A floating Motown disco took to the River Orwell on Saturday night in a splendid evening of great music and old-school dancing.

The Orwell River Cruises: Motown Cruise, on board the Orwell Lady, set off from Ipswich’s flagship Waterfront amid blue skies and calm seas at 7.30pm on Saturday.

It was just one in a series of themed cruise events being held over the summer. It attracted more than 60 people, including a hen party, and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.

After an important safety announcement was broadcast, we set sail and the music began via a loudspeaker on the top deck (the main disco area was on the bottom deck). The dancing also began seconds later.

It can sometimes be easy to forget the stunning landscapes Ipswich and its surrounding areas can summon up. Sometimes it does take a boat trip to admire the view from a distance. Plenty of photographs were taken as the drinks began flowing.

There was an excellent food buffet to compliment a very relaxed atmosphere.

The Orwell Lady travelled up towards Felixstowe and Harwich before returning to Ipswich at 11pm. I would recommend the cruise, and subsequent themed cruises over the summer, to almost everyone. It would especially be enjoyed by large groups, as Saturday’s night hen party would attest to.