Waverley’s 2025 season came to a close on Sunday evening (19th October) after the final passengers disembarked.
In total 161,950 passenger journeys were recorded over 123 operating days – the largest total number of passengers recorded since 1996!
We would like to express a sincere “Thank You” to everyone that sailed and supported Waverley this season.
Like many seasons there were a few operational challenges to contend with – notably the weather in the second half of the 2025 season caused some cruises to be cancelled or amended.
However, it was due to the weather that Waverley found herself paddling all the way round Great Britain in 2025 much to the surprise of many. Although her extended journey from Ayr to Dartmouth back in late August came with increased cost it did bring the benefit of much media attention and publicity to many individuals who were unaware of Waverley or who hadn’t realised she is in fact still operating.
This season saw the ship celebrate her 50th anniversary since her very first cruise in preservation back in 1975. It is truly remarkable that this anniversary was reached and even more so we are now looking forward to the 80th anniversary since the ship’s launch next October.
During the 2025 season Waverley called at 69 ports or piers which included three that were visited for the very first time – Carbost, Salen and Rochester. A far cry from what she was built to do all those years ago.
Since Waverley tied up for winter just two days ago the crew have been busy de-storing the ship and clearing her for winter layup. In the coming months maintenance and survey work will take priority before she moves to Dales Marine shipyard in Greenock sometime in February.
A major capital renewal project will take place this winter as we look forward to ensuring she can continue to operate such extensive summer seasons well into the future. This winter we will be removing the current sprinkler system which was installed during Phase 1 of the Heritage Rebuild back in 2000. A new system will then be installed, the cost of this project alone will be over £400,000, with the full winter cost expected to easily exceed £1.3 million.
2026 Advanced Information
Looking to 2026 and we can now announce some dates. The 2026 sailing programme is being prepared with the planned first sailing of the season on the Clyde on Friday 8th May.
Waverley will then sail north on Tuesday 12th May and operate until Tuesday 19th from Oban and around the Inner Hebrides. Dates of Waverley’s overnight berths in this period are as follows:
- Tuesday 12th May – Oban
- Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th May – Kyle of Lochalsh
- Friday 15th May – Waverley will be at sea sailing overnight from Kyle to Oban, a coach will be provided from Kyle of Lochalsh to Oban
- Saturday 16th May – Oban
- Sunday 17th May – at anchor off Fort William – a coach will operate from Fort William in the evening to Oban
- Monday 18th May – Oban
- Tuesday 19th May – Waverley will be at sea overnight after completing her cruise in the evening at Oban.
Extensive timetable planning will begin next month with the intention to announce outline dates for each sailing area by Christmas. We will work to release the timetables area-by-area from February and then open bookings as timetables are published.
Support Waverley – Become a Friend of Waverley
If you are able to help support Waverley’s winter refit by making a small regular monthly donation please consider becoming a Friend of Waverley. Monthly donations start from just £5.20 and help ensure we can continue to invest in Waverley to keep her sailing for many more years to come. Visit the Friends of Waverley webpage to find out more and sign up today.
All Friends of Waverley will receive the bi-annual newsletter and annual thank you gift at Christmas.
We also welcome one-off donations and these can be made online or by calling 0141 243 2224 (Mon-Fri 0930-1630).
Keep a look out for further posts in the coming months to show winter refit work underway.
**FINISHED WITH ENGINES**
