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This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Crown River Cruises
Westminster Party Boats
This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of excursion ships and ferries of the River Thames in London. It covers the fleets of
Crown River Cruises
and
Westminster Party Boats
, who operate a joint scheduled service beteen Westminster and the Tower (St Katherine's Pier). They also operate services to Greenwich as part of
Thames River Services
and charters.
Crown River Cruises
started as a small, family run, charter-based company, established in 1986. They began with one vessel,
Spirit of London
, which is still in use today along with
Sarpedon
,
Salient
,
Suerita
and
Sarah Kathleen
. In 1992 they began scheduled services to and from Westminster to the Tower Bridge. This became very successful and led to the expansion of Crown River Cruises, and in 2002 they introduced the impressive new vessel,
Sarpedon
for longer services. The joint marketing name of the scheduled services is Circular Cruises.
Larger vessels
Mercia
and
Sarpedon
are used on services to Greenwich under the
London River Services
banner with
London Rose
of
Viscount Cruises
(previously
Campion Launches
), plus the
George Wheeler
fleet of
Chay Blyth
,
Hollywood
and
Rosewood
. Other vessels are used on the Westminster-Tower shuttle circulars.
Rosewood
passed to
Capital Pleasure Boats
, to be replaced by
Avontuur IV
of
Viscount Cruises
. For information on Greenwich services see:-
www.thamesriverservices.co.uk
In 2006, new boats
Mercuria
(Westminster Party Boats) and
Sapele
(Crown River Cruises) were delivered for use on circular tours from Westminster, both delivered by Tinnemans of Maasbracht.
Contact:
www.thamesriverservices.co.uk
(Greenwich services)
Ships on this Page:-
Mercedes
- Westminster Party Boats
Mercia
- Westminster Party Boats
Mercuria
- Westminster Party Boats
Salient
- Crown River Cruises
Sapele
- Crown River Cruises
Sarah Kathleen
- Crown River Cruises
Sarpedon
- Crown River Cruises
Spirit of London
- Crown River Cruises
Suerita
- Crown River Cruises - sold 2007 to
London River Cruises
Companies on this Page:-
Crown River Cruises
Westminster Party Boats
London River Cruises
www.crownriver.com
- official website
www.westminsterpartyboats.com
- official website
www.thamesriverservices.co.uk
- Thames River Services official website (Greenwich services)
Associated Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Excursion Boats
- Thames Header Page - Full List of Companies
Campion Launches
Crown River Cruises
London River Cruises
Thames Clippers
Thames River Services
Viscount Cruises
Westminster Party Boats
George Wheeler
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
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Home Page
References:-
Royal River Highway:
Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guide:
Written and published by G.P.Hamer - various editions from 1977 to 2005 consulted
Trip Out Guides are available from Geoffrey Hamer, PO Box 485, Southall, UB1 9BH
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Crown River Cruises
Salient
(Built: 1979 - Crown River: 1990- )
Salient
was built for Greenwich Pleasurecraft as
Sydney Hull
in 1979. She passed to Catamaran Cruisers in 1984 after the collapse of Greenwich Pleasurecraft.
Sydney Hull
suffered some damage and was taken into dry-dock for repairs, where unfortunately she suffered a bad fire. She was then rebuilt and bought by
Crown River Cruises
, who renamed her
Salient
.
Salient
(ex-
Sydney Hull
) passing Butlers Wharf
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2003.
Salient
(ex-
Sydney Hull
) passing Butlers Wharf
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2003.
Salient
(ex-
Sydney Hull
) passing Butlers Wharf
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2003.
Salient
at her usual mooring by the OXO Building
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Salient
at her usual mooring by the OXO Building
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Salient
at her usual mooring by the OXO Building
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Mercedes
and
Salient
(right).
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005.
Salient
at her usual mooring by the OXO Building
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th March 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Salient
in service with Crown River Cruises
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Sarah Kathleen
(built: 1963)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2003.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Sarpedon
(built: 2001)
Sarpedon
is used on services to Greenwich under the
London River Services
banner with
London Rose
of
Campion Launches
, plus the
George Wheeler
fleet of
Chay Blyth
,
Hollywood
and
Rosewood
.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 11th March 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006.
Click to open larger image in new window
Spirit of London
(built: 1979)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003.
The
Spirit of London
and
Mercia
.
Scan:
www.riverthames.co.nr
Suerita
(built: 1968)
Suerita
was built as the the first boat in the
Catamaran Cruisers
fleet in 1968. She was initially used on the Westminster-Hampton Court route, but her height gave problems passing under bridges at high tide. She was then used as a party boat, being joined by
Valulla
in 1973.
Suerita
was working for Crown River Cruises by 1991. From February 2007
Suerita
worked for new operator
London River Cruises
.
Contact:-
www.londonrivercruises.com
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 26th May 2003
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 7th April 2005
Click to open larger image in new window
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Scott Neicho, 2005
Suerita
in Crown River ownership
Photo: © Scott Neicho, 2005
Sapele
(Built: 2006)
Sapele
is a new boat about to enter service on circular cruises from Westminster Pier for
Crown River Cruises
with
Mercuria
of
Westminster Party Boats
. She was delivered by Tinnemans of Maasbracht, and entered service in June 2006.
Sapele
in Central London.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Sapele
in Central London.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
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Sapele
in Central London.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Westminster Party Boats
Westminster Party Boats run cruises from Westminster Pier jointly with
Crown River Cruises
.