For many years we have been taking customers to the very excellent City Centre Cruises in Manchester. They really are a supplier of ours that always guarantee happy customers!
Our group were joining from Southport, an area that we have been operating for many years and have lots of regular valued customers. I was waiting for their arrival in Manchester and on time, they arrived.
The cruise was departing at 11.30AM and we waited in anticipation for it’s arrival. On queue, it came sailing round the corner with delighted faces embracing the journey ahead. We were greeted by the skipper Steve, and the staff alongside Eamon the owner.
On we boarded, sat on our well presented linen tables and were given our pre sail brief. They then fired up the engine and we began. Our journey started from Castlefield an area of Manchester with lots of industrial and historic significance that is prominent throughout.
We were soon greeted with what can be described as one of the most delicious homemade vegetable soup’s with croutons. As this was devoured and given plenty of praise we headed along the waterway along the River Irwell. We gazed through the large windows as we took in the surrounding area as we glisterfully sailed along hearing an informative commentary from skipper Steve on it’s vast history. We then headed through a working lock that was a fantastic experience that transported us down onto the Manchester Ship Canal. We watched in awe as the staff operated the lock, it took such strength to open the gates. The cruiser soon entered and the process began.
If you have never experienced this before, it is an engineering feat, the water level soon started lowering and in a relaxed manner we were on to the next Waterway below. It must be a good 20 feet or so that you are lowered.
Our journey continued on the Manchester Ship Canal where we were greeted with our next course, a beautifully flavoured breast of chicken, vegetables and pan gravy. Again absolutely superb!
We headed past some iconic features such as gnome island that is a concrete structure in the water that was accompanied with lots of gnomes! A very interesting way to make a concrete block look colourful.
Our commentary continued as we headed towards Salford Quays where we were to depart for a short time.
We soon docked and disembarked the cruiser where we had the Lowry Outlet centre and Lowry theatre to venture round. There was the Lowry exhibition on at the iconic Lowry theatre, shops were aplenty to visit and it was lovely to have this time to stroll around.
After around an hour, we boarded the cruiser once again and began the return journey. We dined on the final course that was a hot apple crumble and custard, it was the perfect culinary course to fit such a wonderful journey. How they produce such wonders in a small galley kitchen is beyond us!
We finally docked and said our farewells that were full of encouragement and joy for the members of staff.
Charlie (Golden Day Tours)
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