Accessibility

An Inclusive Experience in Devon

Wheelchair Accessible

Commentary Sheets For Deaf Passengers

Commentary Sheets In French, Spanish & German

Assistance Dogs Welcome

A warm welcome awaits

At Stuart Line Cruises, we believe the stunning beauty of the Exe Estuary and the Jurassic Coast should be accessible to everyone. As a family-run business, we take great pride in our friendly staff approach; our crew are always on hand to ensure every passenger feels supported and welcome from the moment they arrive.

We strive to make our trips as inclusive as possible, but we must also work within the natural limitations of a tidal environment and the structure of our vessels. Factors such as tidal heights can affect boarding angles, and some areas of our boats are reached via steps. We are committed to being open about these constraints and encourage anyone with specific requirements to call our approachable booking office team, who are always happy to discuss your individual needs.

Explore our boats with our virtual tour

Access onto our vessels is, for most cruises, made via a walkway or ramp however, there are some exceptions to this. Our vessels both have two decks – the upper deck is open, and the lower deck is covered and heated and so for those who are wheelchair-bound, this should be taken into account when assessing suitability of each cruise, especially during times of adverse weather conditions. For some cruises, it is necessary for us to board onto one deck and disembark from the other due to the tide. Access from one deck to the other is via a staircase with a handrail at the side.

Above all, we would urge you to get in touch with us by telephoning 01395 222144, before booking your cruise so that we can offer helpful and honest advice on the suitability of your desired cruise.

Departure points

We operate from five different departure points, and it is important to note that some are more accessible than others. This variety of locations plays a significant role in determining which cruises can accommodate wheelchairs or walking aids.

For detailed information and photos of each site, please visit our Departure Point Locations page. While points like Exmouth Marina are very accessible, others - such as Sidmouth - involve a beach landing and are unfortunately not suitable for those with limited mobility.

The Accessibility Icon When browsing our excursions, please look out for the disabled icon. This symbol denotes which cruises are considered "accessible" for passengers requiring wheelchairs or walking aids, helping you choose the right trip for your needs. Please still call us to check on specific needs.

Concessions for disabled passengers and carers:

Sadly, due to the capacity restrictions on our vessels we do not offer any concessions for disabled passengers or their carers. Instead, we offer the lowest prices for everyone on board making our cruises accessible for all budgets.

If you have any questions at all then please call 01395 222144 to speak to our friendly team or email info@stuartlinecruises.co.uk for help and advice.

Specific information for boarding and disembarking our vessels

We have organised the information below to help you understand the physical practicalities of joining us for a cruise. Please select the category that best describes your needs to see specific details regarding ramps, steps, and space on board.

Those with walking aids

We operate the boarding and unloading of our vessels via a walkway with handrails most of the time. There will be at least 1 member of crew available to assist you if needed.

We advise that you let a member of crew load/unload your walking aid whilst you use the handrails on the boarding ramp which measures 70cm wide.

Please note, that the vessel and ramp may move due to tides and weather during the loading operation.

Please advise us if you need help at any point during your cruise.

We can store your walking aid must in a non-obstructive area away from walkways for safety reasons. A member of crew is always at hand to assist you in the storage of your aid.

Those with wheelchairs

Please inform us at the time of booking if you are a wheelchair user in the "Customer Notes" area of the booking process. Some of our cruises, due to tides, may not be suitable but we will happily advise on a cruise time/date suitable. Our ramp measures 70cm wide.

We endeavor to have 2 friendly crew members present to help you load/unload from the vessel.

There may be a small step to get onto the ramp and natural movement of the ramp due to the weather and tide. Our ramp is wide enough to accommodate a standard-width wheelchair.

Electric or non-standard width Wheelchairs

Unfortunately, we are unable to get electric or chairs of none standard width on board. This applies to all powered chairs (including scooters) across the board and is due to a combination of the typical weight of these aids, as well as their typical low height from the ground, meaning that they get stuck over the lip of our walkways.

Passengers are advised that they should either bring their standard width, manual wheelchair if this is an option and if this is not an option, they are welcome to leave the electric chair at the departure point at their own risk - that is assuming they are able to manage to walk short distances to board.

Those with visual impairments

A member of crew will be at hand to help you on and off the boat, and to/from your seat if required. Our ramps for the vessels have a small step and have handrails for you to use (2 for the Pride of Exmouth, 1 for the Tudor Rose). At all points, our crew will listen to your needs and give clear instructions where you are needing them, for example, advising on the height and location of the small step.

Those with hidden disabilities

At Stuart Line Cruises, we understand that not all disabilities are visible. Our friendly team is trained to recognise and support passengers with hidden disabilities to ensure your time with us is as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

Sunflower Lanyard Scheme

We are proud supporters of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. If you or a member of your party wears a Sunflower lanyard, our crew will recognise this as an indication that you may need additional support, a little more time, or simply a bit of extra space. You do not need to explain your condition to us; our team will simply be on hand to assist in any way they can. Please just ask, we are very approachable.

Sensory Information

We want all our passengers to feel comfortable on board. Please be aware of the following sensory factors:

Noise Levels: While our modern engines are designed to be as quiet as possible, there is a consistent low-frequency hum while the vessel is underway. During times of maneuvers, like turning the boat around, arriving/departing at port, the engine noises will be louder. The quieter spots are usually on the top deck and towards the front of the vessels.
PA System: We use a public address system for safety announcements and live commentary. These announcements can be loud; if you have sound sensitivities, our crew can recommend the best place to sit to minimise the impact.
Open Spaces: Our top decks are open with the exception, of the front 2 rows on the Pride of Exmouth, which is covered with large windows. The lower decks are enclosed but have large panoramic windows that make the space feel open.
Quiet Spaces: Our trips can be busy with the boat often filled to capacity. If you would like to visit on a quieter trip, we operate a live and accurate timetable, giving the number of available spaces, meaning you can make an informed choice about the trip you would like to attend.
When queuing, the queue can also be busy. If you would like to board separately, please let us know at the time of booking in the "Customer Notes" section or by phoning us to talk to a member of the office team where we will do the best to accommodate.

Pre-Visit Support If you have specific concerns regarding noise, lighting, or crowding, please do not hesitate to call our friendly booking office on 01395 222144. We can advise on which of our diverse excursions are typically quieter or less crowded, helping you choose the trip that best suits your needs.

Assistance Dogs

Assistance dogs are very welcome on board all of our cruises. We are happy to provide water bowls for your dog - please just ask a member of our approachable crew once you are on board.

Toileting and Exercise Please be aware that on our longer cruises, there are no facilities on board for dogs to exercise or go to the toilet. We recommend ensuring your dog has had an opportunity to do so before boarding, particularly for our full-day excursions.

Summer Safety & Paw Protection During very hot weather, the metal surfaces on our top decks can become extremely hot. This can be uncomfortable or even unsafe for your dog's paws. In these conditions, we strongly advise keeping your dog on the lower decks or in shaded areas where the floor surface remains cool. Our crew will be happy to help you find a comfortable spot.

Specific Information for our boats

Pride of Exmouth

Typically, boarding is made from our upper deck which has limited covered seating. On occasions, this maybe the lower deck or loading/disembarking from different decks.
Access is made via a ramp with a small step that is 70cm wide.
Toilets on the lower deck are down a set of 10 steps with handrails each side. Please see our virtual tour.
Toilet on the top deck has one small step and no handrails.
We have 10 steps, with handrails, down from the upper deck to the lower deck.
Crew offer drinks/snack service to the seats as standard.

Tudor Rose

Boarding is made to the rear of the vessel via ramp. However, there are 5 steps to the upper deck and 6 steps to the lower deck, each with a hand rail.
Access is made via a ramp with a single handrail which is 70cm wide.
Toilets on the mid deck are down/up a set of steps with handrail to one side. Please see our virtual tour.
Toilets are only accessible from the lower or upper decks via steps.
You have the option to sit at the stern (rear) of the vessel if you do not wish to navigate stairs.
Crew offer drinks/snack service to the seats as standard.