RIVER HAMBLE CRUISE REPORT, 25th June 2025
We enjoyed our Visit using a Gosport Ferry cruise to Solent Forts last August and so we were looking forward to a different and much longer cruise. The Solent Forts cruise lasted two and a half hours but this one would be twice the duration.
We started taking bookings for this very late because we had originally planned to go to Oxford this June. Unfortunately that was not to be. We sold only 8 tickets for this cruise before the deadline when we had to hand the unsold tickets back to the ferry operators. However, 6 other people got tickets direct from the Gosport Ferry later, so 14 of us (a number which included one grandchild) made the trip.
For once, all the bus connections worked like a dream and we arrived at Gosport ahead of schedule. It was a cool and cloudy morning and some of us started the cruise in jackets, or added layers as the ferry pulled into the cool breezes of the Solent.
It started to feel warmer as we moved into the Hamble. I think many of us were amazed at just how many boats are moored in the river, and also how luxurious many of them looked.
The ferry turned tightly at The Jolly Sailor, and returned to the Solent. We sailed close to the Isle of Wight shore and returned to Portsmouth having enjoyed views of Cowes, Osborne House and Ryde. Bythis time, the sun had burned through the clouds and we started to bask in the sunshine.
We finished with a run round Portsmouth Harbour, with just one aircraft carrier on view this time.