duckmarine tour

Tour Details

Liverpool duck tour.

Duration: 55 minutes

Categories: Cruises & Sailing, Family Friendly

Take a ride on the Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour, and explore the city by land and water! Your adventure passes top Liverpool sights and Beatles attractions as you travel on board a unique, amphibious, duck-tour vehicle that travels both on the road and in the water. With entertaining live commentary throughout, your Yellow Duckmarine Tour provides fun for all the family.

The unique Liverpool duck-tour vehicle was formerly an amphibious landing craft vehicle, used during WWII. Now with a play on the name from the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" song, the converted Yellow Duckmarine offers you the perfect way to see top Liverpool attractions as you venture over land and water!

Lasting approximately one hour, your Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour passes many of the best city sights that helped Liverpool gain the European Capital of Culture title in 2008. Starting from the Albert Docks (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site), your duck tour takes in the impressive Pier Head area, home to the newest Beatles Story Exhibition and Mathew Street, where the famous Cavern Club venue can be found. It was here that the Beatles regularly performed in the early stages of their musical careers.

Other non-Beatles related attractions that you may see include Liverpool's Royal Philharmonic Hall, and both the stunning Anglican and Metropolitan cathedrals. After touring on land, you will return to Albert Dock for the famed "splashdown" into the water, where you'll cruise around Liverpool's other historic docks to learn about the city's maritime past.

Packed with entertaining, live commentary throughout, the Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour offers the best family-friendly sightseeing adventure in Liverpool. It's a trip that you will surely never forget!

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Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

For those who like to travel in comfort

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon

Travel Guide > Travel to United_kingdom > Liverpool Tours and hotels > Liverpool duck tour

Liverpool duck tour

Liverpool tours and vacation packages.

Take a ride on the Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour, and explore the city by land and water! Your adventure passes top Liverpool sights and Beatles attractions as you travel on board a unique, amphibious, duck-tour vehicle that travels both on the road and in the water. With entertaining live commentary throughout, your Yellow Duckmarine Tour provides fun for all the family.

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• Location : Liverpool, United Kingdom
• Duration : 55 minutes

Price : Starting from € 15.00

The unique Liverpool duck-tour vehicle was formerly an amphibious landing craft vehicle, used during WWII. Now with a play on the name from the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" song, the converted Yellow Duckmarine offers you the perfect way to see top Liverpool attractions as you venture over land and water! Lasting approximately one hour, your Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour passes many of the best city sights that helped Liverpool gain the European Capital of Culture title in 2008. Starting from the Albert Docks (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site), your duck tour takes in the impressive Pier Head area, home to the newest Beatles Story Exhibition and Mathew Street, where the famous Cavern Club venue can be found. It was here that the Beatles regularly performed in the early stages of their musical careers. Other non-Beatles related attractions that you may see include Liverpool's Royal Philharmonic Hall, and both the stunning Anglican and Metropolitan cathedrals. After touring on land, you will return to Albert Dock for the famed "splashdown" into the water, where you'll cruise around Liverpool's other historic docks to learn about the city's maritime past. Packed with entertaining, live commentary throughout, the Liverpool Yellow Duckmarine Tour offers the best family-friendly sightseeing adventure in Liverpool. It's a trip that you will surely never forget!

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Yellow Duckmarine

A fleet of rather brutal-looking amphibious vehicles operate what is, undoubtedly, the most enjoyable tour of the city. Beginning in the Albert Dock (Gower Street bus stop), these bright yellow boat-busses amble you around the city, taking in the major sights, before returning to the waterfront, and splashing down a ramp into the cool waters of the Salthouse Dock. On her Diamond Jubilee tour Her Majesty the Queen donned her plastic kagoule to sample the ride herself. It was hard to tell if she was amused. It often is, isn’t it?

Note: Yellow Duckmarine ceased trading when it sank min-2013

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Originally a big tourist attraction in the city, the Duckmarine tours have been host to royalty back in the day, when HM The Queen and Prince Phillip hopped on board for a tour of Salthouse Dock back in 2012.

The return of the ‘Duck Tours’ will be brought back to Liverpool by Liverpool City Sights, who are currently in talks with the Royal Albert Dock.

The team have proposed to bring new craft and assurances for the crafts to be entirely unsinkable, following the tours previously ending back in 2013 after a high-profile incident which seen one of the crafts sink with 33 people on board.

The launch will be dependent on the lifting of current COVID19 restrictions, which could be around end of Spring/early Summer.

Liverpool City Sights who run the open-top bus tours across the city, is owned by James and Phillip Olivier who are keen to get the Yellow Duckmarine tours back up and running, with James posting the news on social media:

“Salamander amphibious vehicles (Sally’s) being finished ready for the Summer launch at the Albert Dock, virus permitting, if you know any previous drivers, mechanics or PR staff that worked on the old ducks…please ask them to forward their CV to admin@liverpoolcitysights,” 

“Please note the Sally’s are unsinkable and have been passed by all the relevant authorities”

News of the return of the ducks has had a mixed bag of opinions, with some people of the public excited, some not so convinced.

Sean Morrison, estate manager at the Royal Albert Dock has confirmed they are in talks with Liverpool City Sights about bringing back the Duckmarine tours to the dock waters. 

READ MORE: Liverpool Tour Guide – Tour De Liverpool

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The Yellow Duckmarine

Welcome to the blog of The Yellow Duckmarine, a unique one hour amphibious sightseeing tour of Liverpool's historic waterfront and south docks. This blog is designed as a resource for first time visitors to Liverpool as well as for seasoned citizens. You will find articles regarding regional events and local history and we hope that you will find it useful, interesting and entertaining.

Thursday 26 January 2012

Welcome to our blog.

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Fateful sinking of Liverpool's iconic Yellow Duckmarines 10 years on

It was one of the city's quirkiest attractions

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It's been ten years since Liverpool's famous Yellow Duckmarines took their last splash in the water.

From the early 2000s, it was one of the most popular and recognisable tourist attractions in Liverpool, turning heads whenever it embarked on its tours around the city. A day trip to town wouldn't be complete without a glimpse of the Duckmarine tours winding along the city streets, or theatrically dunking into the dock waters as it morphed into a waterbound vessel, the ECHO previously reported.

But its origins went back much further. Before their days as leisure cruisers operating on land and water - giving premier views of the Salt house, Wapping, Queens and Coburg Docks, and the Albert Dock - the Ducks were originally called DUKWs when created in the US to transport men and materials during World War II.

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In 2001, four of the ex-military DUKWS were updated and refitted to begin life as the Yellow Duckmarine fleet. Affectionately known as ‘Wacker Quacker’ and numbered 1,2,3 and 4, the Yellow Duckmarines are still fondly remembered and attracted thousands of locals, tourists and even famous faces in its time.

In 2012, late Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, took a trip around Albert Dock for a half-hour ride as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of Merseyside. At the time, thousands gathered at the dock to cheer the Queen who looked apprehensive as the customised boat, originally designed in the 1940s, made its 'splashdown' in the world heritage site waters.

Other famous faces to take a trip on a Yellow Duckmarine tour include si nger and TV presenter Aled Jones and The Only Way Is Essex's Mark Wright. But after over a decade in business, the Yellow Duckmarine's found themselves in troubled water.

The fate of the much-loved attraction started to turn in March 2013, when the bus-boat slowly began to sink one Saturday afternoon as it made its way around the docks. At the time, the ECHO reported: "People on board were moved onto a pontoon in accordance with safety procedures.

The amphibious vehicle then sank as it was being towed away. Onlookers told how the Duckmarine, affectionately known as a Wacker Quacker, eventually became fully submerged during attempts to tow it to the slipway in Salthouse Dock.

"Roger O’Doherty, who had been attending the NUT conference at the ECHO Arena, said: "They got a tow boat to try and pull it onto the slipway but they were going quite quickly and it unhinged. The water was up to the level of the windows"

The bus-boats were grounded while a safety check took place. In April that year, three of the four-strong fleet were back on the streets of Liverpool city centre – but they stopped short of entering dock waters until an investigation to find the cause was completed. The full tour normally lasted 55 minutes, but tourists were being offered reduced rates for the shortened tour, taking in the Liver Buildings, St George’s Hall and Chinatown.

Following an investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, three of the four vessels were cleared to return to the water and resumed the famed ‘splashdown’ in late May of the same year.

However in June, disaster struck once more as one of the boats began to sink with over 30 passengers on board - all of whom were rescued by nearby narrowboats and fire crews. At the time, heroic barge owners spoke of the dramatic moment they hauled passengers to safety.

Jackie and Cyril Clark used their boat Predator 3 to pull 17 people out of the water to safety. Eyewitness Phil Lennon said that the emergency response was really impressive and "everyone came together to help."

Do you remember the Yellow Duckmarines? Let us know in the comments section below.

With the second sinking in three months, the Duckmarine tours were hit with stern opposition while investigations into the sinking were on-going.

Then Mayor Joe Anderson outlined the need for the tours to “end” and how the vehicles would be best placed in a museum given their age. It's now been ten years since the fateful sinking of June 2013 which became the last time the Ducks could be seen splashing down into the water.

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The tour operator, Pearlwild, had its licence to run on roads revoked that same year and fell into administration with the four boats being seized. In 2015, a bid to return the Wacker Quackers to the water was rejected, however plans to resume the tours were announced in January 2021 with hopes of seeing the famed Yellow Duckmarines back in their natural habitat.

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