“A totally relaxing week with the best of weather. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our cruise on the Severn which lived up to all our expectations. The boat was comfortable and well planned with an attractive lounge/dining room leading to a bar area. The large upper deck was particularly popular given the long hours of sunshine we were blessed with during our stay and provided a good place to socialise, simply relax or enjoy a game of quoits, whether playing or supporting.
The daily visits were good and gave a balanced view of the area and its history. All were interesting but if I had to choose one I think Tewksbury Abbey would get my vote. No visit was compulsory and simply gliding along looking out for wildlife or enjoying the experience of the many locks provided plenty of interest on its own. Our fellow travellers were great company which added to the convivial atmosphere. Our very own chef provided wonderful food.
We were well looked after by the exceptionally friendly staff. They were always smiling and nothing was ever too much trouble for them. So thank you Richard and Jay for steering us safely, especially through the locks, Conrad for everything especially Quoits organisation and Katie for such enduring cheerfulness and fun quiz nights. A really good holiday, much appreciated by both of us.
(Elizabeth Gillmore)”
“Had a wonderful time, fantastic crew, great food, good company , lovely weather. Enjoyed all the trips out , although could have done without the " TRIP " on our last day😛 My husband had a nasty fall down steps in Gloucester docks which led to a trip to A&E!. A fellow passenger alerted the boat whilst we were waiting for the ambulance and one of the crew came straight away and made sure I had
the relevant phone numbers so I coulld keep in touch as they moved to the next mooring.
Once back on board that evening they looked after us very well until we left the following morning.”
“A lovely cruise, staff are magnificent!! Nothing too much trouble and always with a smile on their faces. Accommodation small but perfectly adequate. Food excellent in quantity and quality and the boat is spotless. Excursions were varied and well organised. Only problem we experienced were the directions to the boathouse. Clearer signage would definitely assist. Can’t wait to go again.”
“Can’t praise the crew enough for making our weekend on board one to remember. All of them were friendly, a great laugh and attentive. The food was great too. The whole family thoroughly enjoyed themselves, would definitely recommend!”
“Having cruised on the Edward Elgar many times, this weekend with the complete family, was way above any expectations my wife and i had. From initial discussions with Jay through to boarding, the process was flawless, despite CRT closing the docks. On board the food was, as usual superb, all dietary needs fulfilled, and the services and service impeccable. My family enjoyed it so much, mainly down to the crew becoming extended family, that nobody wanted to leave. Aged between 16 and 76 they were all catered for. My wife and i will be cruising again next year (23).
We consider this cruise has been the best family weekend we have had.
Big thanks to Louis, Ethan, Katie and Stu on board and Jay, Sam and Jess at base!
See you in the summer.”
“We thoroughly enjoyed our week on the Edward Elgar - the passengers were good company and the crew were amazing - and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and incredibly well fed. The weather and scenery was spectacular
Thanks especially to Captain Louis, Ethan, Katie and Cook Stuart who were a great team”
“All of the crew were brilliant.
Always ready to help if needed and worked hard to ensure the cruise went off without a hitch.
Louis not only steered the boat skillfully ensuring a safe passage but also waited at the table and helped out where required.
Katie was always at hand, with a smile and happy disposition to serve at the table and the bar. Nothing seemed too much trouble.
Ethan ran the quoits competition cheerfully and with humour. He also helped to make sure everything ran smoothly at meal times with Katie and docking procedures with Louis.
Stewart produced very appetising meals, from a small galley and also provided me with a nice selection of low-sugar desserts.
All in all a great team that all helped one another to make our cruise a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Many thanks to you all!!”
“I was blown away by the fantastic holiday I have just spent aboard. Fabulous scenery but made all the special by a fabulous team of hard working, thoughtful and professional crew on board! From meals to entertainment and excursions everything was GREAT.”
“The crew was amazing...and so friendly. We knew the cabins would be small, but they worked for us. The arrangements to park the car at Gloucester Quay worked great, and I truly enjoyed the sights, the food, and the camaraderie with all our new British friends. Some of the tour guides were just adequate, but we had the option of disengaging from the group if things were not great. And the efficient way that tour adjusted to the broken lock was brilliant. We are so glad we did this.”
“We had an excellent 6 days cruise along the navigable part of the Severn and the Sharpness canal. The company were great and the excellent, multi-tasking, crew were ably led by Captain Louis. The itinerary was gentle, as billed, and we had a range of interesting activities, and plenty to see along the way.”
“A delightful 4-night break on EHC's Heritage cruise from Gloucester to Worcester, also stopping overnight at Upton-upon-Severn and Tewkesbury. Don't go expecting the space and facilities of a European river boat. The cabins are cosy but well laid out; the atmosphere relaxed; and the food fresh and well presented, rather than gastronomic. But we enjoyed good guided tours at each stop the crew of four was outstanding - charming, efficient and clearly a closely-knit team. Loved gliding quietly along this pretty river and watching the wildlife. And slept like a log in our silent cabin, nestled up against a river bank. Came home feeling well looked after and completely relaxed. Happy cruiser!”
“Outstanding customer service from the moment we were met at the quayside. All the literature to the cruise was accurate and informative. The food onboard was five star and nothing was too much trouble if changes to the menu needed to be made. The excursions were first rate and full of interest. The crew were very friendly, fun and professional. The cabins are cosy but has everything you need for a good nights sleep. We will recommend the company to our friends and hope to sail again with them in the future.”
“The crew were excellent and made the holiday even more enjoyable. The willingness to be flexible about the duration of the trips was helpful, as the unexpected heat created some problems, and some sort of shade on the outside deck would have made a huge difference.”
“From contacting the company for details of their cruises to saying goodbye to the crew and fellow passengers everything was of an excellent standard. The ship is very comfortable and the crew are exemplary ensuring passengers have a great time. The crew worked well together all putting their hand to numerous tasks and always cheerful. To watch the banks glide slowly by, enjoy shore visits, have good food and wine, be entertained, what more could we want. Our final evening on board in Gloucester dock we enjoyed a gala dinner and a duo playing and singing all the old tunes, a great end to a perfect cruise.”
“To enjoy a cruise like this a number of elements need to be in place. The accommodation was compact but more than adequate. The food was excellent with a well stocked bar. The other passengers were very friendly and joined in with everything. The trips were a good mix between culture and fun. The boat and the river were a great setting. However the main factor were the crew who worked hard, were always cheerful and could not do enough for us. We do not usually do the same holiday more than once because we always want to try new things and visit new areas. However, this trip is likely to be the exception. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.”
“We have recently returned from the 5 day Heritage Cruise and had a wonderfully relaxing time. The food and company was first class and the crew outstanding- helpful and friendly, working well together with obvious care for each other. This was our first experience with English Holiday Cruises and we hope it won't be our last.”
“My husband and I have just returned from a 4 night cruise on the Edward Elgar. Loved everything about it. The cabins were extremely comfortable with lots of storage. The food was amazing and the crew looked after us so well. We had deck quoits every morning whilst cruising and sightseeing tours every afternoon. Evening entertainment was laid on as well …. With a jazz duo on our last night! Thank you Jay and all the crew for lots of fun and laughter.”
“The cruise exceeded our expectations. Everything had been thought of and provided, down to the smallest detail. The crew were excellent, a very good and co-operative team, and nothing was too much trouble - particularly helpful carrying Tom's walker, accompanying us and providing reassurance. we thoroughly enjoyed your company, and had an interesting chat with Jay about the background to the company and MV Edward Elgar. It was a memorable experience.”
“What a fun filled delicious weekend cruise we had. The boat was excellent and every need taken care of. The staff were more than attentive and provided a welcome atmosphere.”
“Cannot fault anything about this cruise! Happy, welcoming crew, always with a smile. Food superb - gluten free options no problem and delicious. Served efficiently with a friendly word. Smooth and swift docking procedures. The bar service worked well and a cosy area. Captain Steve was very approachable, has a great sense of humour; kept us well informed and welcomed us into the wheelhouse for a chat.”
“A really great time. We both enjoyed ourselves very much. Steve and the whole crew worked together so well. They were incredibly welcoming and friendly, nothing was too much trouble.
It felt a safe place to be and to live on, a great compliment!
The whole cruise met our expectations and, indeed, exceeded them.
We look, God willing, to the next one.”
