Plymouth Boat Cruises Explained

The Plymouth Boat Cruises was an excursion boat operator on the River Tamar in South Devon. It was started in 1981, in competition with Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd. In 1985 the Millbrook company withdrew from the Tamar, and several of its vessels were transferred to Plymouth Boat Cruises. In 2005 the company was taken over by Sound Cruising.[1]

Fleet List

NameBuiltCompany serviceNotes
MV Plymouth Princess19211981–2005
MV Plymouth Venturer19821982–2003
MV Southern Belle19251985–2000
MV My Queen19291985–1987
MV Eastern Belle19461985–1985
MV Totnes Castle19491985–2005
MV Plymouth Belle19612003–2005

The 1985 reshuffle

In 1985 Dart Pleasure Craft, owners of the Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co Ltd, decided to withdraw from the River Tamar, mainly due to competition with Plymouth Boat Cruises. The Cremyll Ferry was taken over by a new operator, Tamar Cruising / Cremyll Ferry. Some vessels were eventually sold to G.H. Riddalls and Sons. In the process of all of these changes the fleets of all five companies underwent many changes, which are listed below.

NamePre-1985 operatorPost-1985 operator1987 situationNotes
MV Plymouth PrincessPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat Cruises
MV Plymouth VenturerPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat Cruises
MV Totnes CastleDart Pleasure CraftPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat Cruises
MV My QueenDart Pleasure CraftPlymouth Boat CruisesGH Riddalls
MV Queen Boadicea IIDart Pleasure CraftTamar CruisingTamar Cruising
MV Adrian GilbertDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure Craft
MV Dartmouth CastleDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftSpent some time operating for Millbrook Steamboat & Trading Co.
MV Western BelleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftOperating on the Dart since 1984
MV Cardiff CastleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure Craft
MV Edgecumbe BelleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure Craft
MV Plymouth BelleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure Craft
MV Eastern BelleMillbrook SteamboatPlymouth Boat CruisesGH RiddallsOperating on the Dart from 1984. Renamed Totnes Princess by Riddalls.
MV Southern BelleMillbrook SteamboatPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat Cruises
MV Northern BelleMillbrook SteamboatTamar CruisingTamar Cruising
MV Plymouth SoundTamar CruisingBuilt 1987
MV Queen of HelfordGH RiddallsGH RiddallsGH Riddalls
MV DartmothianGH RiddallsGH RiddallsGH Riddalls

Notes and References

  1. Kittridge,A. Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District, Twelveheads Press, 2003

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