PS Murray Princess
The paddlewheeler, PS Murray Princess, is a tourist vessel operating from its homeport of Mannum, South Australia, on the Murray River. The regular cruising schedule offers a 3 night cruise departing each Friday, a 4 night cruise departing each Monday or a 7 night combined cruise departing either Friday or Monday. The PS Murray Princess also offers 'special' cruises such as 7 night one way voyages from Mannum to either Loxton or Renmark.
 Bow of PS Murray Princess at Mannum | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Name: | PS Murray Princess |
| Owner: | Sealink Travel Group |
| Operator: | Captain Cook Cruises |
| Port of registry: | Mannum, Australia |
| Launched: | June 1986[1] |
| In service: | August 1986[2] |
| Status: | Operational |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Passenger Ship |
| Tonnage: | 1506 tonnes |
| Length: | 67 metres |
| Beam: | 15 metres |
| Draft: | 1.2 metres |
| Decks: | 5 |
| Installed power: | 2 x Scania AB Diesel 6 cylinder engines powering hydraulic pumps |
| Propulsion: | Hydraulic Stern Wheel - fitted with Bow & Stern Thrusters |
| Speed: | 6 knots |
| Capacity: | 120 passengers |
| Crew: | Varies on passenger numbers |
The PS Murray Princess has 5 decks, 3 of which are passenger accommodation. The 4 main decks are named after important historical figures relevant the Murray River.[3]
- Deck 1 - Chaffey Deck: Inside cabins with a porthole, spa/sauna/gym and laundry, located in the hull.
- Deck 2 - Randell Deck: Main boarding deck, consists of outside cabins, staterooms and the lower level of the PaddleWheel Lounge.
- Deck 3 - Cadell Deck: Outside cabins and staterooms, The Wheelhouse (Bridge) and the upper level of the PaddleWheel Lounge.
- Deck 4 - Sturt Deck: Sturt Deck Dining Room and Sturt Deck Bar.
- Deck 5 - Sun Deck: Exterior deck, outdoor seating and sun lounges.
The ship has 60 cabins onboard which include inside cabins, outside cabins, limited mobility cabins and staterooms. There are various public spaces on board to enjoy, such as the double story elegant PaddleWheel Lounge, which offers floor to ceiling windows looking out on the enormous paddlewheel. The Sturt Deck (4th Deck) is home to the Sturt Dining Room and Sturt Deck Bar - which has a warm and inviting feel. For the sunny days, passengers can use the Sun Deck to watch the scenery pass by. There is also a spa, sauna and gym available.
She is the latest in a line of such vessels that date back to the late 19th Century, including the 1897-built steamer, PS Marion, and more recent vessels Murray River Queen, Murray Explorer and Coonawarra.
At a little over 67m in length and weighing just over 1500 tonnes, she is the largest paddlewheeler ever to operate on the Murray and the largest paddlewheeler in the Southern Hemisphere.[4]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Murray Princess (ship, 1986). |
- "Princess takes to the water". Victor Harbour Times. 74 (3, 419). South Australia. 4 June 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "Premier to commission new Murray vessel". Victor Harbour Times. 74 (3, 426). South Australia. 27 June 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- "The PS Murray Princess". Captain Cook Cruises. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- "Plenty of room to go lazing on the Murray". The Canberra Times. 62 (19, 124). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 February 1988. p. 10. Retrieved 19 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.