Exeter Canal Cruise & Exeter Xmas Market

Get in the festive spirit with some free time at Exeter Christmas Market before we board one of Stuart Lines larger vessells for a 2.5 hours, one way, canal cruise into Exmouth,with a locally baked mince pie and some homemade mulled wine to keep you in the festive mood!

We sail along Exeter Canal at a relaxing pace so sit back and soak up the scenery, watch the locks come to life, the swing bridge majestically open, before arriving at the seaside town of Exmouth.

Stuart Line Canal Cruise:

By the 17th Century, Exeter was the fourth largest port and city in England and efforts were made to improve accessibility of it though the canal. It was lengthened and bought to its current depth of 3 metres and the next locks we pass through, Double Locks, were built.

They created a greater depth which allowed ocean going vessels to reach the city centre. Up to 500 ships were now using it every year and trade expanded to ports in Spain, Italy and Portugal.

It continued to thrive until the arrival of the Bristol and Exeter Railway in 1844, where the canal quickly lost trade, it was used until the late 1960’s with the last ship sailing it in 1972.

Along the towpath we pass two of the area’s most popular pubs, Turf Lock Hotel and The Double Locks. These two inns really come to life in the summer months with heaps of people enjoying the outdoor spaces and community ambience – so give them a wave as we cruise by!

As we glide further along the canal we then bring traffic to a standstill as one of Exeter’s main roads comes to a halt when the Countess Weir Swing Bridge ceremoniously opens to allow our passage through. Designed to allow large vessels to pass, it is rarely used now but is kept busy with the 36,000 vehicles a day that use the bridge.

Depending on your departure point you will either arrive at the seaside town of Exmouth or Exeter’s Historic Quayside.

Exmouth is one of the oldest and most picturesque seaside towns in Devon with two miles of white sandy beaches, The Marina, seafront and town centre have plenty of delicious local cafes and restaurants along with shops and entertainment venues.

Exeter Quay is one of the most beautiful parts of the city with its unique architecture and mix of historic and contemporary design. There are plenty of antique shops, boutiques and a range of cafes, restaurants and bars for you to enjoy some great food whilst soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Quay.

So join us on this relaxing and unique cruise, we have limited sailing times due to the complexity of the route – it’s definitely one not to miss!

Terms & Conditions & important notes:

Marchants Standard Terms and Conditions:

*Children 4 and under will require booster seats/car seats, provided & fitted by the parent/guardian. And children under the age of 14 are not permitted to occupy the first 4 seats of the coach. If booking via the website, if seat allocation is automatic, please note that the driver may be required to move passengers to different seats if an under 14 is allocated one of these seats.

Please note that if you book a Child place for an excursion that includes tickets/entry fees and the venue questions the age of the child, and deems that they are actually an adult, they be refused entry or you may be required to pay the additional amount of an adult ticket. Please note that if you book a place knowing that said child is over the age stated by the venue, Marchants cannot accept responsibility or be held accountable in cases of refused entry or additional payment requests.

PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR TICKET CAREFULLY WHEN RECEIVED AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL DETAILS ARE CORRECT. IF ANY ARE INCORRECT THEN PLEASE CONTACT US ASAP. MARCHANTS COACHES CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCORRECT DETAILS RESULTING IN A MISSED TOUR/HOLIDAY IF YOU HAVE NOT CHECKED AND ADVISED. 

Day Excursion T's & C's

• Your ticket is also a receipt for payment and acceptance by you and all other passengers travelling on this ticket of the terms and conditions stated below.

• Tours and excursions operate subject to minimum numbers and occasionally we may be forced to cancel a departure if bookings fall short of the necessary target. If we do have to cancel you will be notified at least 48 hours in advance and offered a full credit, refund or an alternative tour.

• If you cancel your booking more than 5 working days before departure we will refund the amount paid less £5.00 per person cancellation fee (maximum £20.00 per ticket) regardless of any personal circumstances which may have resulted in the cancellation. For cancellations within 5 working days no refund is due regardless of any personal circumstances which may have resulted in the cancellation. If your booking includes a charge for meals, theatre/show tickets, entrance fees etc., refunds will be subject to our recovering these costs.

• All tickets must be paid for in full at the time of booking and in advance. Drivers cannot accept direct payment.

• Unfortunately we can no longer accept transfer requests for our excursions/theatre trips. Should you no longer be able to make a date booked for any reason then the cancellation policy above will apply.

• It is a legal requirement for all passengers; including children and babies in baby/child seats or booster seats as appropriate, to wear seatbelts. Any child under the age of 4 is required to be in a car seat or a booster seat. These are to be provided, and fitted, by the parent/guardian. Children under the age of 14 are not permitted to occupy the first 4 seats of the coach (First row, numbered 1 - 4). If booking via the website, if seat allocation is automatic, please note that the driver may be required to move passengers to different seats if an under 14 is allocated one of these seats. All passengers must occupy their own allocated seat. Under no circumstances will a child be allowed to sit on another passengers lap.

• If you book a child place for an excursion that includes tickets/entry fees and the venue questions the age of the child, and deems that they are actually an adult, they may be refused entry or you may be required to pay the additional amount of an adult ticket. If you book a place knowing that said child is over the age stated by the venue, Marchants cannot accept responsibility or be held accountable in cases of refused entry or additional payment requests.

• A family ticket consists of 2 adults and 2 children (aged up to 15 years old). If a customer purchases a family ticket and tries to board the coach with different ratio of accepted passengers (I.E 3 adults, 1 child or 4 adults) then the driver may refuse said passengers to board the coach.

• For theatre trips, we will make every effort to ensure your party are seated together for the performance, regrettably however, this cannot be guaranteed.

• No animals other than guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs are permitted on our vehicles.

• No takeaway food may be consumed on the coach without prior approval or permission.

• No Alcohol may be consumed on the coach.

• We operate a strict no smoking policy, including electronic cigarettes.

• Your departure time is shown on your ticket. We cannot be held responsible for missed departures due to you being late or at the wrong location. If in doubt, please check. If you wish to change your pick-up point, you must notify us in advance.

• Passengers with Disabilities: Should you or a member of your party have any disability or medical condition that may affect an excursion or holiday, please advise us prior to confirming the booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the trip and/or hotel/venue. If a passenger requires assistance then they must travel with an able bodied companion or carer. Please advise us of any intentions to bring any mobility aids, particularly mobility scooters or wheelchairs, as only certain models/weight limits can be accommodated in the hold of the coach. We will make every effort possible to accommodate each passenger who wishes to travel with us.

• If any passenger suffers from Dementia or Alzheimer’s then a carer/responsible companion must accompany them on the trip.

• All folding wheelchairs, lightweight mobility scooters, walking frames, shopping trolleys/wheeled cases, prams & child buggies must be pre-booked. Unfortunately we cannot accept rigid/electric wheelchairs or heavy duty mobility scooters (please see below image for clarification)

• Seats are allocated upon booking. Please ensure you are in the correct allocated seat once boarded. However, the coach may have empty seats on the day of the excursion, the driver will advise if this is the case after the last pick up has taken place and you may be able to move to a spare seat should you wish to do so; please advise the driver at the earliest, and safest, opportunity of your new seat numbers should you move.

• We reserve the right to adjust timings, vehicle size and seat/coach numbers, and shall contact you at the earliest opportunity in such circumstances. We do recommend that you contact us 3 days before your departure to re-confirm your departure time. Arrival and departures times may be affected by traffic conditions. Marchants shall not be liable for any missed events or connecting transport arrangements if due to unforeseen circumstances such as heavy traffic, accidents, diversions, severe weather, etc.

• No luggage is permitted on excursions except those involving accommodation booked by or on behalf of Marchants Coaches.

• On trips to hypermarkets, weight restrictions apply to the coach and passengers may be restricted on the amount of goods that they can bring back. No restricted goods allowed. It is also strictly forbidden to exceed the advisory Customs & Excise limits on alcohol and tobacco.

• All passengers’ personal effects and property are carried at the owner’s risk.

• Marchants shall not be held liable or responsible for consequential loss due to the curtailment, closure, cancellation, amendment or withdrawal of any display, event, show, exhibition or service advertised as part of the tour.

• We reserve the right to refuse carriage to any person who, in the opinion of the driver, is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or whose behaviour, actions or demeanour may cause offence, disruption or distress to other passengers or the driver. No compensation or claim for loss is due to any such passenger refused carriage.

• We ask all passengers to be respectful of other patrons on board the coach and try to refrain from using abusive language or being overly loud.

• Drivers are not permitted to pick up or drop off passengers at points not listed on the itinerary or timetable.

Holiday T's & C's

Marchants Coaches Ltd undertakes to operate the tours in this brochure to the best of our ability and we accept responsibility for the arrangements of your holiday that are wholly in our control. However, we cannot accept liability for any alterations made necessary by any events or actions which are beyond our direct control. We make every effort to ensure that all arrangements for the holidays advertised are accurate and we aim only to deal with suppliers who are efficient and reputable. We do not have any direct control over the provisions of our suppliers’ services and do not accept any loss caused by the non-performance of these suppliers. We also reserve the right to change our printed itinerary should external factors enforce such action either prior to or during the holiday. Your signature on the booking form indicates that these conditions are acceptable to you. Similarly any published times which are given to you may be affected by situations beyond our control such as road maintenance and weather conditions and should only be used as a guideline.

BOOKINGS

To make a valid booking you must complete a booking form and pay the deposit. Where there is more than one member of a party to be included in a booking, the person signing the booking form shall be deemed to do so on the basis that he or she represents and acts as agent for all members of the party and as such accepts these booking conditions on behalf of each member of the party. Bookings will be confirmed by issuance of a confirmation invoice, which will show the balance due on your holiday and the due date of your balance. No further reminders will be sent and the balance must be paid to the office at which you made your original booking no later than 8 weeks prior to the departure date. If the balance is not paid by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and to retain any deposits paid. Ticket and luggage labels will be issued on payment of your final balance and these must be shown on boarding your coach. Your exact departure point and time will be specified on your ticket. Please notify the office at which you made your booking if you lose your tickets. If a booking is made within 8 weeks of departure the full amount is liable to be paid at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse any booking and to terminate a client's holiday in the event of them causing a nuisance, or his or her condition is offensive to other passengers, or they partake in unreasonable behaviour.

PRICE

We guarantee not to raise the price of a holiday unless there is a major cost increase beyond our control, e.g. an oil crisis with subsequent fuel increases, changes in the VAT rate, currency fluctuations etc. No surcharges will be made once the balance has been paid. In the unlikely event that we are obliged to make a surcharge, you will be given the option of continuing with your booking at the new price or cancelling your booking. If you decide to cancel we will refund all payments made to us in respect of your holiday.

CANCELLATION & BOOKING AMENDMENTS

If you wish to change your holiday choice after deposits have been paid but before final balance is due, an administration fee of £10 per person is payable. If you wish to cancel your holiday after having paid a deposit, this must be communicated in writing to us as soon as possible and you will be liable to the following scale of charges:

57 days or more before departure - Deposit only.

50 to 56 days before departure - 50% of total holiday cost.

29 to 49 days before departure - 70% of total holiday cost.

15 to 28 days before departure - 90% of total holiday cost.

0 to 14 days before departure - 100% of total holiday cost.

The cancellation will date from the day that written notice is received at our office. Any cancellation charge is payable by the passenger to us and the passenger should then claim on their insurance policy for reimbursement if applicable.

In the event of cancellation by Marchants Coaches Ltd your money will be refunded in full and this shall be the limit of our liability. We aim never to cancel any tour and would only do so in exceptional circumstances or due to failure to reach minimum required numbers. If we are obliged to change your holiday in any way due to circumstances beyond our control, we will try to ensure that you are given early notification of a change and the reasons for such a change.

INSURANCE

Insurance is compulsory for our holidays to Europe and the Channel Islands. You must provide confirmation that you have arranged adequate insurance cover.

LUGGAGE & PERSONAL BELONGINGS

You are requested to take only one standard-sized suitcase per passenger. Marchants Coaches Ltd cannot be held responsible for luggage and personal belongings carried on vehicles.

PETS

We regret that no pets may be taken on our holidays.

SPECIAL REQUESTS

We will make every effort to comply with requests for special diets, low floor accommodation, etc and these should be notified to us in writing at the time of booking and detailed on the booking form. We cannot however accept any booking that is conditional upon guaranteeing special requests. 

Some of our featured hotels may offer sea view rooms. These can be requested, however not guaranteed. 

A few of our featured hotels regrettably do not have lifts and therefore may not be suitable for clients with mobility issues.

For any enquiries regarding your holiday/room please ensure you contact Marchants and not the hotel directly. This is to ensure that all your requirements/requests are noted on the paperwork.

MEDICAL

If you are receiving medical treatment for any continuing illness you must inform the office when making your booking and include details on your booking form. This information may be helpful to your driver in the unfortunate event that you require medical attention whilst on holiday. Every effort is made to assist disabled people travelling on our holidays and notification to Marchants Coaches Ltd will enable us to serve you better. We cannot be held responsible for any difficulties encountered if we have not been given prior notification of any disability in writing. Please do not hesitate to ask if you wish to be advised on the suitability of any holiday that appears in this brochure.

PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES

Should you or a member of your party have any disability or medical condition that may affect an excursion or holiday, pleasae advise us prior to confirming the booking so that we can advise as to the suitability of the trip and/or hotel/venue. If a passenger requires assitance then they must travel with an able bodied companion or carer. Please advise us of any intentions to bring any mobility aids, particularly mobility scooters or wheelchairs, as only certain models/weight limits can be accommodated in the hold of the coach. We will make every effort possible to accommodate each passenger who wishes to travel with us.

If any passenger suffers from Dementia or Alzheimer’s then a carer/responsible companion must accompany them on the trip.

COMPLAINTS

In the unlikely event that you have a complaint during a tour please inform the driver immediately. He will do his best to assist you, but please bear in mind that we have no direct control over hotels and other parties. If you wish to make further representations on your return please write to us within 28 days of your return date.

GENERAL

The Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1936, as amended apply to all coaches throughout any holiday. When you travel on another form of transport during the course of your holiday (e.g. a ferry) then the conditions of carriage of that carrier will apply. These may limit or exclude any liability to you. Marchants Coaches Ltd shall in no circumstances be liable for any occurrence whatsoever suffered by any passenger which arises as a result of any breakdown, delay, change of route, accident or otherwise in the course of the holiday caused other than by negligence of Marchants Coaches Ltd, its servants or agents who are under direct control of the firm. With all arrangements made for hotel accommodation, excursion visits and use of road vehicles, trains or any other means of conveyance operated by person or bodies other than the firm, which are made by the firm, the firm will not be responsible for any loss, damage, injury, delay, or inconvenience however caused to or sustained by passengers in any such hotel, excursion visit, vehicle, train or any other means of conveyance.