THE iconic Waverley kicked off her new sailing season in fine style today with excited pupils from two Inverclyde schools on board the packed paddle steamer as she made Greenock her first port of call of 2024.
Youngsters from Aileymill Primary - who won a trip 'doon the watter' from Glasgow in a Tele competition by building a model replica of the famous ship from household materials - and kids from St Michael's Primary were among hundreds of passengers.
Primary five pupils Jaxson and Cole, both aged nine, enjoyed a morning in the sunshine with their classmates as they cruised down the Clyde.
Cole said: “I haven’t been on it before.
“I was just watching the water pretty much. It was good.”
Jaxson added: “I was just sitting at the railing looking at the water trying to see dolphins.
"A bunch of my friends said they saw some."
People queued to board the paddle steamer at a very busy Custom House Quay to enjoy the first Clyde cruise of the summer.
The vessel has undergone maintenance and refurbishment work worth £700,000 in the past six months to prepare her for another season of travelling around the UK.
Today was the first of 138 timetabled days of service for Waverley in a summer which will see her visit 70 calling points – some of which she will call at for the first time in her history.
A spokesperson for Waverley Excursions said: “We have been ambitious with this year’s timetable.
“It is our mission to enable as many people as possible to experience Waverley and what she represents.”
Around 39,000 people have already booked tickets to sail on Waverley this year.
Waverley will continue operating from Glasgow around the Clyde Coast until Sunday, before departing for Oban and the Inner Hebrides on Monday.
READ MORE: Aileymill Primary kids win trip on Waverley in competition
Between May 21 and 27, she will visit the likes of Craignure, Tobermory, Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, Portree and Ullapool.
The paddle steamer will returns to the Clyde coast from June 28, with several cruises planned over the summer months.
Bookings are open at waverleyexcursions.co.uk/.
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