The Canny Lass welcomed its first passengers on Tuesday as the sun shone on the River Tyne in Newcastle, marking the return of cruise trips to the city.
Maiden voyage in sunshine
The vessel, which arrived in the North East from down south at the start of last month, has been given a spruce up inside and out and is now taking pride of place on the river. The first preview excursion on Tuesday saw guests, including the Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Andrea Graham, and the Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Henry Gallagher, who cut the ribbon before the cruise down to Gateshead and back past the Redheugh, Queen Elizabeth II, High Level, Swing, Tyne and Millennium Bridges, on to Ouseburn.
Passengers enjoyed views of landmarks such as the Copthorne and Malmaison hotels, Pitcher & Piano and the Tyne Bar. Temperatures were over 20 degrees as the first passengers basked in Tyneside sunshine.
Tyne Cruises launch
Geoff Moore, one of the founders of Tyne Cruises, addressed guests before departure, paying tribute to his team, crew and all who helped along the way. He said: "She may have started her life a long, long way away from here, but The Canny Lass proudly carries the name of the people and the places she'll represent. We didn't just bring the vessel to Newcastle; we've given her a North East identity."
The Canny Lass will set sail six days a week with three different trips: a 1-hour city cruise, a 2-hour country cruise, and a 3-hour sea cruise heading towards the North Sea, passing historic shipyards and the Port of Tyne.
Tickets and availability
Tickets for the city cruise start at £9 for children and £18 for adults, the country cruise costs £12 for children and £24 for adults, and the sea cruise is £15 for children and £30 for adults. Family tickets and concessions are also available.
T trips officially launch from the NE1 City Marina on the Quayside from Friday, August 14.
