THE famous Waverley paddle steamer is set for a busy visit to Southend Pier as several cruises are already fully booked.

The World’s last seagoing paddle steamer returns to Southend this month for cruises to London, Kent and the historic Maunsell Forts.

And the Waverley looks set to have a very busy season when it returns with 24 cruises from September 27 to October 13.

They are filling up very quickly and seven cruises are already fully booked with 800 passengers on each cruise, the Echo understands.

One of the fully booked cruises is the special 78th anniversary trip to celebrate the launch back in 1946, which will be along the Thames to Tower Bridge.

The cruise schedule is as follows:

Southend to cruise River Thames and through Tower Bridge twice

Friday September 27

Saturday September 28

Wednesday October 2

Friday October 11

Southend to London

Saturday September 28

Sunday September 29

Monday September 30

Sunday October 6

Friday October 11

Saturday October 12

Sunday October 13

Southend to cruise twinkling Thames and floodlit Tower Bridge

Saturday September 28

Sunday September 29

Subday October 6

Friday October 11

Saturday October 12

Southend to cruise River Medway to Rochester and view paddle steamer Medway Queen

Sunday September 29

Southend to cruise Thames Forts

Monday September 30

Sunday October 6

Sunday October 13

Southend to Clacton

Friday October 4

Tuesday October 8

Cruise River Blackwater

Friday October 4

Southend to Whitstable

Monday October 7

Southend to cruise Essex coast and round Principality of Sealand

Tuesday October 8

Customers are being advised to check on the booking page to see if the cruise they are interested in is fully booked or if there are any seats available. To check, visit waverleyexcursions.co.uk/book.