Posts filed under ‘London Jet Boat Experience’
River Thames Boat Barbeque
We are due a hot summer. Well I certainly think we deserve a hot summer after the last two depressingly wet ones! Combine the past two years of poor weather with the current economic doom and gloom and all seems very grey! Whatever hand you have been dealt for 2009 you can be sure of one thing. If you want to get away from it all the River Thames provides a welcome escape from the stresses and strains of life in the City in 2009!
Give yourself something to aim for this year with a boat party on the River Thames this summer. Soak up the scenery from the deck of a luxury Thames river boat whilst cruising through the heart of our beautiful capital City. Leave all your worries and problems back ashore and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Thames waters.
If you are looking at chartering a London Party Boat this summer why not consider a barbeque. With more promising weather for 2009 the boat barbeque is this years cool catering choice. Even if you are caught out by the unpredictable British climate the food can be cooked in the galley ‘barbeque syle’ so you can still get that summer feeling from within your dry cozy cabin!
What to drink aboard your Thames river boat? This year is all about a welcoming Pimms on reception, followed by a glass of cool crisp Rose, finished off with a Mojito or two….
For smaller groups look for a Disco Cruise or upmarket Dinner Cruise. These are a great way to get out and enjoy the Thames without having to charter the whole boat to yourself. Looking for something a little less relaxing – try a River Thames speed boat RIB Blast or for the ultimate thrill ride jump into a customised version of the Special Boat Service High Speed Jet Boat.
Whatever you choose to do make sure you enjoy this summer, it is time we had a good one.
A guide to enjoying the River Thames in London this Spring
The River Thames in London becomes even more inviting as the days grow longer and the warmer weather draws ever closer. Spring is well and truly in the air now with some glorious days over the past few weekends. Lets hope the cold winter means we will get a hot summer this year!
With this warmer weather brings the annual rush to get outdoors, and where better than the banks or flowing waters of the River Thames in London. With so many different boats on offer you really are spoilt for choice.So how do you choose which river boat, speed boat or Thames River cruise is right for you?
Here is a guide to getting the most from your boat cruise on the River Thames this Spring:
- Decide what you want to do – wine and dine or blast through the city!?
- How many people are in your party as this will affect which boats and cruises will suit?
- Be aware of the weather – we are in Britain after all!
- Decide what times and dates suit you and how long you want to be out on the River Thames?
- London has many other things to offer so you may want to combine your trip on the River Thames with another activity in the City – this may affect where you want to get on and off the boat in London.
- If you choose a speed boat charter or a jet boat make sure everyone in your group is keen!
- Disco Cruises and Dinner Cruises offer an ideal solution for smaller groups.
If you are booking a River Thames boat charter for the summer and you have a specific date in mind make sure you book early. You will not only get a favorable rate if you book before the 1st April, but you will be more likely to get the date you want.Also make sure you look at a few different boats as the style and quality of service does vary. The old adage, ‘You get what you pay for’ does apply, although the difference in price between the cheap and the top end is not as great as the difference in standards and service!
Remember to plan ahead to ensure you choose the right boat or cruise for you and you have an enjoyable trip on the River Thames this year.
I hope this guide has been helpful.
Enjoy the River Thames on a budget…
With the current squeeze on wallets I thought an article guide on low cost Thames boat charters would be interesting and helpful. The River Thames in London is a picturesque and exciting location and enjoying it is more affordable than most people think…
To most people a boat on the River Thames is seen as either an extremely luxurious private London Party Boat, more basic sightseeing boat, or high speed commuter boat. However over the past 5 years the choice for enjoying the Thames in London has grown significantly with many new options and boats.
If you are looking to celebrate on the river, but after a low cost budget option you will be pleased to hear there are plenty to consider.
As with any cruise the first thing to do is decide how many people you wish to book for, when and what style of charter you are after.
A good way to save money if you have a small group is to join a scheduled cruise. There are many options for scheduled ticket cruises in London including daily River Thames Lunch Cruises, Silver Service Jazz Dinner Cruises and Party Boat Disco Cruises.
Thames Lunch Cruise from £25 per ticket
Thames Dinner Cruises with Live Jazz from £71.50 per ticket
Thames Disco Cruises with Live DJ from £25 per ticket
If you are looking for something a bit different the Thames speed boats are a popular option with many available for ticket bookings and private charters. For the ultimate in adrenaline their is also the London Jet Boat Experience, true spins and high speed turns.
Many of the operators are now offering James Bond RIB cruises which adds something a little extra to your charter. Again these are great value, partyl because of the many different competing companies!
Private charters on the RIB’s start from just £325 for an hour and that is for up to 12 passengers! (£27.50 each)
If you are looking for a private charter Thames River Boat there are also some real deals to be had if you book early in the year. For example one company is offering 2008 charter rates for any booking made before March 2009 for the whole year. Others sometimes offer discounts for bookings placed in January. Both these deals on are some of the most luxurious party boats available on the River Thames.
It is always worth hunting for a deal, but at the end of the day that old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ still rings true in most cases! If in doubt ring round some of the companies and just ask – everyone knows everyone on the Thames in London, and if they don’t then you have your answer!
A guide to Thames Speed Boat Charters in London
The Thames until relatively recently was a slow and tranquil place where tripping and charter boats slowly cruised up and down the river whilst people enjoyed the sights gliding past. Over the past few years there has been a growing fleet of high-speed river buses and small speed boats, RIB’s and jet boats on the Thames in London.
This has brought a new element to the traditional river boats and London party boats; a new fast, adrenaline fueled, fun angle for enjoying the beautiful River Thames as it carves it’s way through the heart of the City.
So when looking to charter a speed boat on the Thames in London, try out the jet boat experience, or RIB blasts what do you need to be aware of…?
Numbers: Most of the speed boats on the River Thames in London cater for up to 12 passengers, but some of the smaller speed boats can only cater for up to 6 or 8 passengers. The biggest jet boat can hold 20.
One thing to note – the less people in the boat the faster it goes… simple physics! If you are having a private charter discourage everyone from joining you, particularly with the Jet boat, and everything is faster and more ‘interesting’…
Saying that the boats have vast engines so are more than capable of providing high-speed fun when loaded, they are just more maneuverable when lighter.
The Weather: most of the speed boats are open with no covered areas making the unpredictable British Weather of a higher importance. There are solutions – a speed boat or powerboat with a cabin or the more popular one – waterproofs! The open speed boats and jet boats on the Thames all offer loan of yachting waterproofs for occasions where the weather is not behaving. These are generally included in the hire fee.
Facilities: the nature of a speed boat charter on the Thames means it is usually brief – i.e around an hour in total. Therefore most have few facilities. For example unless you charter a luxury powerboat or traditional wooden boat they are unlikely to have toilets or the option of drinks and catering…
Time: Most are not able to go out on charter after sunset. It depends on the boat here. A good rule of thumb is if they have facilities such as toilets, food and drinks then they will be available for charters after dark. Generally the smaller boats are restricted.
Cost: The charters are often quite short which sometimes means the rates are ‘lower’ than on the larger London party boats. However in general speed boats are expensive to charter due to the fact they don’t hold many people, have no facilities to cross and up-sell other services and use a lot of fuel. They have to be money making to continue so please bear this in mind.
Type of experience: From a candle lit dinner to 360 degree spins there is a Thames speed boat for almost every occasion. If speed and adrenaline are key then nothing beats the Jet Boat experience, but if a more sedate evening of private luxury is sought then a powerboat or traditional wooden speed boat offer pure style and sophistication.
Boats: There are many styles of fast boats for hire on the River Thames in London. There are open RIB style speed boats, James bond style powerboats, traditional wooden cabin speed boats and High-power Jet Boats for the ultimate thrill ride experience.
- Thames Speed boats
- London Jet Boats for Hire
- London RIB Charters
- Traditional Thames speed boat
- London Powerboats for hire – James Bond style
I hope this guide has been useful – more info on boating on the River Thames in London can be found in the many articles below.
Boating on the River Thames in London
A boat trip on the river Thames is one of the most amazing experiences you can have in London. The river is an ever changing landscape the water level rising and falling with the tide and the light reflecting on the boats and buildings. At night it gets even better where the multi-million pound interactive lighting system illuminates the World’s most famous buildings and bridges in an ever changing array of colours.
Sights such as Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf all look as arguably more spectacular at night than they do by day. Great if you were thinking of treating someone special to a dinner cruise.
The types of boats available to hire on the river Thames are as varied as the sights! From RIB speed boats to London Party Boats for hire through to sailing barges all offering as many different activities for entertainment! Clay pigeon shooting, London jet boat rides, casino nights, disco cruises, wedding receptions Christmas parties and other seasonal celebrations.
The thing to remember to make the most of your boat trip on the river Thames is to plan ahead. Make sure you work out exactly what you want and search the many companies, view a selection of Thames Boats for hire and ensure you ask all the questions. After all on the day you want to relax and enjoy your charter not be worrying about every last detail…
Will the British weather affect my Thames Boat Charter?
Our traditionally unpredictable weather becomes incredibly important to you when you have a boat charter on the Thames booked! Instead of a passing glance at the summary forecast on the GMTV news over breakfast before leaving to fight your way on to the bus or tube you will find yourself scanning the detailed BBC local forecast online to try and work out whether that one little cloud is going to move over London during your Thames cruise!!!
But do not fear as wind and rain is not the end of the world, and equally hot sunny weather can be fully exploited as many boats have plenty of space undercover and out in the open, particularly the larger Thames passenger boats and London Party Boats. Most also have full central heating systems and some even air conditioning!
The key is to ensure when you select your boat before you confirm the charter that the boat is suitable for the number of guests if the weather is good or bad. Good weather can also cause problems if you have booked a London Party Boat with very small outside deck space as people all want to be outside soaking up the rays and there just isn’t the space. When you talk to the sales person and view the boats make sure you know how many can fit inside and outside comfortably – add smoking to the equation and covered outside deck space may also be an important consideration…
If you have chartered a speed boat or London Jet Boat or are joining the Thames Jet Boat experience then you will already be expecting a damp ride and waterproofs are provided – so poor whether shouldn’t be seen as much of a problem – just have a hot chocolate at a near by cafe when you get off the boat! If it is cold I would however highly recommend hat and gloves. If you feel cold when you step out of the front door this is heavily intensified when on a boat on water travelling at speed, so bring too many warm clothes – they can always stay in your bag. A good analogy to use with guests is to say, “on a cold wet morning you wouldn’t ride a motorbike down the motorway for an hour in a t-shirt would you!” Well sitting on a speed boat for an hour could be classed as similar…
However not wanting to put you off – if you have the right clothing you can really enjoy the fun of blasting along the river wrapped up snug and cosy, sat with your friends whilst viewing our beautiful city from one of the most exclusive seats in London.
If you have your wedding on a boat the weather becomes less important – imagine that field and marquee with all those heels sunk into the mud! A 5* luxury Thames riverboat is simply the nicest place to be if the weather has turned bad or indeed is beautiful bright sunshine on your most special day – a truly unique wedding venue.
So in summary before booking your boat charter on the Thames in London consider how different weather conditions will affect the people onboard – plan ahead and it won’t matter what the forecast and actual weather turn out to be as everyone will enjoy themselves and look forward to the next time.
Charter a Boat this summer on the River Thames
Summer time in London can be hot, sticky and uncomfortable. With crammed tubes and buses, boiling temperatures outside and freezing air conditioning inside the fresh air and space on and around the River Thames attracts people in their thousands. Riverside bars and pubs heave with punters, but to really get away and enjoy the fresh air and get a breeze the only answer is to get out on a boat.
There are several permanently moored ships which provide pub style open deck fun on the Embankment at Charring Cross. The two that instantly spring to mind are the Tattershall Castle opposite the London Eye and the Queen Mary which is only a few 100m further down the North bank. They do get very busy though, for the obvious reasons!
If you have a group then a Thames riverboat disco cruise is great fun, + you can usually smoke on the outside decks…
The ultimate is to charter your own London party boat and there are a lot to choose from. Personally I would recommend one with a signisicant amount of outside deck space. For example the Erasmus has as much outside deck space as internal deck space so if the British weather does it’s thing it won’t ruin your party. Of course if it is a glorious evening then everyone onbaord has the option to get outside too….
The Elizabethan is an incredibly elegant vessel, but one of the best for the summer time. She has a companion way circling the entire vessel so guests can simply hang on the rail sipping a cocktail. Over her dance floor is a retractable roof so you can dance under the stars as the night rolls on. Each boat really has it’s own unique options. As I said earlier though I would avoid boats with n, or limited outside deck space and similarly those which are mainly open – you never know what the weather is going to do!
For drinks why not the classic Pimms on reception as guests board, or maybe a Pink Champagne or sparkling Rose. Alcoholic Punch or cocktails are also lots of fun and get everyone in the mood!
With regard to catering you may want to consider a barbecue, very seasonal again for obvious reason, but a great way to really get that summer feeling into your London boat party.
Another fun idea is to charter a London Jet Boat or maybe a RIB, as these fast speed boats really get the wind whistling through your hair. If you have a larger party and are planning to charter a larger Luxury Charter Boat you can always have the speed boat come alongside at a pier and take small groups out for 15 minute blasts. Always goes down well with the gents!
If you would like any further information please drop a comment on the bottom of this blog.
Thanks
Websites with information on boats on the River Thames in London
The following websites will help you find information on the River Thames in London, boats for hire and private charter:
River Thames:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames#External_links
http://www.portoflondon.co.uk
http://www.tfl.gov.uk
London Speed Boats:
http://www.londonspeedboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesspeedboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesspeedboathire.co.uk/
http://www.londonjetboats.co.uk/
http://www.thamesjetboats.co.uk/
London Party Boats:
http://www.londonpartyboat.co.uk/
http://www.partyboatlondon.co.uk/
Thames Boat Hire:
http://www.boathirelondon.co.uk/
Marine Filming:
http://www.filmlondon.org.uk
http://www.livettslaunches.co.uk/page/2.55.html
http://www.divingservicesuk.com
http://www.theknowledgeonline.com
Please let me know any more I can add to this list.
A guide to boats for hire on the river Thames in London
There are a wide range of different boats for hire on the Thames in London. Depending on the type of boat party or celebration you are looking to host on the river Thames in London there are a wide range of different styles of boats available to charter.
Here is a list of a selection of boats available to hire grouped by style.
Speed boats
If you are looking for a speed boat to hire there are many different options available including the most incredible adrenaline rush – a London Jet Boat Experience!
- Voyager RIB’s
- Jet Boat
- Fletcher Arrowhawk
- Lima Lima II
Luxury Powerboats
Moving up from small speed boats their are a number of large luxury powerboats / superyachts available for charter on the Thames. Ideal for important business meetings, corporate entertaining and intimate celebrations for smaller groups these craft push the boundaries of service, quality and luxury.
- Princess V48
- Zephyr / Zodiac
- Rum Jungle
Small Launches
Often a simple river transfer from one part of London to a venue and back is considered to avoid London’s busy transport network. There are several small launches suitable for such transfers and very reasonably priced when compared with other ways of transporting larger numbers in a group around London!
- Thames Swift
- John Harriot
- Cabot
Large Launches
Getting a larger group from one place to another in London can be a complete nightmare. A boat is a simple and cost effective solution and even adds another element to the event. For larger parties it can be efficient to charter a private passenger vessel or a Thames river bus. Here are a few options:
- Thames Clipper
- Sarpedon
- Sapele
- Edwardian
- Golden Salamander
London Party Boats
There is a simply massive selection of party boats for hire on the Thames in London. Choosing which one suits you can be a bit of a headache – should you pay the extra money for one boat – is it worth it?
Here are a list of a selection of ‘approved’ London Party Boats which are generally considered good value for money. Note these boats are not comparable by size or standard, but value for money. If a boat is not included that you feel should be please reply to the thread.
- Havengore
- High Society
- Spirit of London
- Edwardian
- Golden Salamander
- Elizabethan
- Erasmus
- Silver Barracuda
- Silver Sturgeon
- Dixie Queen
For further information on hiring a boat on the river Thames in London see: Boat Hire London
I hope this information has been useful?
Why Charter a Power Boat on the Thames in London?
London is full of large riverboat disco cruise and luxury party boats for hire. However these large Thames cruise boats lack the exciting image people often associate with boats and boating. The popular image, made famous by James Bond, of a large powerboat blasting down the Thames through London is what most people think of when you talk about chartering a boat in London, but until recently it was simply not possible to do.
Usually only the mega rich get the opportunity to cruise in a large powerboat, but now a company is offering the boats for hire on the Thames in London.
These boats are setting new standards of luxury for entertaining in London, but they can only cater for up to 12 guests making the charter costs expensive when compared with the traditional Thames riverboat.
The main difference between a large powerboat and a Thames Party Boat is that of the number of people they can cater for. As the boats are of a similar physical size and one caters for 150 guests and one 12 guests you can imagine the difference in the design! Also the wear and tear a traditional London River Boat goes through with so many party goers onboard means they have to be built strong which affects everything right down to the fixtures and fittings. The large Super yachts are built for a different use and therefore the level of quality and luxury is at another level. They do not receive the level of wear so can have pretty teak decks and mahogany panelled interiors.
I personally couldn’t afford on of these boats in London for private charter, but I can see the appeal for a unique venue for a business meeting, corporate entertainment or product launch. I guess even the mega rich may want to step aboard to entertain friends, after all why buy one of these monsters if you can charter it fully crewed with World class catering as and when you want it!?
The range available for private charter in London is relatively small and really concentrates on the larger, more exclusive boats. The bigger the boat the larger the boat hire cost!
So if you can’t afford to buy one of these beautiful machines you can still experience a few hours on one and know how it feels to be one of the mega rich!
