|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer approaches Lutry on her early-afternoon return sailing 905 from the Upper Lake Sadly just 20 minutes later on arrival at Lausanne she broke down and was taken 'out of service' for the rest of 2025 On Saturdays and Sundays her sailings were covered by mv Lausanne | |
|
PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thun)  photo: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer depart Hilterfingen on her outward sailing 15 from Thun to Interlaken | |
|
PS Lötschberg (Lake Brienz)  photo: Ernst Mischler The paddle steamer approaches Iseltwald on her firs outward weekly evening sailing 69 of 2025 from Interlaken to Brienz | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The motor paddle vessel approachess Montreux on her first sailing 901 from Le Buveret to Lausanne following her much delayed winter overhaul | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel stands at Yvoire prior to returning to Geneva on sailing 327 From next week the two round trips from Geneva to Yvoire will be replacerd by a daily round trip from Geneva to Lausanne | |
|
PS Lötschberg (Lake Brienz)  photo: John Megoran Looking down at the engine of the paddle steamer as she operates her twice daily round trips to Beienz | |
|
PS Lötschberg (Lake Brienz)  photos: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer approaches Interlaken Ost pier at the end of her morning return sailing 64 from Brienz | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva) 
 photo: Robert Monch On a very blustery spring afternoon the motor paddle vessel initially arrives Coppet before crossing over the lake to Yvoire whilst operating sailing 326 from Geneva | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer approaches Sisikon on return sailing 26 from Flüelen to Luzern She will then spend most of the summer on the new non-stop four hour "Legends of Lake Lucerne" cruise | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer approaches Flüelen for the first time in 2025 on sailing 17 from Luzern | |
|
PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)  photo: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer is seen approaching Besckenried on outward sailing 17 from Luzern to Flüelen on a misty afternoon This was a rare early season timetabled sailing as this year she is planned to spend the majority of the summer season operating the new daily non-stop four hour "Legends of Lake Lucerne" special morning/lunch cruise from Luzern to the Upper Lake< | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photos: Alain Vuistiner The paddle steamer approaches Villeneuve on the return leg sailing 923 of the second Upper Lake 'circle' round the Upper Lake | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  picture: Montreux webcam The paddle steamer returned to service and is seen making her first call at Montreus pier on sailing 923 following her breakdown the previous day | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer departs Montreux on her first Round the Upper Lake sailing 923 on Easter Saturday | |
|
PS Uri (Lake Luzern)  picture: Luzern webcam The paddle steamer stands at Pier No.1 at Luzern prior to operating the first sailing 7 of 2025 to Flüelen on Good Friday | |
|
PS Stadt Zürich (Lake Zurich)  photo: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer stands at Rapperswil prior to returning to Zurich on sailing 108 | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel waits at Nyon prior to returning to Geneva on the final winter lunch cruise sailing 330 | |
|
PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer departs Montreux on her pre-season "test" sailing She is planned to re-enter public service in the Upper Lake on Good Friday | |
|
PS Schiller (Lake Luzern)  photos: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer crosses Luzern bay on a pre-season "test" sailing with Mount Pilatus in the background | |
|
PS Concordia (Lake Como)   photos: Daniel Eichenberger The paddle steamer approaches Menaggio prior to operating return sailing 13 back to Como A few minutes earlier, the smaller, well loaded ex-PS-mv Milano called at Menaggio whilst operating sailing 71 from Varenna to Lenno | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  picture: Montreux webcam The motor paddle vessel crosses from Montreux to Le Bouveret on her final sailing 236 prior to her delayed winter overhaul From next weekend all sailings in the Upper Lake will be operated by mv Lausanne | |
|
PS Stadt Rapperswil (Lake Zurich)  picture: Zurich webcam The paddle steamer sets off from Zurich for Rapperswil on the first public sailing 107 of the 2025 season | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  picture: Thonon-les-Bains webcam The motor paddle vessel departs Thonon-les-Bains for Lausanne on sailing 1228 Providing there are no further "motor vessel breakdowns" - this might well be the last ever 'International Ferry crossing' by a motor paddle vessel | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: John Megoran The motor paddle vessel stands at Geneva prior to operating her lunch cruise sailing 330 to Nyon | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel undertook a pre-season day of "crew training" in the Petit Lac She is seen calling at 'La Mouche' pier alongside the former CGN MPV Genève (right) | |
|
PS Montreux (Lake Geneva)  photo: Jean Vernet The paddle steamer stands at Le Bouveret waiting her turn to visit Ouchy dock to complete the repairs to her new bow-thrust | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photos: Alain Vuistiner MPV Vevey stands at Thonon-les-Bains pier prior to returning to Switzerland on afternoon sailing 1222 | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  photos: Alain Vuistiner On board MPV Italie as she crosses from Switzerland to France on sailing 1221 | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel waits at Geneva prior to forming her first Saturday Lunch Cruise sailing 330 to Nyon | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  photo: Robert Monch The motor paddle vessel operates her second short afternoon sailing 740 round the 'Petit Lac' | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)
 photos: Alain Vuistiner MPV Vevey stands at Thonon-les-Bains pier prior to returning to Switzerland on afternoon sailing 1222 The photo on the right shows the after effect of water ingress compounding the vandal damage she suffered in her dining saloon whilst moored at Geneva It is understood repairs - which were to have been undertaken before the Spring timetable period - will now be deferred to take place in the autumn | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  picture: Thonon-les-Bains webcam Owing to sister MPV Italie having to make a short visit to Ouchy Dock for attention to her paddle wheels.......... ..........the motor paddle vessel covered for her and is seen (above) approaching Thonon-les-Bains whilst operating her last morning 'peak hour' ferry sailing 1209 | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva) 
 photos: Robert Monch On a sunny winter Friday afternoon.......... ..........the motor paddle vessel operates a short afternoon sailing 738 to Bellvue in the 'Petit Lac' prior to her weekly evening Fondue Cruise In the second photo (right) she is seen passing the laid-up MPV Helvétie | |
|
MPV Vevey and MPV Italie (Lake Geneva) 
 pictures: Geneva and Montreux webcams MPV Vevey departs Geneva on the outward lunch cruise and is seen passing between the Fountain and the laid-up MPV Helvétie on sailing 330 from Geneva to Nyon At the other end of the lake MPV Italie calls Montreux on the outward leg of the clockwise sailing 231 lunch cruise circuit round the Upper Lake | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva) together with mv Henry-Dunant (centre) and the re-built mv Général-Guisan (right)  photos: Alain Vuistiner The motor paddle vessel and two old motor vessels at Lausanne covering the international ferry runs - as the new large ferries are still not fully operational | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)   photos: Alain Vuistiner The moror paddle vessel stands at Lausanne in breezy conditions prior to operating the early afternoon ferry sailing 1221 to Thonon-les-Bains and later just after leaving Lausanne on the following sailing 1225 | |
 photo: Paul Scheuchzer Much of the 'summer fleet' stables at the piers on the approach to the SGV dry dock during the winter In this photo four of the five paddle steamers can be seen accompanied by several of the larger motor vessels as they all await the return of summer | |
|
MPV Italie (Lake Geneva)  picture: Vevey webcams The first saiing of 2025 !!! The motor paddle vessel calls at Vevey on sailing 231 from Le Bouveret to Lausanne | |
 photo: John Megoran The motor paddle vessel stands at Le Bouveret pier priot to operating her final Upper Lake Lunch Cruise sailing 231 of the 2024 season Unusually from January she will step in to cover several mid-week Internation Ferry Saailings to/from Thonon-lea-Bains | |
|
MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)  picture: Nyon webcams  photo: Robert Monch Despite the gloomy weather, the motor paddle vessel departs Nyon for the last time in 2024 on her return lunch cruise sailing 331 Later in the afternoon on arrival at Geneva after two short "Petit Lac" cruises to/from Bellevue - which completed her 2024 season | |
|
MPV Vevey and MPV Italie (Lake Geneva) 
 pictures: Coppett and Montreux webcams MPV Vevey departs Coppet on the outward lunch cruise sailing 330 from Geneva to Nyon At the other end of the lake MPV Italie calls Montreux on the return leg of the anti-clockwise circuit sailing 233 round the Uppeer Lake | |
|
PS Uri (Lake Luzern) 
 photos: Robert Knôpfel On board the paddle steamer on her final sailing of 2024 | |
 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 | |
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 | |
|
|
12th July 2025
e-mail
(c)1999-2025
John B Bird
