 photo: Robert Monch After leaving Lausanne early morning, the motor paddle vessel sailed 'light' from Lausanne to Geneva for a special sailing for the inauguration of a new captain She is then rostered to operate a lunch cruise on Sundays and public holidays until the start of 2025 | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner According to the official CGN "OGS" MPV Italie is planned to operate the majority of the Evian-les-Bains ferry runs - but the CGN on-line "Journey Planner" 'suggests' these sailings will now be covered by mv Léman and the MPV will instead operate to/from Thonon-les-Bains all this week If you are around and see the MPV in operation on ANY sailing this week.......... please advise details to the webmaster - thank you !!! (if necessary a revised table will be prepared) | |
 photo: Robert Monch  photo: Robert Horlacher  photo: John Megoran The paddle steamer returns to Geneva at the end of her last short winter Sunday afternoon cruise sailing 740 in the Petit Lake from Geneva Mont Blanc to and from Bellevue to bring her 2024 season to an end Later aa dusk falls she prepares to move to Ouchy harbour the following morning for her winter overhaul From Sunday 22nd December MPV Vevey takes over the limited Geneva based mid-winter sailings At the other end of the lake, MPV Italie operated the first winter Sunday NEW anti-clockwise circuit of the Upper Lake and is seen arriving back at Lausanne | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel stands at Lausanne priot to operating the early-evening International Ferry sailing 1223 to Thonon-les-Bains Her next evening outing is a special Dinner cruise from Lauasanne on New Year's Eve | |
|
MPV Vevey and MPV Italie (Lake Geneva) photo: Alain Vuistiner Both motor paddle vessels stand at Lausanne ready to form International Ferry sailings 1115 and 1217 to Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains respectively | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The motor paddle vessel approaches Montreux on her afternoon clockwise "circle" of the Upper Lake From the start of the new timetable (mid-December) this sailing will be replaced by a new extended 'anti-clockwise' circuit including calls at Lausanne - further details to follow shortly | |
|
PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)  photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer approaches Bellvue on her first 'one hour' afternoon cruise sailing 738 from Geneva | |
 photo: Nicholas Lars Carrel The snow covered paddle steamer and her sisters wait patiently at Luzern Dock through the long cold winter for the start of the 2025 season | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel approches Lausanne from Thonon-les-Bains on International sailing 1212 prior to the storm which caused the suspension of the remaining sailings of the day to and from Thonon | |
 photos: Robert Monch The paddle steamer operates her short winter Sunday afternoon cruise sailing 738 in the Petit Lake from Geneva Mont Blanc pier to Bellevue | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel contnues to cover for the shortsge of operational motor vessels available to operate the International Ferry Sailings between Lausanne and both Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains She is seen calling at Thonon-les-Bains immediately prior to returning to Switzerland on the afternoon sailing 1214 back to Lausanne | |
|
SS Spiez (Lake Thun)  photo: Ernst Mischler  photo: Alain Vuistiner The small steam ship operated three 'one and a half hours' non-landing cruises from Spiez for just four days after the last paddle sreamer sailing She is seen returning to Spiez and the end of her third sailing of the day | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer departs Evian-les-Bains on the early-afternoon sailing 1114 back to Lausanne whilst covering the International Ferry runs for the weekend | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thuu)  photo: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer announces her arrival as she approaches Oberhofen on her final daily outward sailing 15 of 2024 from Thun to Interlaken | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer calls at Rivaz on her final sailing 205 of the day from the Upper Lake piers back to Lausanne | |
|
PS Uri (Lake Luzern)  picture: Weggis webcam The paddle steamer finally returns to service after her breakdown and operates sailing 7 from Luzern to Flüelen She is seen approaching Weggis with Mount Pilatus in the background After a few more 'end of season' timetabled sailing she will remain operational for the usual selection of special 'Advent Cruises' | |
|
PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)  picture: Luzern webcam  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer initially stands at Luzern prior to operating her final sailing of the season to Flüelen Owing to the breakdown of sister PS Uri she operated the 0912 morning sailing 7 rather than the afternoon sailing 21 as originally planned She is seen later returning to Luzern on sailing 18 as she passes her larger sister PS Stadt Luzern between Treib and Gersau | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel stands at Lausanne prior to operating the afternoon ferry sailing 1113 to Evian-les-Bains whist covering the usual motor vessel | |
|
PS Stadt Rapperswil (Lake Zurich)  picture: Zurich webcam Passengers stand on the pier at Zurich waiting to join the paddle steamer on her final final sailing 109 of the season to Rapperswil | |
|
PS Schiller (Lake Luzern)  photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer sets off for Flüelen on her final sailing 17 of 2024 and is seen shortly after leaving Luzern passing Altstad/Meggen | |
|
PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)  picture: Morat/Murten webcam The paddle steamer approaches Morat/Murten harbour on her final Lunch Cruise sailing 23 of the season | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thuu)  photo: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer approaches Beatenbucht on her daily outward sailing 15 from Thun to Interlaken | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner Despite the strong wind, the paddle steamer left Lausanne to cross the lake to St Gingolph in the Upper Lake on her final afternoon anticlockwise sailing 204 of the day | |
|
PS Montreux (Lake Geneva)  picture: Montreux webcam The paddle steamer approaches Montreux at the end of her final outward "evening cruise" sailing 982 of 2024 from Lausanne | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern) 
 photos: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer pauses at Flüelen at the head of the lake 
 pictures: Weggis and Luzern webcams The well loaded paddle steamer operated her final sailing 17 of 2024 to Flüelen and is seen approaching Weggis at lunchtime Later she is seen on return to Luzern at the end of sailing 26 | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  picture: Luzern webcam The paddle steamer returns to Luzern at the end of the special "Three and a Half Hour" charter cruise to mark 111 years in service | |
|
PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)  picture: Morat/Murten webcam The paddle steamer broke down at Neuchâtel and her sailings had to be covered by a motor vessel - seen setting off from Morat/Murten on the "lunch cruise" sailing 613 to Faoug Quick repairs were completed in time for the paddle sreamer to be ready for service next day (Saturday) | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thun)  picture: Spiez webcam The paddle steamer has returned to service and is seen approaching Spiez on sailing 16 back from Interlaken to Thun | |
|
ex-PS mv Milano (Lake Como)  photo: Carlo Sottocasa The former paddle steamer approaches Como Pier No.3 from the dock prior to operting sailing 14 to Varenna on Tuesday 10th September She has recently completed a major re-build and is now being used regularly on various Como to the mid-lake sailings | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  picture: Luzern webcam The paddle steamer stands at Luzern prior to operating her last charter sailing of 2024
| |
|
PS Uri (Lake Luzern)  photo: Robert Horlacher The paddle steamer returns from Flüelen to Luzern on her regular return afternoon sailing 18 and is seen in the Upper Lake near Sisikon | |
 picture: Montreux webcam The motor vessel calls at Montreux on her final sailing 900 to the head of the lake before being withdrawn for a major re-build Why is this included on a paddle steamer website ? Because it means a motor paddle vessel will be in regular mid-week use on some of the International ferry runs from Lausanne to/fron France this winter | |
 photo: Nicholas Lars Carrel The paddle steamer sets off fron Luzern on a late afternoon charter sailing | |
 photo: Daniel Eichenberger The motor paddle vessel approaches Malcesine on her second southbound sailing 73 of the day from Riva at the head of the lake | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel sails along the Lavaux shoreline (famous for its many grape vines for tne local winemaking industry) between Lanusnne and Vevey on her evening dinner cruise sailing 982 to Montreux She is seen from PS La Suisse returning to Lausnne BEWARE - this evening cruise will be reolaced by a motor vessel on Tuesday and Wednesday 26th and 27th August - the last week of the summer season | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel approaches Vevey having crossed the lake from St Gingolph as part of her late-afternoon clockwise 'Upper Lake Circle' cruise sailing 509 | |
|
PS Lotschberg (Lake Brienz)  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer approaches Giessbach on her outward truncated afternoon sailing 69 from Interlaken | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  photo: William Campbell The paddle steamer stands at Flüelen prior to operating her return sailing 44 back to Luzern | |
|
PS Concordia (Lake Como) It has been "suggested" to me that the paddle steamer had to be pressed into service to cover for a shortage of operational motor vessels Can YOU confirm if this did happen.......... ..........and if so advise which sailings she covered ? | |
|
PS Stadt Zürich (Lake Zurich)  photo: William Campbell The late running, well loaded paddle steamer departs Meilen on her outward sailing 109 on a bright sunny afternoon | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thun)  photo: William Campbell The well loaded paddle steamer has just arrived at Interlaken on her outward sailing 15 from Thun | |
|
PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer crosses the lake from the Verkehrshaus-Lido pier to Luzern at the end of her return afternoon sailing 64 from Alpnachstad She is seen from sister PS Gallia who was returning to Luzern from Flüelen | |
|
MPV Italia (Lake Garda)  picture: Limnione webcam The motor paddle vessel returned to service at 1225 on Wednesday 14th August and is seen calling at Limone on her first sailing 74 of the day There is still NO official confirmation as to why she was out of service for a week - but it has been "suggeted" to me she MAY have had to return to dock for minor repairs ---~ Do YOU know anything further ? | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: William Campbell The motor paddle vessel appoaches Montreux on her first sailing 901 of the day from Le Bouveret to Lausanne The folowing day day she retired to Ouchy dock for a pre-planned '24 hour' mid-summer maintenance attention but this was subsequentlt extended over the following weekend to repait her mast after being struck by lightning at Le Bouveret | |
 photo: Robert Monch The paddle steamer calls Pâquis pier to pick up more passengers for her short late-afternoon cruise sailing 308 from Geneva Jardin-Anglais pier "Round the Little Lake" (Petit-Lac) via Hermance and Coppet | |
|
MPV Italia (Lake Garda)  picture: Limnione webcam  click to enlarge picture: Malcesine webcam (thanks to Stefan Zausinger) There was no further sighting of the motor paddle vessel in service after sailing 71 (seen on the Limone webcam) She was later found on the Malcesine webcam passing Canpione at 1010 whilst heading southbound to Peschiera dock Do YOU know why she was taken out of service ? see 14th August for her return to service | |
|
PS Lotschberg (Lake Brienz)  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer approaches Giessbach as she crosses the lake from Brienz on her final sailing 70 of the day back to Interlaken | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer departs Tellsplatte on her additional peak-Summer sailing 43 from Luzern to Flüelen Next year this 'timetabled' sailing will be replaced by a special four hour non-landing cruise from Luzern to off-Rütli | |
 photo: Robert Monch The paddle steamer sets off from Geneva on her sumer evening "Dinner Cruise" sailing 388 to Yvoire | |
|
PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer operates the "Sunday Lunch Cruise" sailing 23 from Neuchâxtel to Morat/Murten She is seen with her funnel just raised after passing under a bridge near Sugiez on the canal which links the two lakes | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The motor paddle vessel departs Villeneuve at the head of the lake as she heads back to Vevey via Le Bouveret and St Gingolph (France) on sailings 508/509 | |
|
PS Lôtschberg (Lake Brienz)  picture: Bônigen webcam The paddle steamer calla at Bônigen on the retutrn weekly evening sailing 80 from Brienz to Interlaken | |
|
PS Rhône and PS Montreux (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner PS Rhône stands at Lausanne waiting to return to Geneva on sailing 105 whilst PS Montreux sets off in the background for an anti-clockwise circuit of the Upper Lake on sailing 204 | |
 photo: Robert Monch The paddle steamer sets off on the short evening "after-work" sailing 384 to Hermance | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer calls at Chillon Castle pier on the final return sailing 207 of the day back to Lausanne | |
|
PS Stadt Zürich (Lake Zurich)   photos: Markus Fröhlich This was the last Swiss paddle steamer to enter service in 2024 She is initially seen having just arrived at Zurich prior to setting off on her first sailing 109 to Rapperwsil and later leaving Rapperwsil on return sailing 110 | |
 photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel passes the tall fountain at the entrance to Geneva harbour on her return sailing 106 to Lausanne and Montrux | |
|
PS Schiller (Lake Luzern)  photos: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer departs Tellsplatte on her daily return sailing 26 from Flüelen to Luzern | |
|
PS Stadt Rapperswil (Lake Zurich)  picture: Zurich webcam The paddle steamer arrives back at Zurich from Rapperawil after operating sailing 110 despite a paddle-wheel failure She has returned to dock for repairs meaning her advertised sailings on Sunday will be have to be covered by mv Helvetia | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  picture: Montreux webcam The motor paddle vessel finally returns to service after a much delayed winter overhaul She is seen arriving at Montreux pier on her first sailing 901 of the day from Le Bouveret to Lausanne having taken over the "Upper Lake clockwise Circle Cruises" vice her broken down sister MPV Italie | |
|
PS Stadt Zürich (Lake Geneva)  picture: Zurich webcam The paddle steamer approaches Zurich for her first passenger carrying sailing (a private charter) since her major rebuild last year From next week she will alternate the daily weekday sailing to Rapperswil with sister Stadt Rapperswil | |
|
PS Montreux (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer returns to Lausanne and the end of her regualar summer sailing 205 anti-clockwise round the Upper Lake In the evening she continues to Yvoire (France) where she provides a "useful" late connection back to Geneva | |
|
PS Concordia (Lake Como)  photos: Carlo Sottocasa The paddle steamer has just left Bellagio on her return afternoon sailing 13 from Menaggio to Como | |
|
PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)  photo: Paul Scheuchzer The paddle steamer pauses at Lausanne prior to returning to Geneva on sailing 105 back to Geneva | |
 photo: Robert Monch The paddle steamer passes the tall fountain at the entrance to Geneva harbour on her first sailing 101 from Lausanne after completing her delayed annual overhaul She will now spend the summer operating the daily round trip from Geneva to Lausaanne vice the damaged PS Simplon | |
|
PS Montreux and PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)  photos: Alain Vuistiner ALL CHANGE AT YVOIRE ! In order to re-locate the paddle steamers for the start of the summer timetble both ships terminated their afternoon journeys at Yvoire before switching rosters and returning to their summer bases | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The motor paddle vessel broke down at Le Bouveret resulting in all her planned sailings until 1100 on Saturday (from Lausanne) being cancelled She is seen approaching Ouchy Harbour for attentiom | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer stands at Lausanne prior to operating her final "anti-clockwise Round the Upper Lake" sailing 205 of the day from Lausanne | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thun)   photos: Ernst Mischler The top picture shows the paddle steamer undertaking a final "test" sailing prior to operaring her first delayed timetabled sailing 15 of 2024 from Thun to Interlaken she is seen off-Hünibach atbthe end of the Thun channel in both cases | |
|
PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)  photo: from the "Collection of Robert Horlacher" The paddle steamer is seen undertaking an early morning "Test Sailing" in the Upper Lake from MPV Italie on her first sailing 901 of the day from Le Bouveret to Lausanne PS Rhône is now planned to take over the main Geneva based roster (to Lausanne and back) from the end of the month vice PS Montreux who is currently covering for the storm damaged PS Simplon | |
|
PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer makes her first "test" sailing round the Upper Lake to Monntreux prior to entering service at Geneva at the end if the month vice the damaged PS Simplon | |
|
PS Rhône (Lake Geneva) photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer makes her first "test" sailing round the Upper Lake to Monntreux prior to entering service at Geneva at the end if the month vice the damaged PS Simplon | |
|
PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)  picture: Murten/Morat webcam The paddle steamer managed a (so far the only) visit to Murten - seen on arrival of her Sunday Lunch Cruise sailing 23 from Neuchâtel At the end of her cutrailed day's sailings she was again taken "out of service" for yet more repairs by "Shiptec" How the LNM can justify using "this" breakdown to suspend ALL sailings at the southern end of the lake is hard to understand as they need sufficient OPERATIONAL motor vessels for EVERY Tuesday !!! (when the paddle steamer is not in opoeration) | |
|
PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)  picture: Neuchâtel webcam The paddle steamer returns to service after repairs and is seen leaving Neuchâtel on her first sailing 311 across the lake to Cudrefin | |
 picture: Limone webcam The motor paddle vessel returns to service late than usual and operates her first sailing 73 of 2024 from Riva to Malcesine and is seen being dearting Limone | |
 photo: Robert Monch PS Montreux had a day off service for minor repairs and unusually spent it moored at Jardin-Anglais pier This gave a rare opportunity for her and PS Savoie to be seen together | |
 photo: François Rentsch. The paddle steamer operated a special cruise in connection with the "Friends" AGM and is seen standing at Rorschach | |
 photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer arrives back at Luzern after completing the return evening "sunset cruise" sailing 36 from Beckenried Do YOU know why sister PS Uri did not operaste as advertised&nnsp;? | |
|
PS Concordia (Lake Como) 
 click on photo to enlarge photos: Carlo Sottocasa The paddle steamer arrives at Como from the dock before setting off for Menaggio on her outward sailing 10 | |
MPV Italia and MPV G Zanardelli (Lake Garda)  photo: Beat Leuthardt A rare occasion when both motor paddle vessels operated "full-length" timetables sailings vice car ferries on the same day ! They are seen passing each other | |
|
|
19th April 2025
e-mail
(c)1999-2025
John B Bird
