Category: National

Waverley has not had a straightforward return to the Clyde after finishing her visit to the Thames on Sunday 11th October. Forecast winds up to gale force 8 along the way forced her to take shelter first off Bembridge, then after bunkering at Falmouth, in the lee of Lundy Island. She got underway from there…
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The autumn timetable on Lake Geneva ends on Sunday 11th October. Rhone will end her season with the run from Geneva (10.45) to Lausanne (14.30 – 14.55) before returning to Geneva (18.40) on both Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October. After that she is expected to return to Lausanne light ship on Monday 12 to…
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Here are some pictures of Waverley looking good alongside Tower Pier October 2026

Low river levels on the Elbe at Dresden are once again causing issues for the paddle steamers there. On Thursday 8th and Friday 9th October all but the short hourly round trips (10am – 3pm on 8th & 10am to 4pm on 9th) from Dresden have been cancelled. There is just not enough water to…
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To mark 60 years of Ships Monthly, the October edition includes a special feature looking back over 60 years of paddle steamers, in Britain and elsewhere, since 1966. Like all printed media, Ships Monthly now has to compete in an increasingly digital world. So, if maritime magazines matter to you, do please support it by…
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We understand that Lake Como’s PS Concordia is now rostered for just one trip this month on 31st October leaving Como 0910, for Bellagio 11.45, Menaggio 13.15 and back to Como at 16.30. In case of any last minute changes do check before going: Orari_Web-A26.pdf For the October 2002 Pictures of the Month on the…
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Gallia finished her summer season on Lake Lucerne on Sunday 20th September: a round trip from Lucerne (12.12pm) to Fluelen (3pm0 and back to Lucerne (5.47pm). Schiller’s last day in service was Sunday 27th September when she ran the same service: a round trip from Lucerne (12.12pm) to Fluelen (3pm0 and back to Lucerne (5.47pm)…
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Paddle Steamer Waverley is today, Friday 2nd October 2026, celebrating a phenomenal 80 years since she was first launched into the River Kelvin, Glasgow. This anniversary is particularly significant given how few steam ships have ever had a career that spanned eight decades. The World’s last seagoing paddle steamer made a spectacular passage through London’s…
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The October Pictures of the Month are now up on the KC website and this time feature Embassy at Weymouth. She is mostly remembered for her sailings from Bournemouth to the Isle of Wight after the war and on up to 1966 but this is not what Cosens bought her for in 1937. So why…
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Waverley returned to the Thames yesterday for a short autumn season of excursions. To find out more: 25th September 2026: Waverley on the Thames – Kingswear Castle

Waverley paid a rare visit to Newhaven on Tuesday 22nd September. Before she arrived on the scene, Newhaven had a long history as a base for paddle steamers. For some more pics and to find out more: 22nd September 2026: Paddle Steamers at Newhaven – Kingswear Castle

Kingswear Castle was joined this week at Dartmouth by another veteran historic ship – Nordstjernen – which was on a cruise of the South of England and Wales targeted at the German market. The trip started in Bremerhaven on 2nd September with calls at Portsmouth, Falmouth, the Scilly Islands, Fishguard, Avonmouth, Lundy, Penzance, Dartmouth and…
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KC ran a special trip from Dartmouth to Totnes on Tuesday 8th September. For some pics of people enjoying themselves aboard: 8th September 2026: KC to Totnes – Kingswear Castle

Waverley is set to run several trips round the Isle of Wight during her South Coast visit this September. For more details and to buy tickets: Waverley Excursions – The World’s last Seagoing paddle steamer The last passenger vessel to run regular trips throughout the season around the Isle of Wight before Waverley’s arrival was…
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On Thursday 3rd September 2026 Waverley is offering a trip from Dartmouth and Torquay single to Weymouth. Before Waverley the last paddle steamer to carry passengers between Torquay and Weymouth was Princess Elizabeth on Saturday 27th June 1965 on a special charter to PSPS. Before that the last paddle steamer to make several day trips…
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There are some changes to the rostering of the Lake Geneva paddle steamers this September: From Monday 7th September Savoie will return to service. She will take over the roster currently run by Montreux with two round trips of the eastern part of the lake from Lausanne at 11.20 and 15.05. She will continue with…
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The KC September Pictures of the Month, which are now up, are about Malcolm Cockell – Babcock’s Chief Engineer for the lifting of the Mary Rose from the seabed off Southsea in 1982. He also played a crucial role in the return to service of KC in 1985. To find out more: September 2026: Malcolm…
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In order to even up the kilometres steamed by each paddle steamer on Lake Geneva, PS Montreux was brought out of reserve on Wednesday 18th August to take over from Savoie which is now laid up in the Ouchy Shipyard. Montreux will run circuits of the eastern lake from Lausanne and the evening cruises to…
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With river water levels rising at Dresden (8am 22nd August 70cm) the paddle steamers are gradually returning to service. Yesterday (21st August) PS Krippen was scheduled for the double run from Dresden to Schloss Pillnitz, Leipzig for one trip to Pillnitz followed by a “Sightseeing Cruise”, Pillnitz for three “Sightseeing Cruises” and Stadt Wehlen for…
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Services are still running on the Chiemsee in Bavaria but, due to the low water level in the lake, have been unable to call at Seebruck and Übersee/Feldwies since 3rd August: Home – Chiemsee Schifffahrt

Low water levels on the River Elbe, due to the lack of rain, have been preventing the regular paddle steamer sailings from Dresden and in Saxon Switzerland. As things stand at the moment the water level at Dresden is rising but the company’s website says (am on 18th August) that all cruises remain cancelled until…
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Low river levels on the Rhine are disrupting KD’s passenger ship schedules with, amongst other cancellations, the paddle driven Goethe, which usually operates the Nostalgia route between Koblenz and Rudesheim, currently replaced by the shallower draft MS Asbach which itself is only able to operate between Boppard and Rudesheim. For a fuller picture check out…
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Low water levels are affecting sailings on Lake Zurich. As of 17th August there are service restrictions as follows: Also only the paddle steamer Stadt Zurich has been in service this season. Following work on her machinery last winter PS Stadt Rapperswil has been unable to run trials due to a shortage of personnel. She…
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Vevey returned to service on Lake Geneva today (13th August) after being fitted with brand new paddle wheels . Vevey is scheduled to run the service starting and finishing her days in Le Bouveret incorporating one call at Lausanne (10.50) and circuits of the eastern part of the lake from Vevey (12.00, 14.00 & 16.00)…
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Only three of Lake Geneva’s eight paddle steamers are scheduled to be in service at any one time this August (2026). See below for the daily routine: Rhone is set to run the day trip from Geneva at 10.45 to Lausanne returning at 6.40pm after which is due to leave at 7.10pm for Yvoire returning…
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The paddle steamer Majesteit has been sold to the Dutch company Constantin Beweging which already owns two large and modern passenger vessels Blue Rhapsody and Grace Kelly which offer high end trips and fine dining from Rotterdam. Built in 1925 for service on the Rhine Majesteit has run for many years based in Rotterdam in…
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2026 is the 60th anniversary of the withdrawal of Cosens’ South Coast paddle steamer Embassy in 1966. She is remembered 60 years on in the July Pictures of the Month on the KC website: July 2026: 60 Years Since Embassy – Kingswear Castle

KC returned to service in sparkling form on Monday 15th June 2026 after completion of Phase 2 of her major rebuild. Once again she is running one hour harbour cruises from Dartmouth this season in connection with the steam train from Paignton on a regular basis. However she does not run every day. To check…
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The CGN’s Ouchy shipyard opened its gates to the public on 18–19 April 2026, offering a rare chance to see the engineering, craftsmanship and behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps the Léman paddle steamers and other ships in the fleet running. For a tour of the yard in pictures click here: May 2026: Ouchy Shipyard Open Days…
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