MUDEFORD Ferries plans to continue its tours of the anchored cruise ships off the coast of Bournemouth in style, after obtaining a commercial RIB.

The ferry company received international recognition during the summer from its ‘Ghost Ship’ tours of the moored P&O Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships in Poole Bay.

Having stopped the tours in October, Mudeford Ferry will resume the waterborne adventures on board a nine metre Humber RIB in April next year.

The ferry’s captain Paul Derham said: “We stopped in October, mainly because of the weather, and hope to resume using our fast RIB Sensation on April 1, 2021.

“We are going to start dropping adverts around between Christmas and New Year.

“It was successful although when the weather was good, we needed both ferries on the ferry route instead of sending one to see the Ghost Ships.

“I had a mate driving a sea fishing charter boat and he asked his passengers if they wanted to go close to the cruise ships and the answer was ‘no’ and ‘why’, but the people who came on the trips obviously loved cruising.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, dozens of ships have come and gone from Poole Bay, with at least one ship present off Bournemouth’s coastline since March this year.

With the cruise liners expected to be moored up out to sea until May, visitors are advised to register their interest early to guarantee their place on the tours.

The tours will be limited to 10 people and will contain commentary, as well as interesting insights of the cruise industry from skipper Paul, who travelled the world as a deputy captain for P&O Cruises for nearly 25 years.

Visitors will have an all-round unobstructed view of the giant ships, as the boat has been granted permission to pass 50 metres away from the cruise liners, although no toilet facilities are provided on board the RIB.

The new tours will last around one hour and 45 minutes, half the length of the previous tours done on the ferries, as the RIB will be travelling at speed of up to 30 knots.

Tickets will cost £40 and are to be paid with cash on the day.

All cruises are subject to demand and the weather conditions on the day.

To register interest and book a place, call 07968 33 44 41.