Festive Sightseeing Cruise | City Cruises™

City Cruises welcomes everyone! We’re committed to making your river cruise safe, enjoyable, and accessible.

• Accessible Boat: Our fully-equipped River Duchess operates on a set schedule. To confirm timings for your visit, simply contact us beforehand.

• Accessibility Information: For detailed accessibility information, please review our Accessibility Statement before your cruise.

Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at 020 77 400 400 or email [email protected].

Our Festive Sightseeing Cruise sails from our Kings Staith landing which is located near York Dungeons and Plonkers Wine Bar.

During your trip, you’ll be able to choose between a hot drink and a mince pie or a pack of two biscuits. Additionally, our skipper will provide a live commentary with festive music playing in between.

Absolutely, you’re welcome to wear a festive jumper! We suggest dressing warmly, particularly if you plan to go up to the open upper deck. You might also consider bringing a festive hat to complete the look.

The Festive Sightseeing Cruise is a special 1-hour cruise that takes you on a journey along the River Ouse, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the Christmas season.

On the Festive Sightseeing Cruise, you can look forward to a delightful Christmas atmosphere complete with decorations and music. The boat also features live commentary throughout the journey, providing you with fascinating information about York’s rich history and culture.

The Festive Sightseeing Cruise sails for approximately 1 hour, making it the perfect way to get into the festive spirit in York.

To ensure your comfort during the cruise, we suggest wearing comfortable clothing and footwear. It is also advisable to bring along a light jacket or sweater in case of cooler temperatures. If you’re feeling festive why not wear a festive hat and jumper!

We warmly welcome children on board and are pleased to offer complimentary admission for those under 5 years old.

We happily welcome well-behaved dogs on board our Daytime Sightseeing Cruises, River Bus Service, and Self Drive Boats, at no additional cost, as long as they are kept on a leash. Please note that only Guide/Hearing Dogs are permitted on our Dining Cruises and Santa Experience.

While visiting York, there are numerous attractions to discover in the vicinity, including the iconic York Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. Moreover, you can leisurely walk along the renowned city walls or explore the charming shops and cafes located in the Shambles.

Passengers with health conditions or impairments sail with us at the normal adult rate. However, each  passenger may have one carer sail with them free of charge on our Sightseeing Cruises. Carers are required to display some form of ID or other relevant proof of entitlement such as a blue badge or a Personal Independence Payments letter (issued by the DWP benefit office).

To redeem a Carer’s ticket please make the booking for the whole party except the carer. Following the booking please email [email protected] with the booking number and request the carer’s ticket to be added.

Two of our boats are wheelchair accessible, namely the River Palace and River Duchess. Additionally, the River Duchess features a wheelchair-accessible restroom. However, kindly note that wheelchair access is only available at our King’s Staith Landing.

To obtain directions to our King’s Staith Landing, please click here. If you would like to verify the sailing times for the River Palace or River Duchess, please contact our office at 020 77 400 400, or consult with one of our Quayside Managers on the day of your visit.

Digital Gift Cards are the perfect way to give someone an experience that lets them schedule their adventure at their convenience! A City Experiences digital gift card can be purchased anytime and is valid on all City Experiences, City Cruises, Walks, and Devour Tours experiences that take place in the US and in the UK. Gift cards can be used to pre-purchase experiences and upgrades online or through our contact center but cannot be redeemed for on-board/in-experience purchases.

In York, there may be occasional instances of elevated river levels, which could affect our regular sailings. Nonetheless, we will strive to continue our voyages as long as it is safe to proceed. However, our smallest boat may face limitations and be unable to pass beneath the bridges at a certain point.

In such cases, our Lendal Bridge Landing may have to be closed, and we may operate solely from our Kings Staith landing, depending on the river’s level. We will endeavor to keep our customers informed through our website and advertising boards located at our moorings.

A bar is available where you can buy beverages, light refreshments and snacks.

Yes, however we are only able to accept the Digital E-Card – we are unable to accept a physical card.

To redeem your York Gift Card, please present the digital card at the Boarding Point or at the On-Board Bar.