Soon our payment tracker was live. Not being a party planner or organiser I had had little experience with this side of things. However the payment process was very straight forward, with a unique login name and password you simply stated your amount, filled in your card details and clicked done! It was also obvious to the organiser who had made a payment – leaving them informed to badger those who hadn’t!

Then there was the build-up, everyone getting excited and looking forward to the evening. The boys bragged about how much they would Drink, whilst the girls discussed outfits. Friday came along and we were all very eager for the working day to end and the fun to begin. Sure enough 7.30pm came around and the team met at a bar by the riverside. There we were able to enjoy a few friendly beverages before boarding.

Greeted by the welcoming crew members, we tottered across a wooden walkway and onto our Boat. We set sail at 8.00pm, along the river Trent. I admit I was a little worried about suffering from some sort of motion sickness – but the boat moved slower than I expected. The route took us under a few bridges and opened up some great views – especially as the sun went down.

We shared the boat with numerous other groups, including a good number of fun loving hen parties! Naturally I was a little nervous about fitting in, but the whole atmosphere soon had us all chilled and talking. Hen Parties often have many different types of friends and family members attending, such an activity is sure to get them mixing and chatting. Thankfully the dress code was extremely relaxed so welcomed both our smart going-out looks and the hen parties fancy dress.

We had opted for an upgrade applicable to Friday nights, which meant that all our drinks were included on board – dangerous! There was a surprising wide variety of drinks including in house spirits, beers and soft drinks. I opted for a glass of white wine, then another…then maybe another before the food had arrived (and this is not a reflection on the time the food took to be served!) We were treated to the cruises summer menu which was a BBQ feast of pork loin steak, chicken breast, fresh salad, coleslaw, potato salad and farmhouse bread and butter. In the winter months the boat serves a delicious carvery meal of beef, pork, seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes and red wine gravy. I also noticed other dietary requirements were catered for.

Once the food was packed away, the on board staff scurried around clearing tables and chairs to create a dance floor space. The on board DJ then got us all in the party mood with great music from the 70’s right up to today’s hits. After a good boogie and several more glasses of wine the boat began to dock.

Time had flown, but the three hours aboard were definitely value for money. Around 11.00pm we disembarked the boat – slightly more wobbly than when we had boarded! But the night was young and we decided to take advantage of the included transport into Nottingham’s town centre. The double decker bus had plenty of room for all and gave the opportunity to mix and mingle a little more.

Nightclub entry to one of Nottingham’s great clubs was included in the activity fee so off we headed there. We drank and danced, and I felt very much part of the group – in part thankful to the relaxed atmosphere created by the Disco River Cruise.

I would recommend anyone looking to book a hen party in Nottingham to consider the Disco River Cruise; it is something quite unique and a package exclusive to the city. The boat provided a good quality tasty meal and the Friday night upgrade was definitely worth it, creating an ‘all inclusive’ drinks package! Adding further value was the free transportation to the club and entrance fee – it’s easy to overlook the amount spent on travel and entry fees on a night out. So hop on board, clink those glasses before heading to one of Nottingham’s best clubs. And if you’re anything like us, end up singing your heart out in a Karaoke Bar until 4am!