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Mersey Ferry

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Present service
• 3.1 Woodside
• 3.2 Pier Head, Liverpool

Mersey Ferry operates hourly service on the River Mersey between Liverpool , Seacombe ( Wirral ) and Woodside near Birkenhead (Wirral). Manchester Ship Canal cruise operates by Mersey Ferry to Salford Quays . It does not generally serve Twelve Quays Ferry Terminal in Birkenhead.

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ].

A ferry has crossed the Mersey between Liverpool and Birkenhead since 1150, though the original eastern end of the route was in "the Pool", now Salthouse Dock. In this era, it was the only way for most people to cross the river without undertaking a detour by road via Warrington , which at the time would have added days to any journey. From its inception until the English Reformation (mid-16th century), the ferry service was provided by Benedictine monks of Birkenhead priory , who used to row passengers across the much wider river for a small fare. The ferry was taken over by private enterprise in 1544, and small sailing ships replaced the rowing boats.

By the 18th century, as England began to industrialise and Liverpool grew, these ships were becoming an inadequate means of assuring a regular ferry service for an increased demand; sailing ships need wind to work, and the Mersey is notorious for its thick, still winter fogs that can last for days. So, almost as soon as the technology was available (c. 1815), paddle steamers were brought in. The 19th century saw numerous steamship companies competing for dominance along various routes between the Merseyside boomtowns, that is until local governments took over their running in the 1850s and 1860s. This time of innovation also gave rise to new ways of crossing the river: a railway bridge opened between Widnes and Runcorn in 1868, and in 1886 a rail tunnel was dug from Liverpool to Birkenhead, meaning the ferries had quicker (and dryer!) competition. However, the ferries remained popular with cargo and commuters through the replacement of paddle steamers with propeller-driven diesel boats, until the opening of the Queensway road tunnel in 1934; almost overnight, the Seacombe ferry lost two million passengers, and demand for cargo vanished altogether.

Mersey Ferry ships contributed to both World Wars: in 1918, two steamers were used as troop ships and saw action at Zeebrugge , which earned the company the right to use the moniker Royal- in its ship names, while in 1941 the ferries helped to unload American aircraft from transatlantic ships at anchor mid-river to Liverpool. But neither of these honours were to save the service from declining in popularity still further postwar. A second road tunnel (Kingsway) opening in 1971 and the completion of the underground Merseyrail city centre loop in 1977 were the final nails in the coffin for the Mersey Ferry as a commuter service, and since the 1980s the remaining two boats have pivoted towards tourism. This pivot has proved successful, as Merseyside itself has reversed its own seemingly terminal decline of the late 20th century, to become one of the most visited urban areas in the UK, and thanks to a certain famous song - and Liverpool's amazing skyline - the ferry is now pretty much a must-do for any visitor.

Present service [ edit ]

The Mersey Ferry is operated by Merseytravel, the local transport authority which also runs Merseyrail, and owns and tolls the road tunnels. In 2020, two vessels - MV Royal Iris of the Mersey (i.e. the trad black and white one) and MV Snowdrop (i.e. the Sgt. Pepper "dazzle" one) - ply the Mersey, and a further two locally-built low-carbon ferries are set to join the fleet this decade. A commuter service runs every 20 minutes Monday-Friday between Liverpool Pier Head and Seacombe, while the popular 50-minute river cruise also takes in Birkenhead Woodside and runs eight days a week. Fares are £2.80 for an adult single (£3.60 return), and £1.40 for a child single (£1.80 return). Other themed cruises - nighttime, birdwatching, Manchester Ship Canal, Liverpool Bay - operate at various times and charge special fares.

Get in [ edit ]

• 53.4047 -2.9973 1 Pier Head Ferry Terminal , Liverpool ( nearest train station is James St in Liverpool ), ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . includes cafe, toilets, Matou restaurant, the Beatles Story, two shops and fab4d cinema. ( updated Sep 2019 )
• 53.3955 -3.0087 2 Woodside Ferry Terminal , Woodside, Wirral ( nearest train station is Hamilton Square in Birkenhead and small bus station outside ), ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . includes toilets, cafe with great views upstairs indoors and outdoors across the River Mersey to Pier Head and Liverpools waterfront. Also includes a 19th-century submarine and tram inside the building from Wirral tramway ( updated Sep 2019 )
• 53.4099 -3.016 3 Seacombe Ferry Terminal , Victoria Place, Seacombe, Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 6QY ( a long promenade runs from here along Wirrals scenic coast, not near train station, but bus services operate ), ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . includes cafe, toilets and play centre ( updated Sep 2019 )
• Salford Quays , The Quays, Salford, Lancs, M50 3AH , ☏ +44 151 330 1444 . No facilities, berthing only. ( updated Sep 2019 )

See [ edit ]

• Dazzle Ferry ( MV Snowdrop ), ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . Camouflage colours and patterns as used in war. ( updated Sep 2019 )

Woodside [ edit ]

Pier head, liverpool [ edit ], do [ edit ].

• Commuter service , ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . 10 min in the morning and evening direct to Pier Head. ( updated Sep 2019 )
• River Explorer Cruise . 50 min, it calls at Pier Head, Seacombe and Woodside and includes access to U-boat story. For an extra cost you can include a hop on hop off bus tour in Liverpool. This is the best for tourists. ( updated Sep 2019 )
• Manchester Ship Canal Cruise , Salford Quays , ☏ +44 151 330 1003 . 6 hours between Liverpool or Seacombe and Salford with coach return. It does not call at Woodside, but does travel via Eastham ferry entrance to the ship canal. ( updated Sep 2019 )
• Summer Evening Cruise . They operate only on the river Mersey. ( updated Sep 2019 )

Buy [ edit ]

• Pier Head Ferry terminal shop . On the ground floor of the Pier Head ferry terminal. ( updated Sep 2019 )

Eat [ edit ]

• Matou ( Pier Head Ferry Terminal, Liverpool ), 2nd floor, Georges Parade Pier Head, Mersey Ferry Terminal, Liverpool L3 1DP , ☏ +44 151 236 2928 . Noon-11PM . Pan-Asian cuisine with excellent indoor and outdoor views whilst dining across the Mersey to Wirral. ( updated Sep 2019 )

Drink [ edit ]

• The Fab4 cafe ( Pier Head Ferry Terminal ), ☏ +44 151 709 1963 . A ground floor cafe with lift access to upper level. ( updated Sep 2019 )

Sleep [ edit ]

• Crowne Plaza , St Nicholas Place, Princes Dock, Liverpool   , ☏ +44 151 243 8000 , [email protected] . The nearest hotel to any of the ferry terminals. ( updated Sep 2019 )

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Mersey Ferries Evening Cruises

Mersey Ferries are cruising into 2022 with one of their most impressive Evening Cruise line-ups to date! From ABBA, Beatles and Take That tributes to Funnyboyz Drag Queens and 70s, 80s and 90s Party Cruises, the world-famous Mersey Ferries will be offering lots of incredible experiences on the Liverpool Waterfront.

GIMME! GIMME! more Mersey Ferries Evening Cruises! Back by popular demand, the Evening Cruises on the Mersey return from Friday 29 April with an ABBA Cruise which kick-starts the varied programme of events.

Mersey Ferries Evening Cruises are the perfect night out, giving ticket-holders stunning views of Liverpool and the Wirral as they dance the night away to live music, DJs, and tribute bands.

The programme has a range of cruises to meet all musical tastes and includes a Motown Tribute Cruise, 90s Party Cruise , Funnyboyz Drag Queen Cruise , Take That Tribute Night, and an Evening Cruise with Callum Mac to name a few. Tickets are £20 and cruises run from April to October.

Discounts are available for group bookings of 20 or more tickets. To book call 0151 330 1420 or email [email protected]

Visit www.merseyferries.co.uk/eve to view the full cruise calendar and to buy your tickets.

Event Date: Friday 29th April 2022 - Saturday 29th October 2022

Categories: Accessible event | Arts | Family | Liverpool | Music | Ticketed

Contact Details: Mersey Ferries, Tel: 0151 330 1420

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Mersey Ferries Evening Cruises

Mersey Ferries Who Dunnit Mystery Cruises 

Enjoy an evening of super sleuthing to solve the case that will unfold before your eyes whilst you enjoy an evening cruise on the iconic Mersey Ferry. Tickets cost £25 per person; a light supper of homemade scouse will be served during the cruise. A licensed bar will also be available.

Who Dunnit Cruise: Thursday 24 August – Splashing the Cash ‘New Money’ Melvin Trout is in town and he is not afraid to ‘splash’ the cash, tonight you are all invited on his new toy! His very own boat! Jump aboard and let Trout and his hilarious larger than life family and friends entertain you… But how he made this money is very questionable, and the smell of new money brings out the worse in people.

Join the characters and see relationships unfold and fall apart before your very eyes, follow clues, interrogate suspects and discover who the murderer is!

Check out the Mersey Ferries website for more details on the themes of the next Who Dunnit Mystery Cruises on Thursday 7 September & 5 October.

For more information and to book your tickets click here ( http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/cruises/special-cruises-and-events/Pages/Who-Dunnit-Mystery-Cruises.aspx )

Mersey Ferries Themed Cruises Dance the night away on the Mersey Ferry with a special three hour music cruises. Tickets cost £15 per person and feature live music, a licensed bar and incredible views of Liverpool’s waterfront.

The Making of Motown Thursday 10 August A musical tribute that takes you back in time, recreating the style, music and the energy of Motown.

Departs:                  7.00pm from Seacombe, Wirral 7.15pm from Pier Head, Liverpool

Approx Finish:         9.00pm arrive back at Pier Head, Liverpool 9.15pm arrive back at Seacombe, Wirral

A Night at the Movies Thursday 21 September A musical journey through some of Hollywood’s greatest movies – featuring live performances of the songs and scenes that make them so memorable.

Departs:                  7.00pm from Seacombe, Wirral 7.15pm from Pier Head, Liverpool

Approx Finish:          9.00pm arrive back at Pier Head, Liverpool 9.15pm arrive back at Seacombe, Wirral

Rat Pack vs Divas Thursday 19 October It’s a battle of the sexes – Rat Pack vs Divas – as our two rival groups compete for the number one spot – performing songs from all eras with a distinctly old school twist.

Departs:                    7.00pm from Seacombe, Wirral 7.15pm from Pier Head, Liverpool

For more information and to book tickets click here ( http://www.merseyferries.co.uk/cruises/special-cruises-and-events/Pages/Themed-Cruises.aspx )

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• Life & Culture

What’s it like to dine on Tampa’s new riverboat cruise Craft? We took a ride.

• Helen Freund Times staff

TAMPA — We almost didn’t make the boat.

Traffic snarled through downtown Tampa and stretched onto the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, delaying what would have been a 45-minute drive from St. Petersburg to nearly an hour and a half in stop-and-go congestion.

We had reservations for Craft, Tampa’s brand-new riverboat dinner cruise set to depart at 7:30 p.m. — and a friendly confirmation email reminding us that our purchase was nonrefundable. We’d been encouraged to arrive 45 minutes early, when we would have presumably been able to commence a leisurely boarding, river breeze in our hair, Champagne flute in hand.

Life had other plans. At 7:25 p.m., my dinner date and I swung our car into the Garrison Street parking lot, narrowly avoiding getting struck by an oncoming streetcar.

Following a quick security wand-down (the boat adheres to U.S. Coast Guard rules) and a $30 event-fueled parking fee (Tim McGraw was playing a show at nearby Amalie Arena), crew members greeted us with a quick photograph and a glass of bubbly before sending us on our way.

“Welcome to our maiden voyage!” they exclaimed as we rushed aboard.

Shortly after 7:30 p.m., we were off, out of the Ybor Turning Basin and into the sunset.

Described as a “culinary and cocktail river journey,” Craft debuted its inaugural dinner cruise on March 15. The multimillion-dollar project is the latest endeavor from Jill and Troy Manthey, who also run several other entertainment-on-the-water concepts, including Yacht StarShip, Pirate Water Taxi and the Bay Rocket.

Designed with European riverboats in mind, the 130-foot-long vessel boasts a sleek, white silhouette with less than 11 feet of vertical clearance — meaning it can comfortably drift beneath many of Tampa’s low-lying bridges. But this ship’s real appeal lies in the coupling of an elevated culinary program, contemporary aesthetic and craft cocktails.

A trip aboard Craft includes a two-hour cruise up and down the Hillsborough River and a three-course prix-fixe meal. To start, there are lunch, brunch and dinner trips on deck, but a happy hour option may soon be in the works.

Running any kind of marine operation comes with steep operating costs — including fuel, dock rental fees and staffing — and the experience here is priced accordingly. But it still comes with a good deal of sticker shock. For two people on a Friday evening, we paid $392.59 for the boat ride and the three-course dinner — not including gratuity or drinks.

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I love a fancy boat ride as much as the next person, but the pricing gave me pause.

Would the experience be worth it?

Things were a lot smoother once we got on board.

We entered through the front of the boat, or bow, and were shown to our seats inside a narrow dining room, flanked by windows overlooking the water. Wood paneling combined with slight nautical touches lent the space a warm, industrial-chic vibe.

Servers clad in white collared shirts and gray aprons whisked back and forth between the tables, balancing martini coupes and taking orders. In an attempt to let the crew develop their sea legs, the boat wasn’t fully booked that evening, but the dining room still felt abuzz with excitement and curiosity.

Clutching our Champagne, we glided through Sparkman Channel at dusk, glitzy Harbour Island homes glowing in the evening light as a Maggie Rogers track played softly in the background. We let out a collective exhale as the chaos of the day faded away.

Over the course of the roughly two-hour cruise, the boat steered up the Hillsborough River, passing Riverwalk landmarks including the Tampa Convention Center, Armature Works and Rick’s on the River, before turning around and heading back.

Guests were encouraged to explore the boat. The Bow and Stern bar, beautifully designed and fashioned out of a vintage 1914 cruiser, provided additional seating in the rear for those looking for more of an al fresco experience.

Throughout the evening, the crew moved back and forth between the dining room, the bar and the kitchen, sometimes stepping out on the deck to alert passengers when their meals had been delivered. Guests roamed the boat taking photographs, while patrons inside chatted up their neighbors, much of the voyage illuminated by the lights of downtown Tampa.

Craft’s strongest selling point is its culinary program, and the menu here is a far cry from the goblets of white wine and dry chicken associated with most dinner cruises.

Designed by chef Allison Beasman (formerly of Edison: Food + Drink Lab), the list of contemporary New American dishes runs the gamut from a black grouper served with Little Neck clams and Pernod cream to a Wagyu coulotte with kabocha caramel and a Korean barbecue octopus. As part of the prix-fixe deal, guests are able to pick an appetizer, entree and dessert from a menu of roughly 13 different dishes.

Part of what makes the vessel stand out is the addition of an open kitchen with gas stoves, and the concept’s design allows guests to get a peek of the action if they’re on their way to the bathroom or the bar.

When it came time to order dinner, our server patiently guided us through the menu, pointing out the additional dishes we could choose if we wished to add a little something extra onto our prepaid meal. We opted for the olive oil-marinated sheep and goat’s milk cheese ($18), which was just as tasty as our server touted. It arrived in a rich red pepper-packed pisto, drizzled with a healthy glug of olive oil and served with crusty bread for dipping.

Dishes are made to order and don’t necessarily arrive at the same time as other passengers’ meals. Our appetizers showed up roughly 45 minutes into the trip, a delightful baby kale salad lightly dressed in a white balsamic vinaigrette that was toothsome with chicory and shaved carrots and plumped up with fried baby potatoes and a healthy shaving of ricotta salata. Also good was the hearty tomato bisque with roasted bone marrow and blackened cipollini onions.

For our entrees, a seared duck breast arrived fanned out over silky whipped potatoes and a creamy goat cheese fondue, framed by Brussels sprouts and fat wedges of roasted golden beets. Though the duck was cooked a little past the requested temperature, it was still delicious. A plate of sweet and sour braised short ribs packed powerhouse flavors that paired beautifully together, all served over a sweet and sticky coconut rice sidling bok choy and juicy tangerine segments.

For dessert, we paired a perfect few scoops of pistachio ice cream with a chocolate espresso dacquoise, an intensely rich and sweet layer cake featuring a tart blackberry curd and creamy dark chocolate ganache.

The fine print

The water was calm that night and the entire service appeared well-rehearsed — absent of any major hiccups and even graceful at moments. As far as I could tell, there were no seasick passengers or man-overboard scenarios, which felt like some kind of success, though I did wonder what type of balance or physical dexterity would be required to maneuver trays of wobbling martini glasses over stormier seas.

Though tiered pricing exists for Craft — for different seats, times of day or days of the week — there’s no overlooking that a trip aboard the vessel isn’t cheap.

With neither drinks nor gratuity included in the booking price, if you’re looking to enjoy the evening with a couple of libations, it’s going to cost you. The add-ons can feel excessive, from a $50 king crab leg tray to the preboarding photograph crew members try to sell you at the end of the night. A suggested gratuity is presented on your bill, based on the total sales tallied for the table that evening, including the cost of the original reservation.

Some changes are bound to be expected as the company assesses guest interest and feedback. Even after the first week, it appears some prices have been slightly adjusted. Dinner for two people seated in the dining room with window seats now comes to $369.89 after taxes and marine fees, while weekend brunches for the same seats start at $89.95 per person.

It’s hard to imagine making dining here a regular occurrence, but for a special occasion, an evening aboard Craft can be a real delight.

Next time, though, I’ll remember to leave myself plenty of time to get there.

For Craft reservations and information, go to crafttampa.com/ . The riverboat departs from the dock at 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa.

Helen Freund is the food and dining critic, reporting on and reviewing restaurants throughout Tampa Bay. Reach her at [email protected].

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River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat

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Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

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Who's going.

• Excursion River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat
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See photo of the meeting point

Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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