PS Murray Princess

File:PS Murray Princess 3.JPG Bow of PS Murray Princess at Mannum
History
Name:	PS Murray Princess
Owner:	Sealink Travel Group
Operator:	Captain Cook Cruises
Port of registry:	Mannum, Australia
Status:	In Operation
General characteristics
Class & 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 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.

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.

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 venture up to the Sun Deck and enjoy watching the scenery pass by in the sunshine. 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.

External links

• Captain Cook Cruises Operator of PS Murray Princess