Keeping in touch…

Ask someone how they heard about an event and how many people say;

‘I saw it on Facebook’ or ‘I heard about it on Twitter’

Likewise if you are a regular on these sites, many will link you to a blog or event information site.

Like it or not social networking has become a normal way of communicating, especially with so many WIFI spots, Openzone’s and the continuing upgrading of Smart phones.  Who hasn’t heard of an iphone, hands up please?!

We've found that keeping the traditional mailing list (whether email or postal service) becomes more work than the benefits it brings in with miss-mailings, wrong addresses and security issues

Working with guidance and advice from local company Vibrant Pulse, we are pushing ourselves into this social networking whirlwind to ensure the latest news and updates are available.  If you're reading this blog, you might have come accross it via Facebook or Twitter but have you found us on both?

www.facebook.com/stuartlinecruises

stuartlineexm

These are going to be the best way to keep up-to-date with the latest information such as new trips, changes to schedules and special offers such as competitions and discounts!

A busy few days......

With three fully booked Guided Bird Watching Cruises, a private party and a River Exe Cruise the next three days are going to be busy at Stuart Line Cruises

Almost 500 people will have sailed aboard the Pride of Exmouth by the time we get to Sunday evening - that is a lots of cups of tea, coffee and homemade soup (plus a few stronger drinks for the party).

Behind the scenes the boat will have been safety checked, cleaned and stocked and the office will have sorted tickets, collated bookings and checked records to ensure everything is ready

Staff will have ironed shirts, put away the maintenance overalls and cleaned the paint and oil off their hands to ensure they are presentable!

Finally they will ensure the boat is ready and waiting for each person to ensure they get the best value for money from their trip

We look forward to seeing everyone this weekend, and if you're not coming this weekend we hope to see you soon!

Looking back and looking forward.....

Looking back.....

2011 was a year for moving forward

Company owner Ian Stuart was on the road to recovery having completed treatment for throat cancer, a redesigned website was launched, flagship vessel Pride of Exmouth under went a refit and staff member Helen had a baby boy called George in March.

2011 also saw the return of favourite Special Events such as the Exeter Canal Cruise, Guided Bird Watching trips, Red Arrows Display Cruises, Firework Night and Sail With Santa.  The speed at which these trips booked up was amazing and we take pride in the fact that so many people come back year after year for these events.

We attended the Devon County Show as part of the 'Exmouth' stand making sure the thousands of visitors learnt what a fantastic place Exmouth is to go too. 

The importance of social networking was highlighted to us and so we duly ensured we have a presence on Facebook and Twitter which is bringing in some good feedback

We estimate we have carried up to 25,000 last year!  This averages out to 500 people a week sailing the beautiful River Exe and stunning Devon Coastline and we feel this really puts Exmouth on the map, which as we are the start of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is very important.

We were also nominated for the Jurassic Coast Business Award and while the title went to the hard workers of 'Discover Dorset Tours' we felt privileged to be nominated, especially as so much of the coast line is located in Dorset with many businesses along the way.

Finally we also launched two blogs.  This one to keep you up to date with Stuart Line Cruises as a whole and a separate one so that our Ornithologists from our Guided Bird Watching Cruises can post reviews about their trips with us.

Looking forward.....

Once again 2012 will bring several new trips and Special Events including an evening cruise to sail the full navigable length of the River Exe (a rarity) as well as old favourites such as the Exeter Canal Cruises.

This year the Dawlish Air Display will be on Friday 8th June and we hope to send both boats to watch the display from the best vantage point possible.

We've also launched a series of special offers and discounts available through different means.  One of them is clearly displayed on our 2012 leaflet so if you would like a copy please just ask, we can email you a PDF or post you a copy

We look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Thank you!

We would like to wish all our customers, past, present and future a very

also

and most importantly

Without your custom, your feedback and your interest in Stuart Line Cruises we would not be sailing into 2012.

We have some new trips planned for 2012 as well as the return of the favourites.  Our new leaflet is being delivered today and we will be putting them out and about in the New Year but if your would like a copy sent to you simply get in touch.

We are sailing throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities and our timetable is below

With regards from

Ian & Philippa Stuart

and all at Stuart Line Cruises

http://www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk/

One company, many names

Over the years we have realised that people know us by many different names and this becomes especially apparent when you take a look at the words people type into search engines.
Here's a few examples;

stuart line cruises

exmouth cruises

river exe cruises

exmouth boat trips

river exe boat trips

sail with santa

bird watching cruises

exe estuary boat trips

With this in mind we aim to make sure the information people want is as easy to find as possible. 

We have SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) with local company Vibrant Pulse who also provide us with hosting and designed http://www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk/.  SEO is the process of improving your websites visibility through search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and Lycos.  It means that simply typing in a description of what you want will bring you to us, so you don't have to remember our name (although we'd be pleased if you did!)

We also have several smaller websites created by ourselves tailored to specific interests, take a look at the examples below




http://www.birdwatchingcruises.co.uk/

 


http://www.devonboattrips.co.uk/




http://www.jurassiccoastcruises.co.uk/




http://www.rivertrips.co.uk/




http://www.sailwithsanta.co.uk/

We do try to make it as easy as possible to find the information you want on our main website.  However, we realise it can be frustrating if you want to find something in particular very quickly and for this reason we have created these mini sites.
Each site has its own style and whilst they all eventually guide you to our main site we hope they can provide that initial hit of information required.

Don't forget that you can always contact us on the phone 01395 279693 (winter) 01395 222144 (summer) and we will endeavour to provide the information you need

Santa to stay an extra day…….

Despite his busy schedule Stuart Line Cruises have managed to secure an extra trip with the Father of Christmas for their special sailings this December.

‘We’ve experienced so much demand this year that the Elves are already working overtime to get the gifts sorted for the boat trips as well as Christmas Eve’ said Tina Burke, Grotto Supervisor, ‘It took a lot of persuading but we have managed to find a window in Santa’s diary and he will be sailing on an extra trip with us on Monday 19^th December at 12.15pm’

‘This year there are 17 trips in total which means over 800 presents for children’ added Philippa Stuart, Attire Manager, ‘plus over 900 glasses of hot mulled wine for the adults and roughly 3000 biscuits, mince pies and sweets without counting the number of magic tricks and balloon modelling performed and faces painted!’

With a costumed crew, this year taking their inspiration from Mickey and Minnie Mouse, there is no doubt Stuart Line Cruises is starting the festive season with a touch of magic for the whole family!

To find out more or book call 01395 279693 or visit www.sailwithsanta.co.uk

Time to plan for Winter

There is nothing like having something to look forward to when the weather gets colder and you feel stuck inside

You can sail on the River Exe throughout the year so we offer several different trips between November and March

Warm Winter River Cruise - Sail on the River Exe between November and March and you will be on an enclosed and heated vessel enjoying a full commentary as well as a complimentary tea or coffee

December Specials - All the luxury of a Warm Winter Cruise but with the added bonus of a glass of Hot Mulled Wine and a Warm Mince pie for just £1 extra!

Guided Bird Watching Cruise - A 2-3 hour sailing at low tide offering the best opporutnity to view the thousands of wintering birds that flock to the River Exe.  Check our our other blog http://exeestuarybirds.blogspot.com/

Sail With Santa - Start your festivities with a magical cruise! A costumed crew, mulled wine, mince pies, biscuits, sweets, squash, face painting, music, magic, balloon modelling and not forgeting SANTA CLAUS in is own on board grotto full of presents, check out http://www.sailwithsanta.co.uk/

The vessel has an enclosed lower deck that is centrally heated or you can choose to take in the crisp air on the open top deck, blankets are provided on this deck although who you snuggle upto is your decision!
The trips run throughout the Festive Season too with Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day being the busiest times.

We look forward to seeing you this Winter!