THE CRUISE MOOR SCHEME created by a number of independently owned inland waterways marinas is celebrating.
As three of the Cruise Moor marinas collaborating in the scheme have taken the top spots in the prestigious THYA Marina of the Year Awards, announced at the Southampton Boat Show at the end of September, and voted for by boaters.
Hugely prestigious
The Yacht Harbour Association’s Marina of the Year awards have become hugely prestigious with marinas up and down the country vying for a place on the podium. Taking the Inland Marina of the Year Award for 2025 was 465 berth Shepperton Marina located at Shepperton on the Thames, followed by runner-up, Overwater Marina on the Shropshire Union Canal in south Cheshire, near to Audlem.
In third place was White Mills Marina, at Earls Barton, on the Nene (pictured), with the latter two marinas being instrumental in setting up the Cruise Moor Scheme in 2024. Cruise Moor allows moorers from each of the independent marinas involved, to take advantage of up to a week’s free mooring at other participating marinas as they cruise around the network and has proved very popular for boaters keen to explore more of the network.
More expected to join
More marinas are expected to join the scheme before next season. Further details are expected to follow. According to TYHA organisers, this year’s awards received an incredible number of votes and testimonials. Commenting, TYHA Chair, Jonathan Dyke remarked:
“These awards are all about celebrating excellence in our industry and the incredible people and places that make boating such a joy. To be selected as a winner or runner-up is not only a mark of excellence but also a reflection of the deep respect and admiration these marinas have earned within the boating community.”
The top picture shows Shepperton Marina, the second Overwater Marina and the third White Mills Marina.
Speaking on behalf of Cruise Moor, Debbie Skinner from White Mills Marina explained:
"We are so proud that three of the nine hand-picked family run marinas that currently make up Cruise Moor have taken the top three spots in these annual awards. It is confirmation for all our annual moorers who qualify to be part of Cruise Moor that when they visit a Cruise Moor marina they will be staying in one that that offers both exceptional customer service and professionalism, synonymous with our family of independent family run marinas.”
The marinas
The nine Cruise Moor marinas which consist of Aqueduct, Droitwich Spa, Fenny, Fox Narrowboats, Lechlade, Shepperton, Overwater, Dunchurch Pools and White Mills currently offer 1,859 moorings nationwide.