Following the imminent relaxation of the government’s COVID-19 restrictions and successful ‘sea trials’, Electra is now open for business.
Lead Cabin Host, James Clifton said: "Guests may now choose from several public trips and private charter options, cruising along the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes.
"These include Family Cruises in the school holidays, Cream Tea Cruises on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, Friday afternoon ‘Relax on the Art Trail’ Cruises, plus a Friday night Fish & Bubbles Cruise. Two-hour morning or afternoon Private Charters are available on Thursdays and Saturdays.”
"Now that our crews are fully trained and qualified, we are excited by the prospect of launching our first public cruises in early August.”
"Electra is well-ventilated and designed for up to 12 guests on board, but we accept government advice to ‘proceed with caution' with regard to COVID-19 and will start by taking a maximum of 8 guests per cruise."
Commissioned by the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Electra will be based at Campbell Wharf.
It will be manned by Trust volunteers that will run public trips and private charter cruises along the Grand Union Canal, giving residents and visitors a different view of Milton Keynes.
Based on a traditional 54’ long steel narrowboat hull, Electra is powered by a single 15kW electric motor (equivalent to 5 electric kettles), with 48 batteries fitted below decks and 24 solar panels on the roof. At 54 feet, Electra is twice as long as a London double-decker bus and is twice as heavy.
Trips are currently planned to run later this summer up until December 2021. These will offer something for everyone – from short eye-spy family cruises to Friday night bubbles and bites, relaxing days out in nature, mindfulness trips and walkers’ one-way hops.
Eventually, it is hoped that Electra could carry up to 4,000 passengers a year.
Cruises will depart from Campbell Wharf and last between 1 -2 hours during August. Full details, including booking instructions, can be accessed by clicking here.
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