Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2011 | Page 141

BUSINESS

and carpeted roomy lounges, with tea
and coffee available from its full bar
facilities, underlining the wide range
on offer for those looking to sail out of
either Cowes or Portsmouth.
Solent & Wightline Cruises was
formed by Mark and Jenny Rayment
and is now run by daughter Alison,
the managing director, and her brother
Lee. Alison said: “We have gradually
grown over the years. My parents went
from one ‘Jenny’ boat to two and then
three, followed by a succession of
other vessels.”
Initially operating just out of Cowes,
the company set up their base in
Portsmouth in the early 1990s, and
after successfully operating in just
the main holiday season, Solent &
Wightline Cruises have extended
their service to run all year round.
Alison said: “Among our most
popular trips from Cowes are the
ones that go out on a Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday and are
called the ‘Two Ports Cruise’.
We also operate a Portsmouth
Harbour Cruise from our base in
Portsmouth, allowing passengers to
have a close-up view of some of the
finest Royal Navy ships.
“The Cheap Day Shopping
trips from Cowes to Portsmouth
run on a Tuesday, Thursday

and Saturday in high season and
passengers can just turn up on the
day for those excursions. The trip
allows passengers to enjoy up to six
hours in Portsmouth, providing ample
time to visit the city centre as well as
Gunwharf Quays.
“But when it comes to an event like
the Cowes Firework Cruise, bookings
are essential because we are usually
full some time in advance. So it really
does depend on which cruise someone
wants to go on, and it is best to check
with us just to be sure of availability.”
Alison added: “We have found that
our Portsmouth Harbour cruises from

Portsmouth seem to be busier than
ever, while here on the Island we are
undertaking more evening cruises,
including such events as student
discos, so thankfully we appear to have
ridden the recession really well. We
try to be as flexible as we possibly can,
and that also includes the scattering of
ashes if required.”
Earlier this year the company was
called into action by the US Navy.
They undertook the task of ferrying
thousands of sailors from the massive
George W. Bush aircraft carrier to the
mainland when it was moored in the
Solent.

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