Corporate Charter

If you wish to make a corporate booking, perhaps for a team away day or to offer visiting clients unique and memorable hospitality we will work with you to put together the best possible package.

Please see our Corporate Events page for more information.

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Special Charters - Mad Hatters Tea Party

Many of our trips follow the same stretch of river that inspired the first telling of the classic story of Alice in Wonderland.

In celebration of this enduring and fantastic tale we are delighted to offer Mad Hatters Tea Parties on board our classic river launches. If you have ever dreamt of taking a bite out of an ‘Eat me’ cake, or gulping down ‘drink me’ tea while gliding down the river looking out for that mysterious white rabbit this trip could be for you. Onboard we provide a sumptuous tea party with tea, freshly made sandwiches, cakes, and indulgent scones with clotted cream and jam.

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Special Charters - Literary History

Working with local author and historian Mark Davies (external link) we offer several guided cruises and walks along the Thames and the Oxford Canal.

Mark is able to give illustrated talks on a number of local themes - waterways, historical crime, and literature. He brings to life the stories behind some of Oxford most celebrated novels, including, of course, Alice in Wonderland.

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Special Charters - Wedding Receptions

Many beautiful churches and hotels lie on the banks of Thames and nothing could be more romantic than arriving at your service or wedding reception in Oxford by river launch.

Beautiful churches at Binsey and Iffley Village and reception venues on Port Meadow, in Oxford City, Sandford and elsewhere are all within Oxford River Cruises area of operation. River pick up points are conveniently located for Oxford Town Hall and Tidmarsh Lane Registry Office.

Serafina II is an excellent reception venue and can host wedding receptions for up to 40 people. As well as being an unusual, romantic venue she is also surprisingly cost effective compared to the hire of marquees or hotels.

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Special Charters - Water Taxi

Oxford River Cruises exclusively offers transfers from Oxford City Centre to the The Perch Inn at Binsey and The Trout at Godstow.

The Perch provides exquisite restaurant meals in a wonderful setting and is available for private functions.

The Trout has an admirable setting on the river bank and is family friendly with good food.

Transfers to The Perch take approximately 1 hour. Transfers to The Trout take approximately 1.5 hours.

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Special Charters - Filming

Bacchanalia and Golden Slumbers, our Edwardian style river launches, are available for filming work on the Thames.

They have featured in media as diverse as The Daily Mail, The Oxford Times and TV Tokyo's Travelogue.

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Catering

We have three suppliers that we work with in Oxford to provide catering aboard our vessels.

No.1 Folly Bridge Bar and Brasserie (menus)

Taylor's of St Giles (menus)

The Perch Inn (menus)

Sugar Pepper Cooks (extra special, outlandish tea - and buffets)

Drinks (menus)

We can organise picnics from No.1 Folly Bridge and The Perch to be delivered to the vessel and take payment with your cruise booking. If you would like catering from The Perch your cruise must begin and end at The Perch. If you would like to order catering from Taylor's of St Giles you will need to liaise directly with them.

You are welcome to make your own catering arrangements but a corkage fee will apply if you wish to bring your own alcoholic drinks aboard. Bar facilities are available onboard all vessels and an extensive wine list is available for pre-order.

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Entertainment and Decoration

We can organise many different entertainment options to complement your cruise.

Music can enhance the beautiful and relaxed atmosphere of the river whilst a casino night works particularly well to entertain a group of colleagues. If you would like to organise your own entertainment, we can provide power and amplification if needed. If you are interested in the history of the Thames and its connections to some of Oxford's best known literature then you will find the commentary of our historian, Mark Davies, fascinating.  Mark is a published author with unsurpassed knowledge of Oxford's waterways.  Discos, steel bands and karaoke are popular for those organising a wedding reception or larger boat party.

Jazz Bands - Please contact us for a quote
Sophisticated, timeless and stylish

Waterways History Guide - £50 per hour
Let local historian, author and publisher Mark Davies (external site) guide you through the history and many fascinating literary connections of the Thames in and around Oxford.

Opera - please contact us for a quote

Working with renowned company 'Opera Anywhere' we provide a sophisticated evening on the river enjoying beautiful arias.

Casino Event - £59 per person*
A fun casino with croupiers (Blackjack & Roulette tables). Guests are given a set amount of chips at the start of the cruise and gamble with these though out the trip. We provide a prize for winner (the person with the most chips when the casino closes). Cruises last three hours.

*Price valid for a minimum group size of 20 and maximum of 35. For groups of less than 20 a surcharge will apply

Karaoke - £150
For those with or without the X-Factor

Prices include VAT where applicable
Some entertainment options are only available on Serafina II.

Boats can be enhanced further by our decoration service, personalised to suit your taste:

Fresh Cut Flowers - £100 - £300

Beautiful fresh flowers on the dining table(s), bow and stern. Perfect for a wedding reception or special celebration.  Flowers and colour themes may be specified. We give preference to British grown blooms. Any imported flowers used will always be fairly traded.

Decoration Packages

Decoration packages range from fresh cut flowers to helium balloons, ribbons and bunting. Packages can be tailored to meet your desired theme. You are welcome to decorate the vessel yourself.

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Embarkation Points

Private hire boats can depart from either of our moorings at Folly Bridge or The Perch. We can also arrange departure from other locations on the river including The Trout at Godstow, Osney Island (for Oxford train and bus stations), Iffley Village or Sandford-on-Thames. Cruise departures as far afield as Henley and Lechalde are possible but incur additional charges.

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Prices

1. VAT: Boat hire charges are currently zero rated for VAT purposes
2. * indicates two vessels operating in tandem

3. Boarding permitted no earlier than fifteen minutes prior to sailing time

4. Special rates apply during Henley Royal Regatta - usually first week in July

5. Charter rates are based on trips starting and finishing at Oxford

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Booking Request

Please complete our online Private Boat Hire booking enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Alternatively, please complete our Private Boat Hire booking form (PDF format) if you wish to make a confirmed booking. The form can be completed electronically and emailed to us or printed and faxed or posted.

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