Swiss and Italian
Paddle Steamer News

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2008

2008
31st December 2008
Lake Luzern
PS Uri operated a New Year's Eve gala cruise from Luzern at 1930 on Wednesday 31st December
14th December 2008
Lake Luzern
With the start of the new winter SBB timetable commencing Sunday 14th December PS Uri operated the revised Sunday Brunch Cruise sailing 101 vice the regular motor vessel which includes a rather strange winter call at Kehrsiten Bürgenstock
As can be seen here the connecting funicular was closed for the winter and the next ship back was not for another week, so those who did alight had to walk round to Stansstad !
5th December 2008
Lake Luzern
PS Uri operated an evening Fondue Cruise from Luzern at 1921 on Friday 5th December
1st December 2008
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey operated the winter 1230, 1400 and 1530 Evian-les-Bains Ferry Sailings from Lausanne most Mondays to Fridays during December commencing Monday 1st December - click here for further details
27th November 2008
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey operated all of the regular evening Fondue Cruises from Lausanne at 1930 between Thursday 27th November and Friday 19th December
30th October 2008
Lake Geneva
100th Birthday of MPV Italie
PS Savoie and PS Simplon operated fully booked Evening Dinner Fundraising Cruises for the restoration of the laid-up MPV Italie from Geneva depart 2015 on Thursday 30th October
19th October 2008
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Rapperswil left her dock as planned but never arrived at Bürkliplatz - in consequence her planned sailings 101-102-115-116 were covered by the small mv Säntis
It is undertood that this was a repeat of the boiler problem which caused cancellations earlier in the year
4th October 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel Operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Konstanz at 1900 on Saturday 4th October
3rd October 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel Operated a Cruise to Meersburg from Konstanz at 1150 on Friday 3rd October
27th September 2008
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated an evening Fondue Cruise from Thun at 1850 on Saturday 27th September
Lake Luzern
PS Unterwalden operated a special Farewell Cruise from Luzern at 1035 on Saturday 27th September prior to withdrawal from service for a major re-build
Although this cruise had been advertised as the final sailing of the season by a paddle steamer under the Acheregg bridge, unfortunately the front mast could not be lowered despite the best efforts of the engineer, so only the bows went under the even though the mast and funnel had been lowered - it gave the captain an opportunity to show off his skills as he took his ship as close as possible !
13th/14th September 2008
Lake Geneva
Journées du patrimoine
In addition to the regular timetabled sailings  PS Montreux operated a series of short 45 minute non-landing cruises for those visiting Ouchy dock to view progress of the rebuilding of PS La Suisse on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September
7th September 2008
Lake Garda
MPV G Zanardelli operated a Air Show Cruise from Cisano at 1410 on Sunday 7th September
6th September 2008
Lake Garda
MPV Italia operated a Regatta Cruise from Gargnano at 0830 on Saturday 6th September
5th September 2008
Lake Zurich
At approximately 1415 whilst arriving back at Zurich Bürkliplatz pier on sailing 102 on Friday 5th September   PS Stadt Zürich failed to stop and collided at slow speed with the adjacent wall resulting in damage to the railings but fortunately sustaining only a minor scar to her bows
She was able to continue with her afternoon sailing to Rapperswil as originally planned
20th August 2008
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp was out of service with "rudder problems" commencing Wednesday 20th August resulting in her sailings having to be covered by mv Bubenberg
- following trials on the Friday evening the paddle steamer was back in service the following day - Saturday 23rd August
15th August 2008
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated an evening Fireworks Cruise from Lausanne depart 2030 on Friday 15th August
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operate an evening Jazz Cruise from Thun at 1930 on Friday 15th August
10th August 2008
Lake Geneva
PS Montreux terminated her return evening sailing 406 from Yvoire at Morges on Sunday 10th August after electrical problems resulted in the lighting systems and boiler management system cutting out - consequently passengers had to make their way back to Lausanne by train
- the paddle steamer had suffered a failure after Rolle, but limped on to Morges where she arrived approximately half an hour late
9th August 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated a Cruise to Meersburg from Konstanz at 1150 on Saturday 9th August
1st August 2008
All lakes
Swiss National Day - Friday 1st August
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated an evening Fireworks Cruise from Lausanne depart 2030 on Friday 1st August
Lake Luzern
Fireworks at Brunnen
All five paddle steamers paraded in convoy followed by some of the motor vessels from Luzern at 2000 to Brunnen for the annual fireworks display
Lake Thun
In additional to the regular afternoon timetabled sailings 15-16   PS Blümlisalp took part in the annual evening naval parade from Thun at 2030 along with most of the motor vessels
Lake Zurich
In additional to the normal sunday timetabled sailings   PS Stadt Rapperswil operated an Evening Dinner Cruise from Zurich at 2015
31st July 2008
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey operated an evening Fireworks Cruise from Le Bouveret at 1925 on Thursday 31st July
22nd July 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated two Cruises to Meersburg from Konstanz at 1150 and 1415 on Tuesday 22nd July
Lake Luzern
PS Uri operated an evening Music Cruise from Flüelen at 1940 on Tuesday 22nd July
18th July 2008
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Thun at 1930 on Friday 18th July
14th July 2008
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated an evening Fireworks cruise from Lausanne at 2000 on Monday 14th July
Lake Luzern
After operating the 1210 sailing from Alpnachstad at approximately 1330 on Monday 14th July PS Unterwalden had a minor "bump" with pier No.2 at Luzern resulting in a dint to her stern - she was immediately taken out of service and proceeded to dock for repairs which were completed by midday on Friday 18th July
All her Alpnachstad sailings were covered by mv Waldstätter   mv Gotthard and mv Rigi
13th July 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated two International Cruises between Rorschach and Lindau at 1155 and 1450 on Sunday 13th July
11th July 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated an evening Dinner Cruise from Konstanz on Friday 11th July
8th July 2008
Lake Zurich
Some minutes after the departure from Bürkliplatz, PS Stadt Rapperswil reduced speed due to the breakdown of a packing box on the high pressure cylinder - she arrived at Thalwil about 5 minutes late, where her sailing 101 was terminated and she sailed light to Wollishofen for repairs
Passengers were transferred to the following sailing 103 to Rapperswil/Schmerikon operated by mv Linth
PS Stadt Zürich stepped up to cover her sister's afternoon sailings 115-116 to Rapperswil and mv Wädenswil covered the short sailings 135-136 to Männedorf
The paddle steamer was observed back in service on Friday 18th July operating to Rapperswil but may have returned to service earlier
6th July 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Rorschach on Sunday 6th July
5th July 2008
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Interlaken at 1930 on Saturday 5th July
21st June 2008
Lake Como
PS Concordia operated an evening Fireworks Cruise from Como at 2000 on Saturday 21st June
12th June 2008
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Rapperswil broke down at Insel Ufenau with a defective steam valve on Thursday 12th June on sailing 105 - approximately 50 passengers were transferred to other services - the paddle steamer returned direct to the dock at Zurich Wollishofen
Presumably the afternoon sailings 135-136 were covered by a motor vessel
She was back in service the following Sunday operating the full-length afternoon Schmerikon sailing
If you have any further information - please e-mail me so the information may be posted for the benefit of other visitors to this website
9th June 2008
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon broke down shortly after leaving Rivaz/St-Saphorin on Monday 9th June whilst operating the afternoon sailing 922 from Lausanne to Montreux - she was able to continue with some delay after "on the spot" repairs
6th June 2008
Lake Zurich
CANCELLED
PS Stadt Rapperswil was originally advertised to operate an Evening Fireworks Cruise from Zurich at 1945 on Friday 6th June to mark the start of Euro 2008 but the fireworks display was cancelled along with the cruise
18th May 2008
Lake Garda
It is understood MPV Italia broke down at Peschiera prior to starting her day's sailings 2-3-4-5 to Riva
It appreas mv Tonale was quickly pressed into service and operated a delayed sailing 2 (by Malcesine she was running approximately 45 minutes late) before returning with sailing 5 on time - in conqequence sailings 3-4 were apparantly cancelled with passengers being conveyed on the other local sailings at the north end of the lake

11th May 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated two Cruises to Meersburg from Konstanz at 1150 and 1415 on Whit Sunday 11th May
Lake Maggiore
PS Piemonte operated a rare public music charter from Stresa at 1600 on Whit Sunday 11th May along the Borromeo Gulf as part of the Stresa Festival
10th May 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Konstanz at 1900 on Whit Saturday 10th May
4th May 2008
Lake Geneva
PS Rhône unusually operate the last ferry crossing from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains at 1840 on Sunday 4th May and also on the following two Sundays
It was very rare for a steam powered paddle steamer to cover the ferry run
1st May 2008
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated two International Cruises between Arbon and Lindau at 1155 and 1450 on Thursday 1st May
27th April 2008
All lakes
Swiss Navigation Day - Sunday 27th April
Lake Geneva
In addition to the regular advertised Spring Sunday paddle steamer sailings, PS Simplon unusually operated the 1000 Geneva to Evian-les-Bains and return sailings 300-301 on Sunday 27th April - this was a rare opportunity to sail along the French coast by paddle steamer between Yvoire and Evian-les-Bains (a regular route until September 2005)
Also MPV Vevey operated the Upper Lake Circle cruises similar to the previous year
Lake Luzern
In addition to the regular advertised Spring Sunday 1125 Luzern to Flüelen and return sailing unusually operated by PS Unterwalden, all sailings to Küssnacht am Rigi as well as some to Stansstad and Vitznau were covered by PS Stadt Luzern and PS Uri rather than the regular motor vessels on Sunday 27th April
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zürich operate a special 90 minute Morning Cruise from Zurich at 1130 on Sunday 27th April departing "in parallel" with her sister on the 1130 sailing to Rapperswil
19th April 2008
Lake Luzern
PS Stadt Luzern operated an Evening Dinner Cruise from Luzern at 1900 on Saturday 19th April following the special parade earlier in the day to mark her 80th Birthday celebrations - due to the large number of bookings the evening cruise was duplicated by PS Uri
22nd March 2008
Lake Geneva
Following gales the previous day, PS Rhône eventually entered service and operated her regular weekend spring sailings from Lausanne to the Upper Lake on Easter Saturday 22nd March
Lake Garda
MPV Italia operated the full length 0950 sailings 2-3-4-5 from Peschiera to Riva and return on Easter Saturday 22nd March and Easter Sunday 23rd March as well as all of Easter week vice the regular car ferry
21st March 2008
Lakes Luzern
and Zurich
Limited paddle steamer sailings started considerably earlier than usual on Good Friday 21st March on both Lake Luzern with PS Unterwalden and Lake Zurich with PS Stadt Zürich due to Easter falling early in 2008
Lake Geneva
In addition on Lake Geneva  MPV Vevey moved to Geneva to take over the Little Lake sailings and her place at Lausanne was taken by PS Rhône on the weekend sailings to Montreux
18th February 2008
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey was the first paddle steamer to re-enter service on any of the Swiss or Italian lakes for the 2008 season commencing Monday 18th February
Earlier News


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Updated - Lakes Brienz, Geneva, Luzern, Thun, Zurich, Konstanz, Maggiore, Como, Garda 17th January 2010   e-mail   (c)1999-2010 John B Bird