PS La Suisse

Lake Geneva
Date entered service -- 1910
Major re-build -- 1971
Length -- 78.5m
Breadth -- 15.9m
Passenger capacity -- 1,200 (originally 1,500)
normally operates one round trip between Geneva and Vevey
(along the Swiss Coast)
 
Summer 2007 The large paddle steamer spent the whole summer season operating the curtailed 'Grand Race' sailings 100-103 from Geneva to Vevey and return from Sunday 27th May to Monday 17th September ......
 ......prior to entering dock for major 18 month re-build
5th May 2007 First sailings of the season
Entered service earlier than usual and replaced PS Savoie on sailings 320-321-302-303 on Saturday 5th May
 
Summer 2006 The large paddle steamer spent the whole summer season operating the curtailed 'Grand Race' sailings 100-907 from Geneva to Vevey and return from Ascension Thursday 25th May to Sunday 24th September
21st May 2006 First public sailings of the season
Took part in the pre-season Naval Parade on Sunday 21st May
 
2nd October 2005 Last sailings of the season
Operated two special sailings from Geneva to Nyon at 1100 and 1435 on Sunday 2nd October
13th August 2005 Fêtes de Genève
Operated an evening fireworks cruise (as an extension of her regular sailing 5) from several Little Lake piers to Geneva on Saturday 13th August
4th August 2005 60th Anniversary of the ONU
Operated an evening fireworks cruise (as an extension of her regular sailing 5) from several Little Lake piers to Geneva on Thursday 4th August
22nd May 2005 Operated the last season of daily "Grand Races" from Geneva to St-Gingolph and return from Sunday 22nd May to Sunday 25th September
24th April 2005 First public sailings of the season
Operated sailings 32-33 1230 from Lausanne to St-Gingolph and 1525 return vice the smaller PS Rhône on Sunday 24th April (Swiss Navigation Day)
 
26th September 2004 Last sailings of the season
Operated four afternoon 50 minute mini-cruises from Geneva on Sunday 26th September
20th September 2004 Last timetabled sailings of the season
Operated the Rhône Express full-length sailings 2-5 on Monday 20th September
16th May 2004 Operated the first full-length round-trip sailings 2-5 from Geneva to St-Gingolph and return on Sunday 16th May
This paddle steamer covers the largest daily mileage on any of the lakes, matched only by MPV Italie which operates a similar round trip from the other end of the lake
25th April 2004 First public sailings of the season
Operated sailings 32-33 1230 from Lausanne to St-Gingolph and 1535 return vice mv Général-Guisan on Sunday 25th April (Swiss Navigation Day)
 
22nd September 2003 Last sailings of the season
Operated the Rhône Express full-length sailings 64-155 on Monday 22nd September
30th August 2003 Cancelled - see following item
Planned to operated an evening love boat cruise from Montreux at 1900 on Saturday 30th August
29th August 2003 The paddle steamer failed to stop whilst entering Ouchy dock on the evening of Friday 29th August and hit a wall causing damage to her bow
She was immediately withdrawn from service
Repairs were completed to enable operation of private charter sailings vice PS Simplon on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September
29th May to
3rd June 2003
"G8 Summit" at Evian-les-Bains
The only steam driven paddle steamer in public service during this period - planned to operate a modified version of her daily full-length sailings 64-155, operating mainly along the Swiss Coast with unusual additional calls at Nernier, Rolle, St-Prex, Morges and St-Sulpice
3rd May 2003 First sailings of the season
Operated a special Inauguration Cruise from Lausanne depart 0910, Nyon depart 1110 and Rolle depart 1210 on Saturday 3rd May to mark the reinstatement of the Figurehead
 
16th September 2002 Last sailings of the season
Operated Rhone Express full-length sailings 64-155 on Monday 16th September
5th May 2002 Operated three short 45 minute afternoon cruises from Geneva on Sunday 5th May
28th April 2002 First sailings of the season
Operated sailings 80a-110-134-91b on Sunday 28th April as a result of the accident to MPV Vevey on Friday 12th April
The paddle steamer apparantly broke down (twice ?) with about 500 passengers on board, but was able to procede after minor repairs
Can YOU supply any further information ?
 
17th September 2001 Last timetabled sailing of 2001 on Monday 17th September   1500 "Rhône Express" St-Gingolph to Geneva
20th May 2001 First timetabled sailing of 2001 on Sunday 20th May   0900 "Rhône Express" Geneva to St-Gingolph
19th May 2001 Return to service of PS Montreux after major rebuild
First public sailing of 2001 on Saturday 19th May   "Steamer Parade"
9th April 2001 The paddle steamer broke down off Morges on the way to operate a pre-season charter sailing from Geneva on Monday 9th April
See news page for further details
 
25th September 2000 Last public sailings of the season
operated timetabled sailings 64-155 on Monday
25th September
vice mv Chablais - 1230 from
Lausanne to St-Gingolph and 1500 return
18th September 2000 Last "Rhône Express" sailings of 2000 on
Monday 18th September    0900 Geneva to
St-Gingolph and 1500 return
28th May 2000 First public sailing of 2000 on Sunday 28th May
0900 "Rhône Express" Geneva to St-Gingolph
 
31st December 1999 Special Millennium Eve cruise from Lausanne
3rd July 1999 The paddle steamer broke down off St-Prex on the
return leg of the evening cruise from Lausanne to
Yvoire on Saturday 3rd July
See news page for further details
 
27th September 1998 Last public sailing of the season on Sunday
27th September
  sailing 901 vice mv Lausanne
1200 "brunch cruise" from Lausanne


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Updated - Lakes Brienz, Geneva, Luzern, Thun, Zurich, Konstanz, Maggiore, Como, Garda 10th May 2007   e-mail   (c)1999-2007 John B Bird