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.Kittridge, A. Steamers & Ferries of the River Tamar & Three Towns District, Twelveheads Press, 2003
Fleet List NameBuiltCompany serviceNotesMV Plymouth Princess19211981–2005MV Plymouth Venturer19821982–2003MV Southern Belle19251985–2000MV My Queen19291985–1987MV Eastern Belle19461985–1985MV Totnes Castle19491985–2005MV 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 situationNotesMV Plymouth PrincessPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesMV Plymouth VenturerPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesMV Totnes CastleDart Pleasure CraftPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesMV My QueenDart Pleasure CraftPlymouth Boat CruisesGH RiddallsMV Queen Boadicea IIDart Pleasure CraftTamar CruisingTamar CruisingMV Adrian GilbertDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftMV 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 1984MV Cardiff CastleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftMV Edgecumbe BelleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftMV Plymouth BelleMillbrook SteamboatDart Pleasure CraftDart Pleasure CraftMV Eastern BelleMillbrook SteamboatPlymouth Boat CruisesGH RiddallsOperating on the Dart from 1984. Renamed Totnes Princess by Riddalls.MV Southern BelleMillbrook SteamboatPlymouth Boat CruisesPlymouth Boat CruisesMV Northern BelleMillbrook SteamboatTamar CruisingTamar CruisingMV Plymouth SoundTamar CruisingBuilt 1987MV Queen of HelfordGH RiddallsGH RiddallsGH RiddallsMV DartmothianGH RiddallsGH RiddallsGH Riddalls
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