Coach Parties

This excursion is tailored for coach tours of 25+ guests, to make sure your guests have a day to remember in Poole.

Whether you just want to have a leisurely cruise, or take advantage of our partnership with Compton Acres, Dorset Cruises will meet your needs.

Our standard vintage cruise is a 90 minute trip, passing Millionaires Row, Brownsea Castle and the five islands within Poole Harbour, with a live commentary on everything of interest that we pass and a history of the local area.

Weather permitting, the cruise will also go outside the harbour to view the famous Old Harry Rock and the beginning of the World Heritage Site of the Jurassic Coast.

Dorset Queen, a 1938 vintage motor yacht, has a wonderful upper viewing deck, comfortable lounge, washrooms and a fully licenced bar serving hot drinks as well as a selection of popular beers, local ales and ciders, wines, spirits and soft options.

We load Dorset Queen in the centre of Poole Quay, opposite Poole Arms Pub, BH15 1HJ and your coach can simply drop your guests just 2 minutes walk away at the famous Poole Pottery building.

The cruise can be made even more special by adding either Dorset Cream Tea or our Fish & Chips option.

Dorset Cream Tea @ £8.50
Our Dorset Cream Tea is table served in vintage china, with each guest receiving a freshly baked scone, strawberry jam and clotted cream, accompanied by Dorset Tea or Coffee.

Fish & Chips @ £14
Each guest will be table served a piping hot portion of Award Winning, local Fish & Chips.
(The fish can be substituted for jumbo sausage, chicken pie, pea fritter, etc, if pre-requested).

This offers your guests a whole day of activities, with the morning at Compton Acres botanical gardens and the afternoon cruising Poole Harbour with Dorset Cruises, or vice versa.

Compton Acres was constructed in 1920 by Mr Thomas Simpson and today is acknowledged as one of the finest privately owned gardens in England.

Your guests are able to explore over 10 acres of horticultural heaven, relax in their charming Café & Tea Rooms, browse the treasures in their Gifted Moment Store or delve into the exciting world of plants within their Plant Centre.

Once they’ve seen all that Compton Acres has to offer, the coach can then simply drop them off at Poole Quay to board Dorset Queen.

This is a 4 hour excursion for 35+ guests from Poole Quay.

We can only offer this cruise on selected dates & times due to the necessary tide heights.

Dorset Queen will depart Poole Quay before turning west to cruise along the tranquil River Frome up to the historic market town of Wareham.

This relaxing cruise up the picturesque river takes around 1 hour 10 minutes.

Once ashore your group will have over an hour to enjoy a drink or snack in one of the many pubs and restaurants, go for a stroll, or visit the effigy of Lawrence of Arabia in St Martin’s Church… The only Saxon church in Dorset.

If requested, we can also pre-order brunch at The Bear Hotel in Wareham Quay.

After this shore-side break they can then re-board Dorset Queen and we will slowly meander back down the Frome to the hustle and bustle of Poole Quay.

Our Captain will give a live commentary as we cruise along and the crew are always on hand to answer any questions about this hidden gem of Dorset.

*The River Frome is shallow in places and therefore we can only do this excursion on certain dates and times.