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Contact Thames Cruises
This website has no connection with any shipping company, cruise line, boat operator or other commercial organisation
Tidal Cruisers
Thames Cruises
This page is devoted to the Thames excursion boat operators Thames Cruises.
This is one a of series of
Simplon Postcards
pages devoted to
River Thames Excursion Boats
.
To sail on these boats contact:
www.thamescruises.com
In 1981, the Tidal Cruisers fleet consisted of the ex-
Mears/Thames Launches
boats
Hurlingham
and
Marchioness
, plus the smaller
Clairest
of 1975, running charter trips from central London.
Clairest
had been replaced with
Viscountess
, another ex-Mears boat, by 1983. They were joined by the
Royal Princess
by 1985, when regular services between Westminster and Greenwich were being run. In 1988,
Old London
and
Zodiac
were acquired from London launches along with a Westminster-Thames Barrier service.
Zodiac
was soon disposed of leaving
Hurlingham
,
Old London
,
Royal Princess
and
Viscountess
which are all in the 2006 fleet. Tidal Cruisers had become Thames Cruises by 1999, and
Thames Princess
(ex-
Feanprinses
) joined in 2002, by which time the Greenwich services had ceased. Thames Cruises continue to run charter services only, between central London and Hampton Court.
Chevening
was added to the fleet after the cessation of
Catamaran Cruisers
services in September 2007, but did not operate during the 2008 season. meanwhile,
Viscountess
had been offered for sale.
Contact:
www.thamescruises.com
Ships and Piers on this Page:-
Chevening
-
Thames Cruises: 2007- (built 1974)
Hurlingham
-
Joseph Mears
,
Thames Launches
,
Tidal Cruisers
,
Thames Cruises
- (built: 1915)
Old London
- Thames Cruises: 1988- (built 1979)
Royal Princess
-
Thames Launches
- (built: 1935)
Thames Princess
- Thames Cruises:2002- (built 1986)
Viscountess
-
Joseph Mears
,
Thames Launches
,
Catamaran Cruisers
,
Tidal Cruisers
,
Thames Cruises
- (built 1926)
Lambeth Pier
Thames Passenger Boat Pages:-
River Thames Excursion Boats
- Thames Header Page - Full List of Companies
River Thames - Harwich-Southend-Tilbury-Tower Pier Cruise
River Thames - Runneymede Circular Cruise
River Thames - Windsor-Maidenhead Cruise
River Thames - Maidenhead-Marlow Cruise
River Thames - Marlow-Henley Cruise
River Thames - Henley-Reading Cruise
Associated Pages:-
UK Excursion Ships
Ferry Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards
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Recent Updates
Simplon Postcards
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Home Page
References:-
Royal River Highway:
Written by Frank L. Dix - published David & Charles 1984
Trip Out Guides
-
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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Table of Individual Boat Pages
Name
Other names
Built
Hurlingham
1915
Viscountess
1926
Thames Cruises
Thames Cruises run charter services only, between central London and Hampton Court.
Hurlingham
(Thames Cruises - built: 1915)
Hurlingham
was built by
Salter Brothers
in 1915 for
Joseph Mears
. She was 101 ft long and carried 325 passengers.
Hurlingham
passed to
Thames Launches
1947, when her steam engines were replaced by diesels. She was sold to Marine Transit Ltd in 1978, but was running for Tidal Cruisers by 1981, along with ex-
Mears
boat
Marchioness
. Regular services were run between Westminster and Greenwich between 1983 and 2002. Tidal Cruisers had become Thames Cruises by 1999, and
Hurlingham
remains in the 2006 fleet, which now operates charters only.
More images of
Hurlingham
Hurlingham
passing the Royal Festival Hall
Scan:
www.riverthames.co.nr
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Hurlingham
and
Viscountess
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 16th May 2006
Click to open larger image in new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 14th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th June 2006.
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th July 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises on a lunchtime charter
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Greenwich, 12th September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Limehouse, 12th September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Photo: © Ian Boyle, Tower Bridge, 12th September 2007
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Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises, plus
Avontur
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th September 2007
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Hurlingham
of Thames Cruises.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Hurlingham
and
Royal Princess
of Thames Cruises at Lambeth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th October 2008
Click to open larger image in new window
Old London
(Thames Cruises)
In 1988,
Old London
and
Zodiac
were acquired from London launches along with a Westminster-Thames Barrier service.
The
Viscountess
coming alongside the
Old London
moored at Lambeth Pier.
Scan:
www.riverthames.co.nr
The
Old London
at Westminster.
Photo:
www.riverthames.co.nr
Old London
of Thames Cruises
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Old London
of Thames Cruises
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Old London
of Thames Cruises
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Old London
of Thames Cruises
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd September 2007
Click to open larger window in a new window
Old London
of Thames Cruises at Lambeth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 27th October 2008
Click to open larger image in new window
Royal Princess
(Thames Cruises - built: 1935)
Royal Princess
was built in 1935 by Rowhedge Ironworks (near Colchester) for Alfred Crouch, with whom she served until 1965. She was the first up-river Thames excursion ship of over 100 gross tons. Her engine was supplied by Crossley of Manchester, driving a single screw. Initially
Royal Princess
had two dummy funnels, which gave her an imposing appearance, although the engine exhausts on the waterline. Her original service consisted of three daily cruises from Westminster to Richmond. In 1984 she passed to Tidal Cruisers, who became Thames Cruises by 1999, who remain her owners in 2006.
Photographic postcard of the impressive
Royal Princess
Click to open larger image in new window
Photographic postcard of the
Royal Princess
at Westminster Pier in the 1950s
Note both the tram and then modern bus on the Embankment.
click to open larger image in new window