newark on trent river cruises

River Cruises

Sail down the Trent in style, taking in the historic views and beautiful wildlife at leisure…

Newark Castle Line, a family-run business, has been providing boat trips and parties on-board its stylish Edwardian river cruiser, the M.V. Sonning, since 1982. Passengers can enjoy a relaxing 100-minute round boat trip, taking in the historic sights and stunning wildlife along the banks of the River Trent.

The M.V. Sonning is equipped with a large open, shaded main deck with tram style benches ideal for families and groups and the open bow is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunshine on a summer’s day. Below deck is the cosy King Edward VII Saloon providing a fully stocked bar offering a variety of beverages, snacks and ice creams. With large windows and cushioned seating areas, passengers can enjoy a drink or bite to eat whilst the scenery gently flows by. The boat’s Poop Deck, secluded from the rest of the passenger areas, is ideal or groups and special occasions.

The M.V. Sonning offers a truly unique venue for river cruises and is available to hire for parties, weddings, school trips and corporate events throughout its sailing calendar.

Visit Website

Tel: 01636 362303

Cuckstool Wharf, Castle Gate, Newark NG24 1BG, UK

01636 362303

http://http://www.rivertrip.co.uk/

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THE BEST Newark-on-Trent Boat Rides & Cruises

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1. Newark Castle Line

0115 910 0401

Call us now on 0115 9100401/400/402

Daytime Cruises - On The River Trent

Conveniently located two miles from Nottingham City Centre. Please scroll down to view a brochure of our popular cruise and dine packages and other forthcoming events or contact us if you would like a quote for the private hire of our River Cruiser.

Daytime Cruises

Unless otherwise specified, the cruise on the River Trent departs from Nottingham (The River Lodge).  Two or three hour return trips are available depending on the date required.

Both cruises takes in the views of our historic city between Holme Pierrepont and Wilford Church. We cannot guarantee a route on any particular day as this decision is always made by the Captain prior to departure on the day of the cruise.

All cruises have a full catering service, choose from one of our renowned two course meals comprising traditional roast dinner or fish and chips followed by chocolate gateau and whipped cream and complimentary tea or coffee. If you are looking for a lighter meal, we are sure that our popular afternoon tea will leave you just as satisfied. All of our meals are served to your table with a generous helping of hospitality by our friendly staff. Informative live commentary and a companion cruise map are also included so that you can follow your journey and pick out the historical and local points of interest.

Daytime Cruise and Dine Packages

Click the links below to download the packages and prices on offer. Please note that all dates are subject to availability and demand.

Two or Three Hour Lunchtime Cruises 2024 CLICK HERE

Winter Warmer Discounted Cruises 2024 CLICK HERE

Mothers Day Cruise 2024 CLICK HERE

Fathers Day Cruise 2024 CLICK HERE

Valentines Evening Cruise 2024 CLICK HERE

Festive Daytime Christmas Cruise 2024 CLICK HERE

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Whatever The Season

Available throughout the 4 seasons as our vessel is fully heated. The perfect meal stop for individuals, families, tour operators & group organisers alike. We welcome children on our daytime cruises and we operate from our River Lodge moorings with bar, reception room, disabled WC and terrace overlooking the River Trent in a beautiful countryside location.

Our Cruises

Our specially designed centrally heated vessels ensure a tranquil scenic and relaxing venue, offering the ideal surroundings in which to celebrate your special occasion.

All Year Round

You can enjoy the scenic River Trent in all of its seasonal glory throughout Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. (Subject to the Captain`s safe cruising parameters being met)

Disabled Access

We can accommodate wheelchairs in the lower saloon of our vessel. However, due to their physical size and weight we are unable to accommodate electric wheelchairs. Please advise our bookings office at the time of making your booking if you have wheelchair bound passengers in your party.

Ready to book?

Once you have decided on a date please contact the bookings office on 0115 9100401. Once you make your booking we will require a non refundable deposit within 7 days of making your booking. The balance will become due 2 weeks prior to the cruise. Alternatively, please email us your enquiry.

• Information

Newark-on-Trent

Newark is one of the most interesting and attractive towns on the River Trent. The town is steeped in history, with a picturesque old ruined castle overlooking the river, a large cobbled market square and a wealth of fine old buildings.

Newark-on-Trent's Historic Market Place © TAB

Once an important centre for the wool and cloth trade (from the 12th-C onwards), the town is situated at the junction of two ancient highways; the Great North Road and the Fosse Way. The town is also sited at the crossing of two major railway lines; the East Coast Main Line and the Nottingham to Lincoln Line.

Today Newark is large busy place surrounded by industry and modern housing but much of the old town and market area has survived relatively untouched, and is full of charm and character. It is certainly worth visiting Newark on a market day to see the old cobbled square filled with rows of colourful stalls, selling all kinds of wares.

Many preserved buildings in the old town centre and around the market square hold great historical significance.

Two interesting old inns, sited on the south side of the square, are the 14th-C White Hart Hotel and the Clinton Arms, where W. E. Gladstone (soon to be Prime Minister) made his first public speech in 1832. The immaculately restored White Hart is one of the county's finest timber-framed buildings; ornately decorated with rows of sculptured figures. Also near the market place is a late 16th-C half-timbered house once used as the official residence of the Governors of Newark. The parish church of St Mary Magdalene , just to the north of the market, is built on the scale of a cathedral, with a 252 ft (77 m) soaring spire holding a peal of ten bells.

The river area is dominated by the northwest wall of the ruined Newark Castle , next to which is a splendid seven-arched stone town bridge (also a listed an ancient monument). Just below the castle lies the old Town Wharf and Lock, part of which is currently used as a mooring for pleasure boats. A pleasant park area stretches alongside the river here, with riverside walks and a weir.

During the Civil War Newark was a Royalist stronghold. It was besieged three times by Parliamentary forces between March 1645 and May 1646, following which the destruction of the castle occurred. Anyone interested in the town's Civil War connections should visit the Town Museum , located in the town's very fine Georgian Town Hall , where a large collection of Civil War artifacts can be found.

Content by Steve B

Places of Interest and Attractions in Newark-on-Trent

Newark castle.

Only a shell remains of this once magnificent castle, including one intact wall overlooking the river and a large Norman gateway - said to be the finest surviving example of its kind in the country. The first known castle on this site dates from around 1129. The present structure is from 1173, with many additions and alterations made over the centuries. The castle was once the home of King John who died here in October 1216, soon after his disastrous crossing of the Wash where he lost the crown jewels.

The castle was used as a defensive bastion by Royalist forces during the Civil War. When the parliamentary forces eventually took the town in 1646, the townsfolk were forced to dismantle the bulk of castle. In the south tower, steps lead down to a murky dungeon where markings can be seen on the walls made by the guards. Note : The internal areas and dungeons can only accessed on guided tours.

Opening times: castle and grounds open daily 9am until 5/6pm. Free Entry to grounds Location: Castlegate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1BG, Tel: 01636 655765 Website Facilities: Parking - across the river (charged), guided tours (charged) must be booked at TIC.

Newark Town Hall Museum and Art Gallery

Newark's Town Hall is an outstanding piece of Georgian architecture. Its ballroom is one of the finest public assembly rooms of its period in the country. The museum, located on the first floor, has an interesting historical collection of local finds, including Roman pottery and many Civil War relics, including a hoard of 465 silver coins buried during the Civil War. The art gallery contains paintings, sketches and sculptures by both local and international artists.

Opening times: Mon to Sat, 10.30am to 3.30pm (closed Xmas & BH) Free Entry Location: Market Square, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU - Tel: 01636 680333 Website Facilities: Lift to first floor. Guided group tours.

Please note that the old Millgate Museum (located by the river) is currently is closed.

River Cruises

Newark Line River Cruises depart from just below Newark Town Lock during the spring and summer months. The boat traverses through the old town lock and cruises upstream past the villages of Farndon, East Stoke and Fiskerton.

Trip times: each weekend Easter to Oct, plus weekdays during peak periods. Admission Charge Location: Cuckstool Wharf, Castle Gate, Newark, Notts, NG24 1BG - Tel: 01636 706479 Website Facilities: Drinks and snacks available on-board.

Church of St Mary Magdalene

The beautiful towering spire, clearly visible from the market place and all around the town, belongs to the Church of St Mary Magdalene. Construction of the church began in 1160 and wasn't completed until over 300 years later. Yet the length of time taken was certainly worth it as the stonework is richly carved both inside and out. The church has a light and spacious interior with soaring columns and a magnificent 15th-C east window in the chancel and beautiful screen work.

One of the church's most interesting features is a large brass plaque made in Flanders to commemorate Alan Fleming, a rich wool merchant who died in 1375. The brass, which is set into the floor of the north chantry, measures 9ft 4in (2.8m) by 5ft 7in (1.7m), one of the largest of its type in England.

There is also has a fascinating Treasury in a medieval crypt below the Lady Chapel. The Treasury contains much ecclesiastical silver, amongst which is a chalice from 1641 and an 18th-C set of church plate, donated by Lady Frances Leake.

Tours of the Tower, Treasury and Library, can only be made by prior appointment or on heritage open days.

For more information and pictures of Newark see our Newark-on-Trent Town Heritage Tour pages.

Map of Newark-on-Trent

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Marine Cruises canal holidays on the River Trent

Canal holidays on the river trent.

From our Kings Bromley Marina base you head east to the southern end of the Trent & Mersey Canal where you meet the River Trent. En route you can visit Burton upon Trent with its Brewery Museum and the fascinating old canal town of Shardlow.

Lock down and head onto the wide River Trent downstream past the unusual waterways crossroad near Trent Lock. The interesting Erewash Canal is on the left, well worth exploring if you have time, and the River Soar which connects to the Grand Union Canal is on your right. However the Trent goes straight on to Nottingham, although you must soon leave the actual river and join the Cranfleet Cut and later enter more of the frequent canalised sections before you reach Nottingham.

Beyond Nottingham you rejoin the River Trent proper and pass the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierreport. The river twists and turns though fine scenery around tree covered hills on the stretch up to Newark, with lots of large riverside pubs and pretty villages such as Fiskerton and Farndon, although some of the villages have no moorings and may be difficult to visit.

At Newark the river and the town is dominated by the ruined castle walls, destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. The valley of the Trent has had many battles fought upon it, including nearby Stoke Field in 1487. Newark is well worth exploring, an interesting market town with a cobbled market place which has seen much history, besieged three times by the Roundheads during the Civil War.

North of Newark you rejoin the main river for the short and twisting journey up to Cromwell Tidal Lock. The tidal section is much more difficult to navigate, with currents, hidden shoals and large commercial vessels, we advise you to turn at Newark and head home.

River Trent facts… Runs Navigable from near Shardlow to Trent Falls where it meets the River Humber, tidal above Cromwell Tidal Lock. Junctions Sawley with Trent & Mersey Canal, Trent Lock with Erewash Canal and River Soar, Torksey with the Fossdyke Navigation, West Stockwith with the Chesterfield Canal and River Idle, Keadby with the Stainforth & Keadby Canal and Trent Falls with the River Humber. Length 67miles Locks 13

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Cruise Guide to the River Trent

The Trent forms a useful link between the Trent & Mersey Canal, River Soar and other waterways – but it’s more than that, it’s an interesting and attractive route to cruise

Don’t be daunted

Some boaters view the River Trent with a certain amount of trepidation – especially in its lower tidal reaches. And while it’s reasonable to show some respect to a tideway with sometimes fast-flowing currents, limited places to stop, and sandbanks and other obstacles to be aware of, these days there is a great deal of information to help inland boaters to take on safely what may seem like adventurous trips.

But further upstream on the non-tidal reaches there’s less to be wary of. If you simply treat it with the same consideration that you would any river – allow for currents, avoid shallows on the inside of bends, and be wary of navigating after heavy rain – it not only provides a safe and useful link between other waterways, but an often attractive and interesting waterway in its own right.

The upper reaches

And one of the interesting things about it is its somewhat complicated history, with what were originally three different waterways making up its uppermost 12 miles from Derwent Mouth to Nottingham.

Those weren’t always the uppermost navigable reaches: the river was once navigable (albeit not always easily) all the way up to Burton upon Trent. But the arrival on the scene of the Trent & Mersey Canal, and its promoters’ decision to end their waterway at a junction with the Trent at Derwent Mouth rather than Burton, soon established Derwent Mouth as the effective head of navigation of the river, with trade dying out on the upper reaches to Burton.

You’ll arrive there from the Trent & Mersey Canal at a four-way junction. To your left, the River Derwent heads for Derby: it too was once navigable after a fashion, but its role as a waterway link to Derby was later provided by the Derby Canal (abandoned in 1960 but now being restored). To your right, the upper Trent heads off under a long towpath bridge towards Burton – but these days boats only use the first mile or so as a dead-end leading to Shardlow Marina. And straight ahead is the Trent heading on downstream under a bridge carrying the M1 motorway.

The paired Sawley Locks

Boats aren’t on the river for long, because after barely half a mile it leads off over a weir to the left while the navigation continues straight ahead into Sawley Lock Cut. A flood lock at the start of the cut (usually found with the gates open at both ends – if not, it’s likely to indicate that the river is in flood: navigate with caution and if in doubt find somewhere safe to tie up) is followed by a large marina and them by the paired Sawley Locks. Slightly larger than the wide-beam locks you’ll have passed on the eastern Trent & Mersey, these are mechanised and operated using a Canal & River Trust ‘Watermate’ (sanitary station) key.

The river rejoins below the lock for a mile leading to Trent Lock, a major waterway junction. To the left, a sharp turn into the Erewash Canal leads to the actual Trent Lock, the first of 15 in 12 miles as the canal climbs to Langley Mill (and further, as and when the Friends of the Cromford Canal’s restoration plans come to fruition). Meanwhile the main channel of the Trent bears slightly to the right, leading towards Thumpton Weir: take this but then turn immediately right for the start of the River Soar and the Grand Union Canal Leicester Line leading southwards through Leicester. But we won’t take either of these turns; instead we’ll bear slightly to the left to stay on the Trent Navigation and enter Cranfleet Cut, once again protected by a flood lock that’s usually open at both ends.

The great waterway junction at Trent Lock

This finally leads onto the first moderately long stretch of river: four miles of gently winding, tree-lined channel leading past Attenborough Nature Reserve (it’s named after the nearby village, rather than the famous TV naturalist – although it was in fact opened by him!) to reach Beeston. Here boats leave the river to enter the Beeston Cut, historically built as a separate waterway. Time for a short history lesson…

A complicated history

The Trent had been navigable as a free-flowing natural river since long before the canal era, but suffered from the usual problems of unimproved rivers – too little water for boats to float in in summer, and too much for safe navigation in winter. There was no towpath so boats were hauled by gangs of men – sometimes up to ten to haul a small ten-ton boat. Improvements were gradually made – two locks were added at Newark in 1773, another at Sawley in 1793. But the length through Nottingham remained a problem, with the passage through Nottingham’s Trent Bridge being regarded as particularly hazardous.

Meanwhile work had begun on building the Nottingham Canal. It ran north from the Trent just east of central Nottingham, then turned west to run through the city centre to Lenton, before turning northwards again and climbing through a series of locks to meet the Cromford and Erewash canals at Langley Mill. At Lenton it passed within a couple of miles of the Trent at Beeston: building a short canal between the two would create a bypass by which Trent traffic could avoid the dangerous river passage through Nottingham. All that remained was a certain amount of haggling about who would build it – the Trent Navigation Company wanted it built, but didn’t want anyone else other than them to build it and get the benefit of the tolls. The new canal, known as the Beeston Cut, opened in 1796. So today, boats pass through Nottingham using the Beeston Cut and the surviving eastern two and half miles of the Nottingham Canal (the remainder, running from Lenton to Langley Mill, closed in 1937).

The Beeston Cut meets the Trent at Beeston Lock

Boats enter the Cut via Beeston Lock, a flood control lock with no more than a few inches of difference in level. Note the signs saying that the paddles should be left with the red one open at each end of the lock, to keep the Cut supplied with water from the river. Note also the remains of an old lock which used to lead back into the river below Beeston Weir – this was built to allow local traffic to continue after the Cut took over the through trade.

The passage through Nottingham

The Cut takes a straightish course through the outskirts of Nottingham, passing housing and industry (including the site of the former Raleigh bicycle works) on its way to Lenton. There’s little there to indicate that this was a junction, and that boats are leaving the Beeston Cut and joining the Nottingham Canal – the first part of the old line to Langley Mill has been largely obliterated (although further north there are surviving lengths where the towpath is walkable and worth exploring). Well, actually there is one thing: the local place name ‘Lenton Chain’. This commemorates the chain which was padlocked across the canal by the Trent Navigation Company on Sundays to prevent any traffic from passing. This was because the Trent Navigation Company disapproved of trade on the Sabbath; by contrast the ungodly Nottingham Canal Company allowed it to pass.

The canal is now approaching the centre of Nottingham, where it’s surrounded by an assortment of modern urban developments and impressive historic canal warehouses, with canalside pubs and the city’s shops and attractions close by.

Nottingham’s old canal warehouses have been redeveloped

Return to the River

After a sharp right turn amid new developments, the canal heads south alongside a main road, through a series of double-arched bridges (take the left span in this direction) past what’s currently a somewhat unkempt area to reach Meadow Lane Lock, which leads back into the River Trent. Here we bear left to rejoin the river, but that isn’t the only option. It’s possible to turn sharp right and head up the river for a short distance, passing through Trent Bridge to take advantage of attractive visitor moorings on the south bank. And it was once also possible to cross the river and enter the Grantham Canal. This closed in 1936 but the Grantham Canal Society is working to reopen it. However although the first lock in the centre of Nottingham was restored back in the 1970s (and you can still see it), this was largely to publicise the restoration plans rather than with a view to eventually reopening it: the loss of a section of canal under a major 1970s road scheme means that the eventual restoration of the canal will almost certainly involve a diversion joining the Trent some distance further downstream.

Rejoining the Trent on the east side of Nottingham

The river may not have got a great deal wider in the six miles or so since we last saw it at Beeston, but some of the boats certainly have. Up to now, the locks we’ve passed have been only a little larger than typical broad-beam canal locks, but from here onwards it’s a different matter. Over the first half of the 20 th Century the waterway below Nottingham was enlarged, with new locks built to dimensions of 180ft by 30ft, designed to take a tug and three barges. Sadly no such commercial freight traffic has used it regularly for some decades, but plenty of large leisure craft take advantage of the big locks. As you’ll be relieved to find out when you reach the first one, Holme Lock, they’re all power operated, and if there aren’t keepers on duty they can be boater-operated by CRT key.

Walkers beware

Incidentally anyone following the river on foot should note that there isn’t a continuous towpath – although the guidebooks show a riverside path, they also indicate that more than once it changes side with no bridge (including just downstream of Holme), leading to long detours. There is, however, a waymarked long-distance path called the Trent Valley Way which follows the river rather less closely (up to a couple of miles away at times) all the way from Beeston to the Humber estuary.

Passing under Radcliffe Viaduct

Up to now the Trent has flowed through a flattish landscape with valley sides mainly set some distance back from the waterside, but that changes below Holme Lock. Radcliffe on Trent lives up to its name, with a steep wooded hillside rising to some height from the water’s edge on the east bank. The Trent Valley Way follows the cliff top, with occasional good views over the river.

The Trent Valley Way provides a fine view of the river from the top of the cliff at Radcliffe

Stoke Bardolph is a small riverside settlement with a rare waterside pub whose name – the Ferry Boat Inn – gives a clue to its history. Today, with the disappearance of the old river ferries, there are some long gaps between crossing points: we haven’t seen a road bridge in the six miles since Nottingham, nor are there any in the next four to Gunthorpe.

Approaching the Ferry Boat Inn, on a quiet stretch of river near Stoke Bardolph

The large locks continue at intervals of a few miles; the one at Gunthorpe is a popular stopping point with moorings and a short walk to several pubs and restaurants along the riverbank. Steep hillsides continue to follow the east bank with the Trent Hills accompanying the river for some miles.

Diversion via Newark

Fiskerton and Farndon provide pubs and moorings (not always easy to find on rivers) as the hills are left behind and the river follows a meandering route to Averham Weir, where it splits into two. The larger unnavigable channel passes over the weir and disappears off north westwards, while the narrower branch bears right and carries the navigation route eastwards towards Newark. The narrow channel merges with the unnavigable River Devon as it winds its way into the town.

On the narrow reed-fringed eastern channel of the Trent leading to Newark

Newark is the first sizeable place on the Trent since Nottingham, and this is reflected in its importance as a riverside town both historically and today. The waterway passes a marina on the approach to the town, a former warehouse still bears the name of the Trent Navigation Company, and one of the Canal & River Trust’s main engineering workshops is based there, with a drydock where workboats are maintained. Below Newark Town Lock the riverside ruins of Newark Castle, the historic seven-arch Newark Bridge and the Leicester Trader heritage barge complete an attractive waterside scene.

Newark Town Lock with the castle ruins beyond

To the tideway

For boaters not planning to venture onto the tidal river, Newark makes an attractive and interesting destination; however for those travelling further (or simply wanting to explore the entire non-tidal reaches) there are another five and a half miles to cruise. Leaving the town via Newark Nether Lock and a series of road and railway bridges, the navigation rejoins the other branch of the river which we last saw at Averham Weir. A series of sweeping bends as the river enters flatter countryside takes us past North Muskham (with moorings, shop and pub) to reach Cromwell Lock.

Beyond here the river is tidal, a rather different waterway, and one very much to be treated with respect. However it’s also a very useful route to the Yorkshire waterways, and it’s the only way to get to the Chesterfield Canal and (for most boaters) the Fossdyke and Witham navigations too. And for experienced boaters in appropriately reliable and suitably equipped inland craft, it’s perfectly safe to navigate – and these days there are are plenty of resources to help you, including the Trentlink Facebook group (it’s a private group so you’ll need to join it) and the book Narrowboat on the Trent which you can buy from the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s website .

by Martin Ludgate

Our Deputy ed is a guru on all things to do with canals.

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Newark Castle Line .... River Trent... - Newark Castle Line

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• Newark Castle Line

I agree with most of the positive reviews but felt the trip could have been greatly enhanced with a... read more

This is a 90 minutes cruise leaving from the back of the castle. There is not a lot to see on the... read more

Newark Castle Line .... River Trent Cruise.

This is a must, I have traveled on this cruise 4 times now and i can’t recommend it enough. The cruise takes-one and a half hours to complete but it’s very enjoyable and there are many beautiful sites to be scene. It’s starts in Newark just next to the Castle and heads out southwards. The boat has toilet facilities which are well maintained and are clean. There is a bar on board which serves alcohol or non alcoholic drinks, snacks, ice creams etc. The boat is large and spacious. This is a wonderful trip for families too, or even if you are single you will have a great relaxing time on board. As of 2019 the price is £10 for an adult to travel, £4 for children and £9 for OAP’s. This boat also caters for parties, weddings. If you are lucky with a warm sunny day the trips are wonderful.

We recently booked the boat for a private party on a Friday evening. It included a fish and chip dinner and disco together with a 3 hour sailing. It was fantastic. Very well organised, the staff were very attentive and I can’t fault anything. Everyone said what an excellent evening it was. I would highly recommended it for a private function

We thoroughly enjoyed our ninety minute cruise along the river. We saw three herons, two cormorants and lots of geese, ducks and swans. The boat took us through the locks, which was a novelty. We sat outside on the boat, but there were indoor seats too. Snacks and drinks were available on the trip. Good value.

A pleasant, if quite boring, 90 minute, there-and-back trip along the river starting at Newark castle. There was a box of clean blankets for everyone to use if it got chilly, plus a bar downstairs but they ran out of hot chocolate! I was surprised that there was no commentary ... don’t want mindless babble, but some snippets about where we were, what we were passing, wildlife we might see, history of area, etc, would have made the journey more interesting. I enjoyed the experience of going through the locks.

The vessel is well equipped and has plenty of seating outside and under cover. The ride is smooth We were disappointed at the absence of any commentary. A variety of birds were seen, different crops in the fields, a huge industrial site was passed but none of these warranted a mention. Some commentary would have made a huge difference.

Pleasantly surprised to find a well ordered clean and tidy boat with friendly staff. A variety of seating is available with covered areas if weather poor. Good 90 minute tour down to Farndon marina and back- scenic and interesting views. £10 per adult, £9 OAPs and £4 children. Felt this was good value.

Newark-on-Trent

• 1 Understand
• 2.2 By train
• 2.3 By road
• 2.4 By boat
• 3 Get around
• 10 Stay safe

Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire , on the edge of Sherwood Forest, with a population in 2011 of 27,700. It’s best known as the place where King Charles I surrendered during the English Civil War.

Understand [ edit ]

Newark has been a transport hub at least since Roman times. "Fosse Way" swings inland to avoid the Humber but here reaches the River Trent, which is navigable. The town prospered through wool and cloth, and in the early 11th century it was owned by Lady Godiva, she of the legendary naked ride. King John died here in 1216, a year after signing Magna Carta . When the English Civil War broke out in 1642 over the powers of the monarch versus parliament, Newark supported the Royalists. But by 1646 Charles I was defeated across England and surrendered at nearby Southwell village; in 1649 he was beheaded. His son Charles II continued the war until 1651 but then fled into exile, and Britain became a republic. Castles that had resisted parliament were demolished, so Newark Castle became a ruin.

Get in [ edit ]

By air [ edit ].

The nearest airport is East Midlands Airport ( EMA  IATA ) (30 miles, 50 km). This has good connections across West Europe, including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast. For anything further afield, use the London airports.

A shuttle bus connects EMA with East Midlands Parkway railway station, with direct trains to Newark Castle. EMA airport buses also run from Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Loughborough.

By train [ edit ]

53.081 -0.799 1 Newark Northgate is the principal station, northeast side of town on Appletongate. It’s on the East Coast main line between London and the north: trains from London Kings Cross (operated by LNER) run at least every hour and take 80 min via Peterborough and Grantham , continuing to Lincoln or to Doncaster then either Wakefield and Leeds or York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. There's a staffed ticket office and machines, toilets, cafe, ATMs and heated waiting rooms. There is step-free access to all platforms.

53.081 -0.813 2 Newark Castle station is next to the castle and is on the line between Nottingham , East Midlands Parkway (for East Midlands Airport), Lincoln and Grimsby . These trains are operated by East Midlands Railway and run hourly. There's a staffed ticket office and machines, toilets and cafe. There is ramp access to both platforms from the public road, which traverses a level-crossing.

Plusbus is available at both stations.

By road [ edit ]

Newark stands on the A1 some 120 miles (192 km) north of London, at the junction with the A46 and A17. You’ll know you’re close when you see the steaming chimneys and silos of the British Sugar plant at Kelham just west of town. The junction is messy, especially when there’s a big event at the Showground, watch out for standing traffic queueing back onto the A1.

National Express coaches to Newark are suspended, but they intend to restart in 2022. Normally they take just under five hours from London Victoria, one direct (heading for Lincoln and Hull) and one indirect (change at Leicester).

Centrebus 24 runs three times M-Sa from Grantham , taking just under an hour.

Stagecoach Bus 28 runs from Mansfield M-Sa every 30 min, hourly Sunday, taking 90 min via Southwell and Kelham.

Marshall's Fosseway Bus 90 runs M-Sa hourly from Nottingham , taking 50 min; there's only four on Sunday.

Marshall's Bus 37 runs hourly M-Sa from Retford via Tuxford.

The 53.0751 -0.8128 3 bus station is central, off Lombard Street.

By boat [ edit ]

Newark stands on the River Trent, which is navigable and non-tidal. There is mooring for visiting craft, with two marinas in town and a harbour at the nearby village of Farndon.

Get around [ edit ]

The town is best explored on foot. The countryside around is flat and cyclable, but the roads are busy.

Take Bus 28 / 29 for the Timekeeping Museum, Workhouse and Southwell. You can either ask for “SUH-thell” or “South-well”, both pronunciations are used locally.

Local buses run frequently to Hawtonville, Balderton and the northern industrial estates.

Taxis wait at Northgate station. Operators include Yellow Cabs (+44 1636 705200), James Cabs (+44 1636 708000) and NTS (+44 1636 311441).

For long-stay visitor parking, use the two carparks by Castle railway station.

See [ edit ]

• Town centre is attractive redbrick Georgian, centred on Market Square, and well-preserved along nearby Castle Gate and Appletongate. Town Hall Museum [dead link] remains closed in 2022.
• 53.0776 -0.8126 1 Newark Castle is effectively just a municipal garden with a tall old wall along one side, so it's more use for wedding photos than for withstanding a siege. But that's intentional: Newark and many other English castles were partly demolished after 1648, not in the heat of battle, but to prevent them ever being used again by rebels. (This policy was commemorated by Gracie Fields in her song “I’m one of the old ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit”.) The castle was partly restored in the 19th century and what's left is the west curtain wall, with a watergate onto the River Trent, and a gatehouse. It's free to access in daylight hours, and occasional tours of the towers, undercroft and dungeons are run.
• The Governor's House is a fine timber-framed house of 1474 on Stodman Street, but it's nowadays empty, having most recetly housed a Greggs which has moved next door.
• St Mary Magdalene north on Church Walk is Anglican and the largest parish church in the country. It was begun in 1160, mostly built in the 14th / 15th century, and restored in 1855. Local legend has it that a cannonball shot during the civil war hit the spire and caused the small hole that is visible from just outside the church gardens on Mount Lane. Entry is free.

• The Queen's Sconce is the last remaining sconce in Newark. Sconces were large earthworks designed as forts during the civil war. the Sconce is preserved in Sconce Hills park, a large open area with several football pitches that see frequent use by Newark Town Football Club, a small orchard, a park and a café. Newark did have two sconces, the other being called the King's Sconce and was where Northgate retail park is now.
• 53.0821 -0.9045 4 Museum of Timekeeping , Main St, Upton NG23 5TE ( Bus 28 ), ☏ +44 1636 817601 . F 11AM-3PM . Clocks, watches, and timepieces of all sorts. ( updated May 2022 )
• 53.081 -0.9392 5 The Workhouse , Upton Rd, Southwell NG25 0PT ( Bus 28 ), ☏ +44 1636 817260 . Feb-Oct: W-Su 10:30AM-4PM (daily in Aug) . Early poverty relief was organised by parish churches, but this was overwhelmed by the 1820s economic slump. Relief was then industrialised by the creation of workhouses - you could serve gruel into 160 small bowls more efficiently than a score of parishes each supplying a handful. But you must ensure that the place is as miserable as possible, to deter all but the most desperate. Southwell's gaunt Workhouse was built in 1824 and was a prototype for those that sprang up all over Britain and Ireland, and is the best preserved. The infirmary was added in the 1870s. The complex later became an asylum and refuge for victims of domestic abuse. It's now run by the National Trust. Adult £13.20, child £6.60, NT free . ( updated May 2022 )
• 53.078 -0.955 6 Southwell five miles southwest of town has a splendid Norman minster , Gothic east and Romanesque west as they built in stages while dismantling the Saxon predecessor. The Bishop's Palace was wrecked in the Civil War but the Great Hall has been restored. The minster is open M-Sa 8:30AM-6:30PM, Su 8AM-4:30PM. Southwell village is charming redbrick Georgian, pity about the traffic. Here, rather than at Newark, is where King Charles I surrendered; he was then taken to nearby Kelham Hall.

Do [ edit ]

• Palace Theatre is on Appleton Gate, tel +44 1636 655755.
• Cinema: the Odeon is at 23 London Rd. Paragon Cinema on Middle Gate remains closed in 2022. The Showgrounds occasionally have drive-in movies.
• Fitness: Anytime Fitness are within Castle Gate Leisure Centre. Active4Today are a mile south on Lord Hawke Way.
• Golf: local courses are Newark Golf Centre towards the Air Museum, Newark Golf Club at Coddington, and Southwell GC, Orchards [dead link] and Norwood all near Southwell.
• Skydive Langar is one of the biggest and best equipped centres in the UK. It's 20 miles south of Newark at Langar NG13 9HY, near Grantham. The usual approach for a beginner is a “tandem” – strapped to an instructor, so minimum training and fitness are needed, but you do need decent weather. Email [email protected] or call +44 1949 860878. There’s another big centre at Hibaldstow north of Lincoln .
• Southwell Racecourse is an artificial all-weather track with year-round flat-racing and jumps races in winter. It's five miles southwest of Newark: nearby Rolleston station has trains every couple of hours between Newark Castle, Nottingham, Derby and Matlock.
• Newark Showground has frequent events, the biggest being the International Antiques & Collectors Fairs held about once a month, see the website for calendar and prices. The Nottinghamshire County agricultural show is held here in mid-May. The showground is in Winthorpe just northeast of the A1, about 3 miles from Newark town centre, on Lincoln Road NG24 2NY.
• GTSF is "Gate to Southwell Festival", held in late June/early July at Kirklington.
• Southwell Music Festival is held in the minster, held in late Aug.
• Truckfest Original celebrates heavy haulage and monster trucks, at Newark Showground in late September. This was the first of what has become a franchise, with similar events held at seven other locations across Britain.

Buy [ edit ]

• Supermarkets include Asda on Lombard St (M-F 7AM-midnight, Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM), Morrison's on Kings Rd and Aldi on Northgate.
• Market days [dead link] are M W-Sa, with a specialty food market first Friday of the month April-Dec.

Eat [ edit ]

• Cheap eats line Middle Gate, Appletongate and the streets off Market Place.
• Asha , 2 Stodman Street NG24 1AN , ☏ +44 1636 702870 . Daily 5-11PM . Long-established reliable Tandoori eatery. ( updated May 2022 )
• New King Wah , 5 Kirk Gate NG24 1AD , ☏ +44 1636 703114 . M-W 5:30-10:30PM; Th-Sa noon-1:30PM, 5-11PM; Su noon-10:30PM . Decent Cantonese food, poor service. ( updated May 2022 )
• Koinonia , 19 St Mark's Lane NG24 1XS ( opposite bus station ), ☏ +44 1636 706230 . M-F 11:30AM-3PM, 6-10PM; Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su 11:30AM-7:30PM . Friendly place serving good South Indian food. ( updated May 2022 )
• Caffrello Vietnam House , 2 London Rd NG24 1TW , ☏ +44 1636 676618 . Tu-Th 5-10PM; F-Su noon-3PM, 5-10PM . Slick place dishing up good Vietnamese fare. ( updated May 2022 )
• 53.1315 -0.8875 1 The Beck at Caunton , Main Street, Caunton NG23 6AB ( 5 miles northwest off A616 ), ☏ +44 1636 636793 . W Th 10AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 9AM-6PM . This all-day eatery gets great reviews. ( updated May 2022 )

Drink [ edit ]

• Old Kings Arms , 19 Kirkgate NG24 1AD . M-Sa 11AM-11:30PM, Su noon-11:30PM . Trad pub, smart, friendly and good value. ( updated May 2022 )
• Old Post Office , 34 Kirkgate NG24 1AB , ☏ +44 1636 640988 . M-Th 9AM-11PM, F Sa 9AM-midnight, Su 11AM-11PM . Pleasant spacious town centre pub with TV live sport. ( updated May 2022 )
• Castle Barge , Town Wharf NG24 1EU , ☏ +44 1636 677320 . M Tu 11AM-10PM, W-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-5PM . A grain barge converted into a floating pub with food, also has seating on the river bank. ( updated May 2022 )
• The Sir John Arderne ( Wetherspoons ), 3 Church St, NG24 1DT , ☏ +44 1636 671334 . Daily 8AM-midnight . Good value Weatherspoons for meals and drink. Sir John Arderne (1307-1392) was one of the first true surgeons, in an age when many were little better than butchers, Though you don't want to enquire about his treatment for what knights in armour get through sitting long hours on a horse. ( updated May 2022 )
• The Navigation , 48 Mill Gate G24 4TS , ☏ +44 1636 676868 . M-Th 4-10PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-midnight . Lively place on riverbank, often has live music. ( updated May 2022 )
• Breweries are Newark Brewery [dead link] on William St, Beermats near Southwell, Miilestone north in Cromwell, Tom Herrick's in Carlton-on-Trent and Cat Asylum in Collingham.

Sleep [ edit ]

• Premier Inn , Lincoln Rd NG24 2DB ( by A1 junction ), ☏ +44 333 321 1336 . Reliable budget chain hotel north edge of town. B&B double £80 . ( updated May 2022 )
• Travelodge , Beaumond Cross NG24 1XB , ☏ +44 871 984 6578 . Comfy mid-range chain hotel in town centre. B&B double £95 . ( updated May 2022 )
• The Lions , 55 London Rd NG24 1RZ , ☏ +44 1636 643880 . Friendly B&B in a Georgian townhouse. B&B double £100 . ( updated May 2022 )
• Compton House at 117 Balderton Gate is nowadays just self-catering and no longer a B&B.
• 53.0718 -0.8059 1 Deincourt Hotel ( Best Western ), London Rd NG24 1TF , ☏ +44 1636 602100 . Victorian-style 32-bedroom hotel, simple but functional. B&B double £80 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 53.0909 -0.8519 2 Kelham House , Main St, Kelham NG23 5QP ( on A617 ), ☏ +44 1636 705266 , [email protected] . Edwardian country manor, built by the owners of Kelham Hall across the road. It's back-to-back wedding parties in summer. ( updated May 2022 )
• Kelham Hall , Main Road, Kelham NG23 5QX ( on A617 ), ☏ +44 1636 980 000 , [email protected] . A pocket-sized edition of St Pancras designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The Hall and its predecessors have variously served as King Charles I’s first place of confinement, a country manor, a school for monks and missionaries, a sugar beet farm, and council offices. Plans to turn it into a spa hotel were sunk by covid, so it's a wedding and events venue, and parties stay in the manor across the road. However you can camp here or use the self-catering apartments. ( updated May 2022 )

Stay safe [ edit ]

Newark is relatively safe. Places to avoid at night include Yorke Drive (near Northgate Railway Station), Devon Road (on Hawtonville Estate) and Sconce Hills Park.

Connect [ edit ]

As of May 2022, Newark has 4G with EE and Vodafone, and 5G with O2 and Three.

Go next [ edit ]

• Sherwood Forest 11 miles northwest was home to the legendary and entirely fictional Robin Hood . What’s factual is that this is the last stand of primeval forest in England. Everything else is a later planting, so the eco-system is unique, with the gaunt ancient oaks.
• Lincoln is a must-see, with its cathedral and castle enclosing a picturesque historic city centre.
• Major cities within an hour or so by train include Nottingham , Sheffield , Leeds and York .

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Market town of Newark on your doorstep

Kings Waterside & Marina lies on the River Trent in the historic town of Newark in Nottinghamshire. You can live in this idyllic setting and commute to Nottingham or even London with relative ease. Or you can enjoy a leisure mooring and cruise onto the tidal River Trent to explore the Midlands or head out to the mighty Humber Estuary. This is a gated marina, and with town and country surrounding you, it’s secure, peaceful and ideally located.

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Kings facilities

We have your practical needs covered with a full array of Aquavista brilliant basics that you’d expect from modern waterside living including: 

Safety & security  

• A secure marina with CCTV and key fob access to entrance gates and facilities block
• Jetties are well-lit at night 
• Well-kept environments
• 24 hour emergency call out

Facilities  

• Laundry room 
• Showers and toilets, open 24/7
• Free high-speed Wi-fi
• Refuse and recycling facilities
• Free car parking
• Red diesel and available onsite, tended service
• Fully serviced jetties with electricity and water
• Pump-out, tended service
• 1 Elsan disposal point

Mooring packages

Your mooring options at Kings Waterside & Marina are:

If you choose an annual contract, either residential or leisure, as well as access to all of the facilities you also receive:

• Explore 100  – Free stop-overs at other marinas in the Aquavista group
• Moor Benefits – Access to our exclusive Moor Benefits programme
• A choice of payment options – quarterly or annual
• Regular newsletters and surveys – We make sure you’re up to date with any important news about our marinas, and we love getting your feedback on how we’re doing

Residential mooring package

A residential mooring means that Kings would become your legally recognised residence and you could officially call it your home. You would also receive a host of other benefits including:

• A registered UK postal address and post box - all your mail can be delivered to a lockable post box at the marina, and you can use the marina address to register for doctors and schools etc.
• Free council tax when choosing a composite council tax option
• A secure parcel collection point for your parcels
• A 2000L Keter storage box to store your belongings securely, including your bikes.
• One free wash & dry per week  
• One free pump out per month
• Access to Vivup Lifestyle Discounts – discounts on lots of high street brands and supermarkets

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Explore 100 – your free Aquavista stop-overs

We have 29 unique and special locations around the UK, and our Explore 100 benefit means when you moor with us on an annual contract, you can stay at any of our other marinas for up to 100 nights at no extra cost*.

Things to do in Nottinghamshire and nearby

Newark on Trent is a pretty market town with lots happening. Explore the castle and gardens , visit the Civil War Centre to discover Newark’s pivotal role in the English Civil War, browse the busy markets – among the best on the UK - and don’t miss the Newark Air Museum . At the Newark Showground enjoy everything from Antique and Collectors Fairs to the Nottinghamshire County Show. If nature and the great outdoors beckon, you couldn’t be better placed. Sherwood Forest is just a short drive and Balderton Lake is a hidden gem in Newark, for walking, birdwatching and fishing. City life is close by too, with Nottingham and Lincoln both around 20 miles away.

Life on the water at Kings Waterside and Marina

tags ... there can be multiple p tags per blockquote, but the text can't just be floating --> Moored here for 3 nights. Arrived on Monday 21st September when the office was closed but the manager still came to help us with a mooring. He couldn't have been more helpful. Clean and tidy facilities and secure site. Would definitely recommend. Jane Straw 

Opening hours

Kings Waterside & Marina is open

Mon 9.30am – 4.30pm

Tue 9.30am – 4.30pm

Thu 10.30am – 6pm

Fri 9.30am – 4.30pm

Sat 9.30am – 1pm

Sun 9.30am – 1pm

You can call us at 01636 678549 during these hours.

During seasonal and bank holidays, our typical office hours may vary, please call the waterside office before making a visit.

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Welcome to Newark Marina

Newark Marina is the perfect place to bring your boat.  Situated on the River Trent in Newark Nottinghamshire, boasting a friendly relaxed environment with years of experience Newark Marina  provides a comprehensive and professional service to all boat owners.  These include mooring , hard standing, servicing & repair , boat sales  and a well stocked on site  chandlery .  We have trained Volvo Penta engineers , electricians and GRP specialists making the Marina a “One Stop Shop”.

Used Boat Sales

The dedicated sales pontoon has a range of boats for sale to suit your cruising needs and budget. The purpose built sales frontage is open seven days a week and makes boats easily accessible for viewing.

Receive Used Boat Sale updates

Please enter your details and we will keep you informed of any boats coming onto the market which suit your criteria. You can contact us at any time to request that your details be removed from our database. These details are taken in confidence and will only be used to contact you relating to the marina / boat information.

• 0 - £30,000
• £30,000 - £60,000
• £60,000 - £90,000

Offering a full boat repair and maintenance service. Mechanical, electrical and GRP engineering. The 40 tonne Wise Travel Hoist is specially designed to lift boats in and out of the water or onto transport with ease.

Our secure moorings are set on a beautiful stretch of the River Trent within walking distance of Newark's historic town centre and local amenities.

Buying/Selling

With our modern reception suite we can take time to discuss and advise on purchasing or marketing motor cruisers

Volvo Penta

Newark Marina is an authorised Volvo Penta dealer with fully qualified engineers.

As accredited Raymarine agents we can supply and install up to date navigation equipment

We have a 40 tonne capacity marine hoist available to lift vessels up to 18ft wide.

Our established shop sells a variety of products for your boating activities.

Repairs & Service

Servicing engines, drives and sterngear. Engine frost protection. Repairs and overhauls.

Please note: Businesses which add details of their services or goods to this directory are not operating on behalf of the Trust and are not required to have any connection with the Trust in order to add themselves within the directory. The Trust makes no checks as to the accuracy of statements made by businesses which list their services on these pages and users should not place any reliance on such statements.

Trent River Cruises Ltd

Trent River Cruises Ltd are the owners of The Trent Lady and The Nottingham Crusader Riverboats, which operate on the River Trent in Nottingham. The Trent Lady is a double-decker vessel, which can comfortably seat up to 60 passengers. The Nottingham Crusader is a single-deck vessel with seating for up to 45 passengers. Both boats have central-heating for year-round sailing and are available for both daytime and evening cruises.Trent River Cruises offer a wide range of cruise packages, including Sightseeing Cruises, Afternoon Tea Cruises, Weekday and Sunday Lunch Cruises, Murder Mystery Cruises, Disco Party Cruises, Corporate Events, Private Charter Cruises for Special Occasions and Celebrations, Hen Party Packages, Festive Cruises and Educational Cruises. They also offer not-for-profit cruises for registered charities, nursing and residential homes, disabled groups, youth groups and educational facilities. Pre-booking is essential.

Disability Access Information

The Nottingham Crusader was purpose-built to carry disabled passengers. It has disabled access throughout the passenger areas and fully disabled toilet facilities onboard. Daytime cruises depart from Colwick Country Park and evening cruises depart from The Nottingham Sea Cadets. Both departure points are fully wheelchair accessible.

The Trent Lady sails from The Nottingham Sea Cadets departure point only. This is wheelchair accessible. Boarding is via a ramp directly onto the upper deck. There is limited seating available for wheelchair-bound passengers (maximum of 6 on any cruise) and there is a wheel-chair accessible toilet on the upper deck. Access to the lower deck is via stairs. There is therefore, no disabled access onto the lower deck.

Protect Your Trip »

Icon of the seas: the best dining, amenities and more on royal caribbean's new ship.

This family-friendly megaship features plenty of activities, entertainment and restaurants.

Icon of the Seas

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Key Takeaways

• Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, with 18 passenger-accessible decks, eight different neighborhoods and 2,805 staterooms.
• Think of Icon of the Seas as an all-in-one adventure vacation contained on a ship. Young families and energetic travelers will enjoy it most.
• Itineraries originate from Miami , sail to destinations around the Caribbean and include a stop at Royal Caribbean's private island , Perfect Day at CocoCay.

If you have any degree of interest in traveling or cruising, chances are you've heard the buzz around Icon of the Seas. Another record-breaking ship by Royal Caribbean International , Icon of the Seas debuted on Jan. 27, 2024, as the largest cruise ship in the world. It is epic in every sense, featuring 18 cruiser-accessible decks and stretching 1,196 feet from bow to stern.

With greatest-of-all-time soccer player Lionel Messi as the ship's godfather, the Icon of the Seas is truly iconic. Messi brought the entire Inter Miami team along for the opening ceremony and the big reveal of the team's new Royal Caribbean-sponsored jerseys. I was fortunate enough to attend this star-studded ceremony as part of the press preview sailing in the days leading up to the ship's grand debut to the public. It was everything I thought it would be and more, and nobody could have been more appropriate than Messi to send this ship on her maiden voyage.

Boarding a ship of this size can seem overwhelming, but not when you understand the layout. Icon of the Seas is broken up into eight distinct neighborhoods: AquaDome, Central Park, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Royal Promenade, The Hideaway, Suite Neighborhood and Surfside, a neighborhood built for young families looking for nonstop fun and kid-approved eats and treats.

In addition to these public areas, there are 2,805 staterooms spread across 12 decks. Icon of the Seas' capacity maxes out at 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew members, but with the plethora of public spaces and variety of things to do and see, you can choose your own adventure without encountering more crowds than you want to.

Find your perfect cruise

Skye Sherman

Icon of the Seas itinerary

During its inaugural 2024-2025 cruising season, Icon of the Seas offers seven-night eastern or western Caribbean adventures from Miami, stopping at a variety of tropical destinations. All sailings include a stop at Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas . Other destinations include Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis ; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico .

During the 2025-2026 cruising season, new destinations will include Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic ; San Juan, Puerto Rico ; Labadee, Haiti; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (part of the U.S. Virgin Islands ). All sailings will originate from Miami.

No matter your Icon of the Seas itinerary, you'll visit beautiful places – but you can expect to feel torn about spending any time off the ship, because it's just that jampacked with things to do.

Who should sail on Icon of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas appeals not so much to a demographic as to a psychographic; you're going to need to be someone who likes to live life in all caps. Royal Caribbean set out to create "the world's best vacation" contained on a ship, so Icon of the Seas is for anyone who would enjoy the combination of a beach trip, a resort stay, a water park adventure and island-hopping.

Fun-loving travelers and families with kids of varying ages will do best on this ship; it feels a little bit like Disney World with over-the-top everything and a truly massive sprawl. Older travelers who prefer a more quiet, refined experience may want to opt for a less kid-friendly ship. Still, even couples without children will find plenty of fun adult-friendly things to do and romantic places to tuck in.

The Royal Promenade can be quite loud and buzzy, but simply relocating to another onboard neighborhood can completely shift the vibe. Also, keep in mind that the ship really is huge, and walking from end to end can be a hike, so those with limited mobility or endurance might want to look into a smaller ship.

Icon of the Seas prices are high in its opening season, but cruisers with big dreams and small budgets can expect rates to drop by the time the next ship in the series debuts.

The stateroom

With a ship this overstimulating, it's imperative that your stateroom is a haven. Luckily, Icon of the Seas offers peaceful rooms, many of which feature ocean or Central Park neighborhood views. Cruise ship accommodations are stereotypically compact – even cramped – but the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows in Icon of the Seas' cabins (with the exception of the windowless interior rooms) lend an airy, open feel. The cabin layouts are also optimized to provide the maximum amount of storage, floor space and comfort.

Stateroom decor is mildly nautical- and tropical-themed, with calming hues that mimic the scenery outside your window (think blues, beiges and whites). High-tech elements include smart TVs, LED mirrors and the ability to control many aspects of your room from an app.

My husband and I stayed in an Ocean View Large Balcony Stateroom, a 204-square-foot refuge from the hustle and bustle of the ship (the balcony adds another 65 to 70 square feet). This room type can sleep up to four people with a sofa bed for one or two; the room also features twin beds that convert to a king bed for couples.

My husband is 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and we were comfortable in our room, even though our quarters included a large bed, a bathroom, a sofa and a desk. We loved sitting on our private balcony and watching the deep blues of the Atlantic Ocean flow by.

If money is no object, the Ultimate Family Townhouse – an over-the-top eight-guest, three-story pad with a private whirlpool on the balcony, three bathrooms, a slide that connects the second and main levels, an in-suite cinema, a dining room and a kitchenette – looks epic. But keep in mind, it costs nearly $100,000 for the week.

The Sunset Corner Suites (about one-fifth of the cost of the Ultimate Family Townhouse, but still expensive) are also pretty sweet, with a wraparound balcony and a bed facing the sea.

Luckily, not all rooms break the bank; with four main stateroom categories (suite, balcony, ocean view and inside) and 28 subcategories, there's something for everyone.

Best amenities on Icon of the Seas

It's almost impossible to run out of things to do aboard Icon of the Seas.

For thrill-seekers, the largest water park at sea – Category 6 – features the Frightening Bolt (the tallest waterslide on a ship) and the Pressure Drop (the first open freefall waterslide on a cruise vessel).

If you've tired of the seven swimming pools, six waterslides, laser tag, mini-golf, rock climbing wall, escape room, sports courts, outdoor decks, theater, spa and all-day programming, simply take a stroll down the Royal Promenade for Las Vegas -style people-watching. The Royal Promenade has 15 restaurants, bars and lounges, as well as a Starbucks that seems to have a line no matter what time you go. The neighborhood feels a bit like a shopping mall … if a shopping mall had floor-to-ceiling ocean views made possible by the world's largest kinetic art sculpture.

The Pearl, a feat of engineering, is one of the most unique aspects of the ship's design. This art piece is actually a load-bearing structure supporting three decks, but it looks and feels like an interactive art experience designed solely for the enjoyment of guests. The multisensory immersive structure has 3,000 kinetic panels and moody ever-changing lighting. It is one of the first things guests will see when they walk on board, as it stretches from the Royal Promenade up to Central Park.

My husband and I spent most of our time at the FlowRider surf simulator – his favorite amenity – but we made sure to leave time for Taylor Swift trivia at Spotlight Karaoke and the superhuman stunts of the Aqua Theater show, a must on any Icon of the Seas voyage. The ship even has a massive ice arena called Absolute Zero for ice skating (the 20-minute sessions are complimentary) and impressive shows.

We also loved lounging in The Overlook Bar & Pods, an area at the very front of the ship (behind the AquaDome) that features two levels of floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows. It felt airy and open, which can't be said about many cruise ship interiors.

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Best dining venues on Icon of the Seas

There are more dining options aboard Icon of the Seas than you can fit in on a seven-night cruise – but you can give it the old college try. Thirteen of the dining venues are complimentary, while 14 are specialty restaurants (which cost extra; fees vary). There are also 18 bars and lounges.

The best meal we experienced on the ship was at the Chops Grille specialty eatery. When we spotted Royal Caribbean CEO Jason Liberty and a group of bigwigs at a table next to us, we knew we were in the right place. We loved sitting outside and enjoying the breezes of Central Park while we chowed down, but you can eat indoors for an elegant steakhouse experience and a view of the open kitchen and butcher's display, which shows off specialty cuts like high-grade wagyu and bone-in tomahawks.

While I'd never turn down a swanky steak dinner, grabbing quick poolside bites at El Loco Fresh and indulging in some food hall-style grazing at AquaDome Market were equally enjoyable. We also had no complaints eating several meals at Windjammer, the classic complimentary cruise ship buffet.

Even though we don't have children, we stopped into Surfside Bites for a very kid-friendly meal, complete with soft serve ice cream cones from Sprinkles (because no cruise is complete without soft serve). We didn't try anything from the open-air, lemonade stand-inspired Lemon Post bar, but its menu of cocktails and mocktails looked delicious.

And since you're on vacation, be sure to check out the milkshake bar Desserted, where the sugary creations are as photo-worthy as they are decadent. They're worth the upcharge.

Best excursions on Icon of the Seas

Depending on what's on your Icon of the Seas itinerary, you may be able to book activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, tropical jungle adventures, visits to Mayan ruins, volcano hikes, rainforest zip lining, relaxing beach days or cultural immersion tours.

Note that Royal Caribbean features the same options on many of its other Caribbean cruises; none of the excursions on offer are exclusive to Icon of the Seas.

Because our press preview sailing only visited Perfect Day at CocoCay, we did not experience any of the shore excursions. Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas was plenty of fun, even though we didn't plan anything in advance.

If we had made plans, we would have liked to check out the Up, Up and Away tethered hot air balloon, which wasn't running that day, and the overwater cabanas at Coco Beach Club, which were all booked. Thrill Waterpark (which features the tallest waterslide in North America), Oasis Lagoon (the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean) and the adults-only Hideaway Beach are other highlights of Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Overall impressions of Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean seems to be focused on superlatives. It has the biggest, best, tallest, largest and most of everything – especially when it comes to Icon of the Seas. If you like jampacked, adventurous vacations that squeeze a lot of adventure and relaxation into one memorable week, Icon of the Seas is probably for you.

While I love seeing Royal Caribbean push the limits of what cruises can be, the ship may almost be too big for some. It's an all-out Vegas-esque vessel that feels more like a floating city; you will probably forget (more than once) that you're not on dry land.

That's not necessarily a bad thing – if Icon of the Seas looks fun to you, it probably will be – but my husband and I tend to gravitate more toward authentic, immersive, on-the-ground cultural experiences when we travel. While Icon of the Seas is a lot of things, it's not that. We had a fantastic time and have already started planning a future Royal Caribbean cruise with a group of friends and family, but we also sympathize with the anticruisers of the world. Vacationing does not a traveler make.

Still, the shows are entertaining, the service is attentive, the music is jamming, and the architecture and design are incredibly impressive. I have no real complaints and suspect that most cruisers will have the time of their lives on Icon of the Seas – exactly as the minds at Royal Caribbean envisioned when they dreamed up this iconic ship.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Skye Sherman has been cruising since childhood, when her parents took her on her first cruise through the Caribbean. She has sailed various ocean cruise lines, gone off the grid for a six-day riverboat expedition deep into the Amazon River and even planned a European river cruise with 48 of her closest family and friends. She's a fourth-generation Floridian and hopes to visit every country in the world during her lifetime. She covers travel and lifestyle topics for major publications including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Newest Royal Caribbean Ships
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival
• The Largest Cruise Ships in the World
• The Best New Cruise Ships
• The Best Cruise Insurance

Tags: Travel , Cruises , Royal Caribbean Cruises

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Roundup: Moore boosts Heath softball in OHSAA tournament win at London

Shelby Moore hit two home runs and knocked in five runs Wednesday, powering the Heath softball team to an 11-9 victory at No. 6 London in a Division II second-round game.

Kyndall Spicer and Savannah Lawson notched three hits, two runs and two RBIs apiece with Spicer hitting a triple and a double for the No. 12 Bulldogs (15-10), who likely will visit No. 2 Jonathan Alder at 5 p.m. Monday for a district semifinal. Kristal Keeran and Emma Ghiloni added two hits and two runs apiece and Hannah Cash a hit and two RBIs.

Lakewood wins on road

Dani Stewart’s three-run home run in the fifth inning was the difference in Lakewood’s 5-4 victory at No. 3 River Valley in a Division II second-round game.

Stewart also struck out nine for the No. 7 Lancers (13-9), who visit No. 5 Bloom-Carroll at 5 p.m. Monday for a district semifinal. Rachel Crist added two hits, including a double, a run and an RBI and Briana Hoisington a triple and a run.

Utica rolls

Emily Meyers was a perfect 4 for 4, including a home run and a double, with four runs and seven RBIs for Utica in a 21-5 victory at No. 9 Grandview Heights in a Division III second-round game.

Kaitlin Evans and Cheyenne Smith recorded three hits apiece, combining for two runs and six RBIs for No. 11 Utica (11-11), which visits No. 2 Cardington at 5 p.m. Monday for a district semifinal. Lauren Schmitt added two hits, a run and three RBIs and Kiersten Hull a hit, three runs and an RBI.

NC blanks Shekinah

Kylie Gibson homered and drove in three runs for Newark Catholic in a 10-0 victory against visiting No. 12 Shekinah Christian in a Division IV first-round game.

Emma Lohri and Brooklyn Kurtz added two hits and a run apiece and Joanna Bailey and Addison Gerber a hit, a run and an RBI apiece for the No. 2 Green Wave (17-8), who visit No. 1 Danville at 5 p.m. Thursday. Avery Nagel struck out three of the four batters she faced, and Jahni Whitney struck out six in three hitless innings of relief.

Granville advances

Ally Ernsberger, Megan Lodge and Jillian Brownfield struck out all 15 batters in a five-inning perfect game for Granville in a 17-0 victory against Beechcroft in a Division II second-round game.

Emily Travis homered and doubled as a part of three-hit day and totaled four RBIs for the No. 1 Blue Aces (25-3), who host No. 8 Buckeye Valley at 5 p.m. Monday in a district semifinal. Sophia Patena and Leah Gottfried added three hits apiece, combining for four runs, and Taylor Warehime doubled and drove in three runs.

Johnstown edged

Riley Stefanick struck out four and allowed one earned run for No. 14 Johnstown in a 3-2 loss at No. 4 Fredericktown in a Division III second-round game.

Jenna Hochanadel led the Johnnies (7-21) with a hit and a run. Stefanick added a hit and Peyton Mischel an RBI.

Heath blanks Lakewood

Riley Baum struck out 12 in a one-hit shutout, pitching Heath to a 5-0 victory at Lakewood in a continuation of a suspended game to complete Licking County League-Cardinal Division play.

Connor Corbett totaled two hits, a run and two RBIs, and Preston DeVito and Tannar Patterson each doubled, combining for three runs and two RBIs for the Bulldogs (20-2, 14-1).

Carson Anderson singled for the Lancers (15-7, 10-5). Mason Sprankle threw three one-hit innings of relief.

Watkins wins at Johnstown

Bradley Vincent struck out seven in four three-hit innings for Watkins Memorial in a 12-0 victory at Johnstown in LCL play.

Trent Johnson and Braiden Bates led the Warriors (15-7, 9-4) with two hits and two runs apiece. Chase Massie added two hits, a run and an RBI and Andrew Botts a hit, a run and an RBI.

Landon Myers, Sam Marasek and Caiden Scholl each singled for the Johnnies (6-17, 4-11).

Granville wins

Jacob Smith notched two hits, three runs and two RBIs in Granville’s 11-1 victory against visiting Fredericktown.

Wilson Wells and Cy Sims added two hits, including a double, apiece and combined for two runs and four RBIs and Jakob Culver and Jake Johnson a hit and two runs apiece for the Blue Aces (13-9). Luke Bosse struck out four in five innings.

Valley cruises 

Zane Hancock recorded two hits, including a double, a run and four RBIs for Licking Valley in a 16-1 victory at River View.

Trent Clark added two hits, two runs and three RBIs, Adam West two doubles, a run and an RBI and Brandt Lichtenauer two hits, including a triple, two runs and an RBI for the Panthers (18-4). Evan Roberts struck out three and allowed one hit in 2 ⅓ innings.

Newark drops home game

Tyler Flint doubled and singled for Newark in a 5-1 loss to visiting Tri-Valley.

Luke Miller added a hit and a run and Blane Sturm and Moses Crane a hit apiece for the Wildcats (15-9). Cayden Vermilion struck out four in six innings.

Utica falls at home

Connor Staugh struck out two in 2 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief for Utica in a 6-2 loss to visiting Sheridan.

Gavin Chinn hit a solo home run for Utica (11-12), and Chase Bennett added two hits and a run and Aidyn Burgess a double and an RBI.

Heights tripped at home

Brady Pennington tripled and singled and drove in two runs for Licking Heights in a 12-4 loss to visiting Reynoldsburg.

Maxim Fink scored three runs for the Hornets (7-15), and Blake Caldwell struck out six in 2 ⅔ innings of relief.

BOYS TENNIS 

Grennan breaks mark.

Liam Grennan earned his 99th career victory, becoming Watkins Memorial’s all-time leader during the Division I sectional tournament at Pickerington Central.

Grennan, who won three matches, and doubles team Nathan Walter and Graham Smith, who won two, each qualified for the district tournament May 15 at Upper Arlington. They will compete Saturday for sectional placement.