St Ives Boat Services - Saint Ives

Cymru J.

Really enjoyed our seal watching trip out to Godrevy lighthouse with St Ives Boat Services. The boat wasn't oversold so there was plenty of space to move around and take photos. Not much commentary but that was fine. Be aware that you check-in at the lifeboat station and then have to walk for around 20 mins to catch the boat at St Ives lighthouse. So allow plenty of time.

brigita R.

Booked a session at 11:30am a night before. We went to do the check in as per the email and could not find anyone at the check in location. Very nice lady that worked for other company gave us advice to go next to boat house. Still we could not found anyone so gave a call that was on a booking and was told to find a guy next to boat house. We spoke to them and were told that booking was pushed to 11:45. We didn't mind it as it was only few min late. When we got to the location for boat ride was told by random guy ( assuming worked for the same company) that trip was push again and that George ( booking guy) tried calling me. I did not have even one missed call even thought i called from my phone earlier. Once i call them agin was told that it was pushed again and we were the only two people for the booking so they won’t do that time and the next availability was at 1:30 which was in 2 hours and way to late to what we wanted as we had very long drive. He tried to say that he can see if other companies can do better time but we just asked for refund at this point as they didn't seemed reliable and didn't want to waist more time. People from different company tried to helps us and did more than four sisters. Definitely do not recommend them and they should give some sort of warning on the ticket that they will not fulfil order if they don’t get group. Left very disappointed not been able to experience this as all other companies were booked at earlier times. Not surprised they couldn’t get a group if they treat all customers like that. Please check reviews and booked with someone else

Rob

Couldn't organise a party in a balloon factory!!

We visited St Ives earlier on this week and upon seeing a number of agents offering trips, we decided we'd like to try out a boat trip.

We approached this particular agent along the front and asked for a price which was £80 for a family of 4 for the 1hr 15min trip which we was happy to pay. The trip was scheduled to leave within the next 45min which was ideal for us with us having 2 very excited children who couldn't wait.
A conversation now took place via the agent and another agent who was also trying to fill the same trip who was located across the other side of the Harbour this went on for over 5 minutes with them both being unable to agree how many paid customers they'd booked on the trip. After 5 minutes of waiting and listening I kindly asked what was going on and could we get on the trip or not, (we were stood in the baking heat with 2 young kids) Another min or 2 passed with more exchanged words and still non the wiser I told the chap to forget it. I explained I couldn't trust someone to take me on a boat who couldn't count how many they were taking on it. The agent responded angrily and scrubbed us off the list.

We booked our trip elsewhere.

Ed S.

A brief cormo-rant about this underwhelming voyage...
St Ives Boat Services advertised this trip as a professional and informative tour of Godrevy Lighthouse and the surrounding area. Instead, as it transpired, for an extortionate £20 pp we suffered a drab hour-long voyage captained by a mute and disinterested crew member, in a crammed boat with insufficient seating for the 35+ others who had been unfortunate enough to spend their afternoon alongside us.

Not to mention, we were made to check in a whole hour before the departure time despite already having purchased a ticket online. The only explanation for this would seem to be St Ives Boat Services disposition to flog your ticket to another hapless customer in the hope you don't turn up for your allocated spot on the boat and thus double their money. Absurd!

That said we did see some seals and seabirds at the lighthouse, which provided a silver lining for both the voyage as a whole and my stomach.

Samantha C.

We had a lovely boat ride on a beautiful sunny day and enjoyed the experience, the staff were very friendly and informative and the boat ride was very relaxing ! Would definitely go again

Adams R.

BOOK A TRIP !!! It was an excellent little adventure on the boat, with a smaller taxi boat taking us from the harbour jetty to the larger boat. Lots of sea wildlife. Great Crew and worth the visit.

Tracey P.

Excellent trip to seal island. everybody really friendly and knowledgeable about the local wildlife. Saw the seals and dolphins. Highlight of our holiday and we will be booking next time we visit St Ives . Thank you.

Jessica A.

Great way to spend our last evening in St Ives on honeymoon. Really knowledgeable and friendly guide who told some amazing stories, and we of course loved the seals!