ddlPae Cruiser: First With 4 Stars

Press Release - 6 May 2006

 ddlPae Cruiser: First With 4 StarsMartin Hatchuel 

Knysna’s Paddle Cruiser, South Africa’s only paddle-driven vessel, racked up more firsts in February when she became one of the first twenty restaurants - and the first floating restaurant - to receive her star grading from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

“These 4 stars indicate the quality of the food and the level of service on board,” said manager Jerome Simonis, who also received a 4-star certificate for his Cruise Café Restaurant.

The Paddle Cruiser offers lunchtime and dinner cruises daily. Tours, conferences and incentive groups can join her at these times, or special departures can be arranged. The Paddle Cruiser is an ideal weddings and functions venue for groups of up to 140 passengers.

Situated on the banks of the Knysna Lagoon, the stylish Cruise Café offers fine dining throughout the day. Regular appearances by the Knysna Jazz Quartet - an ensemble of international performers - have made Friday evenings at Cruise Café an institution in Knysna.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the presentation of the grading certificates, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, said: “the reason that these achievements are such a cause of celebration is the key importance that quality assurance and standards play in our industry.”

 The Paddle Cruiser joins Knysna’s biggest attraction, Featherbed Nature Reserve, as well as the traditional wooden motor cruiser John Benn and the newly-commissioned catamaran sailing yacht Heads Explorer at the Featherbed Company’s stand 1018 in the Cape Town & Western Cape Pavilion.
www.knysnafeatherbed.com  ENDS 255 words 

Contact: Debbie Stanley

Cell +27(0)82 658 0757

The Featherbed Company

Remembrance Road, off Waterfront Drive, Knysna.

PO Box 753, Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa, 6570

 Telephone: +27(0)44 382 1693

Fax: +27(0)44 382 2373

e-mail bookings@featherbed.co.za