i think took us 4 hours from memory, had a great day there

 

[sidney]

There and Back!

Good point, personally I had forgotten about the half term so that probably explains it. I must say most people on here have only good things to say about Kris Cruisers and I had also forgotten about Thorpe Park being so close to the river. I think therefore a reconnaissance mission is called for, I am due a night or two in London in October so maybe I will spend one night in the Windsor area and check it all out. I will contact Paul and tell him how highly thought of he is by the Thames Forum.

Advice Needed Please

If I was to base myself near Kris Cruisers and take a day boat.

1 How far could I reasonably hope to get downriver (and back) in say 5 hours would I make Penton Hook or Chertsey ?

2 Could someone recommend a nice hotel within 30 mins drive of Dachet ?

3 How far could I reasonably hope to get upriver (and back) in say 6 hours would I make Bourne End or Marlow ?


Thanks

PS Coliholic I hope I am not hijacking your thread but I think the answer to your original "Should I do it " question is River Cruise One Med Cruise Nil.

From Datchet down to Penton or Chertsey and back is achieveable. I often manage the opposite journey, but remember the locks and ensure you are not trying on a busy weekend, when it could be more of a challenge. Going up stream I would reckon on Maidenhead and back as achieveable, at a real push possibly up to Cookham lock and back.

As for hotels what are you looking for? The Runnymede Hotel on the Thames at Egham is one possibility, any number in Windsor and also Slough. The Riviera at Maidenhead could be another possibility. No shortage of hotels, but depends on budget and also remember Heathrow and Legoland as well as Windsor are close by and that is refelcted in the prices!

BTW not cruised with RCCL for a few years, but they were excellent and so was the food good 4* standard. Don't know if it standard has gone down as ships have got bigger!

 

[Gavi]

I agree that in 6 hours, Maidenhead or Cookham are your limits going up, or Chertsey going down. If you want to entertain a 12 year old at Thorpe then you only need to stop at Staines. The Swan Hotel is on the river and has moorings - probably the nicest hotel in the town. There is also the Thames Lodge a bit further down but it is a bit businessy. If you want to leave a boat somewhere safe overnight and stay in a hotel not by the river then PM me.

Large budget: Great Fosters is near Thorpe Park and is fantastic - google it. I know the MD and can possibly get a deal.

Normal budget: There is a Premier Inn in Staines

 

[Stormin Norm]

Thanks for the help Guys, I will contact Paul at Kris Cruisers and make a plan.