York Riverbus Service | City Cruises™

City Cruises welcomes everyone! We’re committed to making your river cruise safe, enjoyable, and accessible.

• Accessible Boat: Our fully-equipped River Duchess operates on a set schedule. To confirm timings for your visit, simply contact us beforehand.
• Accessibility Information: For detailed accessibility information, please review our Accessibility Statement before your cruise.

Have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at 020 77 400 400 or email [email protected].

Between the first Saturday of April and the last Sunday of September, our sailing schedule includes weekends, as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays during the York school holidays.

Our cruise commences at 9:30am from Naburn Lock, then proceeds towards Acaster Malbis. At 9:45am, the journey resumes, and we make our way to the Kings Staith #3 landing stage, arriving at approximately 10:40am (subject to river traffic).

Departing from the Kings Staith landing at 4pm, our boat will first sail towards Naburn lock, before continuing on to Acaster Malbis.

A bar is available where you can buy beverages, light refreshments and snacks.

Experience a distinct and hassle-free mode of transportation between York’s enchanting city centre and the charming villages of Acaster Malbis and Naburn with our River Bus Service.

The River Bus Service takes around 70 minutes from Naburn and approximately 55 minutes from Acaster Malbis.

We warmly welcome children on board and are pleased to offer complimentary admission for those under 4 years old.

We happily welcome well-behaved dogs on board our Daytime Sightseeing Cruises, River Bus Service, and Self Drive Boats, at no additional cost, as long as they are kept on a leash. Please note that only Guide/Hearing Dogs are permitted on our Dining Cruises and Santa Experience.

To ensure your comfort during the cruise, we suggest wearing comfortable clothing and footwear. It is also advisable to bring along a light jacket or sweater in case of cooler temperatures.

While visiting York, there are numerous attractions to discover in the vicinity, including the iconic York Minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. Moreover, you can leisurely walk along the renowned city walls or explore the charming shops and cafes located in the Shambles.

Unfortunately, the landing at Naburn is not accessible for wheelchairs. However, our landing at Acaster Malbis, as well as our Kings Staith landing, are fully accessible. Please consult our team to confirm the boat that is scheduled for your visit, as our accessible vessels are the River Palace and River Duchess.

Yes, one carer is admitted free along with a full-paying guest. To qualify, the carer should bring proof that they are the paid guest’s registered carer. Documents that we accept as proof are as follows:

From the carer; Carers Card, Carers Allowance Letter of Award (and proof of ID), GP letter confirming caring responsibility. From the person requiring care; Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA), Personal Independence Payment document (PIP), Attendance Allowance letter, Blue Badge, an Access Card with +1 symbol. Persons with a visual impairment may also present a Registration Card (BD8), or Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI).
To redeem when booking via the website, please make the booking for the whole party except the carer(s). Then, at least 48hrs before, please email [email protected] with the booking number and one of the methods of proof listed above, requesting a carer ticket to be added to the booking. Please also ensure you bring proof with you on the day of your cruise to ensure speedy boarding!
To redeem without pre-booking, simply head to the Boarding Location and speak to a member of the City Cruises team selling tickets, bringing proof as listed above.

In York, there may be occasional instances of elevated river levels, which could affect our regular sailings. Nonetheless, we will strive to continue our voyages as long as it is safe to proceed. However, our smallest boat may face limitations and be unable to pass beneath the bridges at a certain point. We will endeavor to keep our customers informed through our website and advertising boards located at our moorings.

Yes, however we are only able to accept the Digital E-Card – we are unable to accept a physical card.

To redeem your York Gift Card, please present the digital card at the Boarding Point or at the On-Board Bar.