Ahoy there m’ hearties! Do you fancy slipping your mooring, stepping off dry land and giving the City Cruises Showboat a try?
If so, get your beehive coiffured and your lapels straightened because we’re pulling up the anchor and pushing off from Westminster Pier. Glass of bubbly in hand, we’re already taking in the view of the Southbank at dusk as the journey begins…
Where? Board the boat from 19.30 for a 19.45 departure (point 2) at the Westminster pier. This is conveniently just across from Westminster tube station. Once you depart, the boat glides lazily along the River Thames passing beneath Tower Bridge, up to Canary Wharf, Greenwich and the Thames Barrier before heading home.
What? The Showboat takes you on a three and a half hour cruise that snakes around the River Thames, enabling you to view the delightful iconic landmarks of London from the water. There’s a glass of bubbly on arrival and you’ll find your starters are already waiting on your table should you be hungry daters! A good touch, we think. There are three more courses to follow washed down with half bottle of wine each and some show-stopping tunes provides entertainment and mucho merriment throughout. Tonight’s menu – a delicious fish starter followed by soup, succulent chicken and a yummy dessert. Coffee is then served before passengers are invited to hit the dance floor – not literally we hope and no, you can’t, as we did, blame the boat for any unsteady or dodgy dance moves…this boat simply glides.
What else? A singer gets you to ‘shiver ya timbers’ in your seat with a collection of show-tunes later on in the evening and no cabaret would be complete without a little audience participation. Somehow, a mixture of bubbly and wine makes this an appealing idea… Oh, and should a microphone be thrust forth, please speak very clearly and announce that you met on Lovestruck. Thank-you.
If however, you want to escape for some romantic time together, you can head up on deck at any time you choose. The views are spectacular from here but if there’s a nip in the air, you can enjoy the stunning panoramic view from back ‘indoors.’
Good bits: On board entertainment means no awkward silences and all dodgy jokes can be left on the pier. They also have a great selection of wines, spirits and reasonably priced cocktails – not that we were taking notes or anything… This cruise is pretty much made for couples, from new daters to diamond wedding celebrators. Love is in the air on board this loveboat!
Tip-bits: Without wanting to take the wind out of your first-date sails; perhaps save this for a second or third date as once you board the boat there’s no getting off – unless you fancy a dip in the Thames. Thought not. It’s also advisable to resist any urge to recreate the ‘I’m King of the world’ scene from the Titanic. It could end badly for the two of you and put a real dampener on the evening…
Tickets: Must be pre-booked and cost £79.00 per person. This includes a 4 course meal with half a bottle of wine each and a glass of bubbly on arrival. The Showboat departs on Monday’s, Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s.
Romance rating: 9/10 for the river view of London at night…
Fancy winning some tickets? Look out for our competition this week on twitter and facebook!
‘Aye aye Cap’n!’
