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BIG CHANGES FOR 2008 2008 sees some big changes for the Waterbus with services this year concentrating on our core business of tourist sightseeing cruises centred in Cardiff Bay, and our busy Charter schedules, with local schools and colleges as well as Cardiff Bay Tours. However with all operations now centred in the Bay this will mean enhanced services between Penarth and the Waterfront and plans for other exciting cruising opportunities, details of which will be announced soon. |
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SAPPHIRE HAS GONE...... FOREVER! After many
years service with Cardiff Waterbus on the Bay, the end finally arrived
for the waterbus Sapphire recently. Having suffered with repeated engine
problems in recent months, and with her 40yr old aluminium hull starting
to show it's age, it was decided that she was beyond economic repair, and
the VERY sad decision was made to scrap her. One of four ships tenders
originally, it's believed that she's the first to go? Her sister ship
Cygnet is still going strong with Cardiff Waterbus, another sister Arklet
is still working on Loch Lomond in Scotland. And the final boat Princess
Marcell has recently moved to Africa to work as a ferry. You can find out
more about the four tenders on our History Page
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Actress
Michelle Collins... ...probably best known as Cindy Beale from BBC's East Enders paid the Waterbus a visit recently, and enjoyed a sight seeing cruise around the Bay as part of her visit to Cardiff. Michelle who was in Cardiff visiting the set of 'Dr Who', was invited into the wheelhouse of 'Princess Royal' where she posed for this picture. |
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BBC, ITV, CH4, Five, S4C and many independents!
Proving once again that the Waterbus is becoming popular with several TV Companies, as a useful camera platform in Cardiff Bay. Here we see S4C presenter Sarra Elgan filming some links for the Welsh music show 'Bandit'. |
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Famous Faces on the Waterbus! Here are actors Michael Elwyn and Alison Steadman at Mermaid Quay after taking a trip on the Waterbus up and down the river Taff. Michael has been on our screens recently playing Maid Marion's father in BBC's Robin Hood.
Alison was in Cardiff filming a new series of the comedy series Gavin & Stacey in which she play's Gavin's mum Pam Shipman. |
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WIZARD FUN!! Pictured here is Harry Potter star Emma Watson a.k.a. Hermione Granger. Emma had just taken a trip on the Waterbus with her school around Cardiff Bay.
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ALL CHANGE! EVERYTHING HAS GONE YELLOW!!
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2007 season see's a few changes on the Waterbus. Most notably a new colour scheme!! With other boats in the Bay now appearing in our original white colour scheme, it has become more confusing for passengers to distinguish between the 'original' Cardiff Waterbus and other operators. It was felt that maybe a fresh new look for this season would help passengers identify the regular and reliable Waterbus service more easily. Here is Cygnet receiving her final touches before re-entering service. |
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Marlene!!.... I am driving the boat!!
Actor John Challis best known for his role as Aubrey Boyce (Boycie) in TV's 'Only Fools And Horses' and more recently 'Green Green Grass', was to be found in Sapphire's wheelhouse recently! 'Boycie' who was visiting family in Cardiff, had a trip round the Bay. And was very interested to see all the developments taking place in Cardiff. |
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IT'S "ALL ABOARD THE WATERBUS" for "Utterly Brilliant" Timmy Mallett. Timmy who is on a UK tour, was recently appearing in Cardiff and Swansea, and took time off to travel on Cardiff Bay. And what better way to do it could there be than on one of our "Utterly Brilliant" waterbuses! Timmy bravely took the wheel and for a few exciting minutes was Captain Mallett!! Sadly there was no Pinky Punky Mallet on the boat, but everyone on board had a Wacaday sailing on the Bay! Find out more about 'the show your
telly was made for' by clicking this button
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BUTE PARK NOW OPEN! Boats will depart Mermaid Quay twice daily to the new landing at 12.00 noon and at 4.00pm Return Boats to Mermaid Quay depart the new landing at Approx. 12.30pm and 4.30pm The use of this landing is dependent on the River flow. After heavy rain we may not be able to land here, and if the River levels are too low, we may not be able to use this stop? The river here is quite shallow, and so conditions here have to be just right to allow our vessels to arrive and depart safely. The next stop down river at Taff Mead Embankment (A short walk) can be used whatever the weather! To check the status of this service please call 07940142409 |
"AHAAA.... JIM
LAAAAD!!!!" and all that stuff! It was all aboard the Paddle Steamer Waverley for a pirate night out recently as staff from the waterbus took some time out to enjoy a bit of a social up and down the Bristol Channel. Pirate costumes were order of the day as were several drinks!! Celebrating the start of the 2006 Summer season the motley crew enjoyed a gorgeous evenings trip between Penarth, Clevedon, Weston and the Holm Islands. Music was supplied on board by a Caribbean Steel Band. |
Cardiff Mayor and V.I.P's use new
Taff landing!
Turning Princess Royal at the new Taff landing stage was descibed as "Interesting", by Capt Ben Salter who was in command that day. |
Bute Park Landing Nearly Ready!! The long awaited landing in Bute Park next to Cardiff Castle on the River Taff came a step nearer to opening today when Cygnet began trial runs to the new landing stage. "A voyage into the unknown", was how 'pioneering' Captain Ben Salter described it, as the usual turning points were passed, on the first trip up the Taff to the new pontoon. However all went well and the trips up and down the Taff turned at the new stop all day. Everyone is now waiting to include this exciting new stop on the river trips as soon as possible! Please keep an eye on this page for the official opening of this new landing stage. (Until further notice trips may only be boarded and disembarked at the Taff Mead Embankment stop on the Taff: See the "Locations" Page.) |
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Another famous face on the Waterbus Pictured here is actress Lesley Joseph who became a regular passenger on the waterbuses during her recent stay in Cardiff performing at The Wales Millennium Centre in a production of the musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie" Lesley had a friend living in Penarth and commented that the Waterbus was the quickest and most pleasant way to visit her. |
Sapphire in her new colours! A recent sponsorship deal with Mermaid Quay restaurant Pearl of the Orient and the cocktail & dim sum bar, Ba Orient; has meant that Sapphire has a new colour scheme! She also carries advertisements for the restaurants too. With the thousands of people of visiting the Bay every year these are ad's that just can't be missed!!
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Channel View Landing Stage NOW
OPEN! Passengers are now able to board the Waterbus at the newly opened Channel View Leisure Centre. Next to the "Sand Wharf" development on the River Taff. This is a request stop and passengers should attract the attention of the boat crews by waving frantically! More details of the where to find this stop here  |
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NEW SUMMER
2005 TIMETABLES ARE LAUNCHED!!
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On the hour from Mermaid quay until 11pm!! |
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"Princess Royal" alongside at
Mermaid Quay! Although the new boat had previously made a visit to Mermaid Quay on her arrival day, she had yet to go 'alongside' at the quayside. And as part of the training on the new boat that all skippers will be undergoing over the next few weeks, the honour of taking Princess Royal alongside at Mermaid Quay for the first time went to Captain Ben Salter. Over the next couple of weeks all the crews will be familiarized with the new vessel. |
| WELCOME "PRINCESS ROYAL" After many months of anticipation and a few false starts Cardiff Waterbus has now added the long awaited third boat to the fleet. Princess Royal arrived on Tuesday 31st May. A little later than planned because of rough seas in the Bristol Channel. Delivered to Portishead near Bristol from the Norfolk Broads where she was built in 1959. She is a classic river cruiser with very attractive lines and some lovely woodwork throughout the vessel. Princess Royal has been receiving a little attention from the hard working and enthusiastic crews of Cardiff waterbus. She was given a new coat of white paint and fitted with a new radio and all fixtures and fittings were overhauled, and under the hull Capt Ben Salter and owner Steve Critchley were hard at it with a new coat of anti-fouling! Eventually the big day of the launch came and Princess Royal was carefully picked up in marina hoist and lowered into the dock. After refuelling and filling her water tanks Princess Royal was ready to go. Here are some pictures of the journey from Portishead to Cardiff Bay
With the waterbus being in ever greater demand not only by regular passengers but also by many tour operators it is hoped that with the extra capacity now available everybody can be accommodated! Also the long awaited DAILY service to the City landing stage can now be restarted. All the crews are looking forward to working on this beautiful new vessel on Cardiff Bay! |
| THE WATERBUS IS FIVE
YEARS OLD! Hard to believe, but Cardiff Waterbus has been operating in the Bay for FIVE years this April! There is a big crew party planned at the Terra Nova at Mermaid Quay, and already senior crew members Dave Gee, Capt' Ben Salter and Nina Thomas have been wined and dined at the Angel Hotel by their benevolent boss Steve Critchley managing director of the Waterbus.  At the Angel Hotel
Cardiff Classic Yachts, Tiger Bay Training, Bay Island Voyages, The Harbour Authority to name but a few..... |
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CARDIFF HARBOUR
AUTHORITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WATERBUS Cardiff Harbour Authority has launched a scheme for the 110 primary schools in the area to introduce young children to the wildlife and ecology of Cardiff Bay. Trips will involve 'pond dipping' at the wetlands reserve in the Bay, and trips on Cardiff Waterbus up the river Ely in search of wildlife, and to see the changes to the environment. The scheme started on April 12th and the youngsters were treated to a 40 min trip on the Waterbus after which they were landed at the new landing stages at the Graving Docks and at the Northern End of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. The scheme will be extended to other schools in South Wales and the Waterbus expects to be VERY busy catering for the hundreds of youngsters visiting Cardiff bay this year! This is on top of an already hectic charter schedule in association with the ever popular Cardiff Bay Tours Click Here for Cardiff Bay Tours |
Children arriving at Barrage
North...
RIVER
TAFF TRIPS RETURN FOR EASTER HOLIDAYS Visit Penarth, Mermaid Quay or Cardiff City Centre by boat this Easter! Click here for up to date timetables
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| The Heroic Captain
and 'worthy' Bilge Rat to the Rescue...AGAIN! Only a few weeks after the exciting rescue efforts made in the Bristol Channel (See story below), the dynamic duo were called on yet again! This time in the calmer waters of Cardiff Bay. The restaurant boat Seren-y-Bae operated by Cardiff Bay Cruises had lost her reverse drive, and so was unable to stop when it approached the waterbus landing stage at Penarth, it became stuck almost under the ramp to the pontoon, sustaining some damage to a window. Capt Ben Salter and his crew who were not far behind, immediately swung into action and offered to tow the stricken vessel off the bank and back to the pontoon. Watched by waiting passengers the mission was successfully accomplished, and both 'The Captain' and 'Bilge Rat' congratulated themselves on having achieved yet another daring rescue effort. The Captain is now waiting for a word of thanks from the owners of the restaurant boat? |
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FOUND AT LAST!! The elusive fourth sister to Cygnet and Sapphire has finally been located! Find out more by visiting the History Page. Click Here |
WATERBUS
TO THE RESCUE!!
As crew members Ben(The Captain)Salter and Alan(Bilge Rat)Jeffries were about to finish their shift recently, a May-Day call was heard over the boats radio. A major rescue effort had been launched in the Bristol Channel to look for a fishing vessel that had apparently struck a submerged object? Barry Lifeboat, Penarth Lifeboats and an RAF Helicopter were scrambled to start the search. Other boats in the area also joined in. As Cygnet's crew had nothing else to do, they decided to put to sea and assist in the search operations too. After contacting Swansea Coastguard Cygnet was instructed to search between Cardiff and Newport, near the mouth of the River Rumney. Other vessels were each given their 'patch' to search in. However after exhaustive efforts were made by all concerned the operation was scaled down and Cygnet released to return to Cardiff Bay. 'Heroic' Captain Ben Salter and his 'Worthy' crew Alan were disappointed that they had not located the missing boat but relieved to be back in the calmer waters of the Bay. "It was dark out there" commented "The Capt'" "....and bloody cold too!" added "The Bilge Rat" |
Wales
Millennium Centre Opens Passengers aboard Cygnet and sapphire got a grandstand view as the huge firework display to celebrate the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre lit up the sky around Cardiff Bay. The fireworks were placed along the barrage as well as in and around the inner harbour; Nothing quite like it had ever been seen in Cardiff before! On friday Cygnet and Sapphire escorted the boat carrying the ceremonial opening Key the WMC and poet Gwyneth Lewis(who wrote the line "in these stones horizons sing" which spans the front of the new building) across the Bay to the pierhead, where the key was transferred by a human chain to the doors of the WMC. The Waterbus now operates until early evening, so if your going to the WMC from Penarth, why not use the boat? |
| Phew! It's WARM in
here!! Autumn 2004 and Cygnet has had heating fitted at last!! After several years of enduring the somewhat cool winter days on Cardiff Bay it was decided it was time for a change, especially with ever increasing passenger numbers this year, and the prospect of increased evening traffic using the Waterbus for traveling to the Millennium Centre(See Below). The new heating system is so good that even with all hatches open, passengers can travel in total comfort in Cygnet's heated cabins! Even the crew benefit as the heating system extends to the wheelhouse too!! ...and ISN'T IT SHINY!!!  Pictured here one of two new propellors being fitted to the Waterbuses this year! The new four bladed propellors replace the old three bladed props. The new propellors are made of bronze and as well as being harder wearing will give the boats a much smoother ride and also make the boats more manoeuvrable. |
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Service Suspended After several weeks in operation the commuter service on the river Taff has had to be suspended. High river flows bringing large debris items down the river and work repainting the towers on the Millennium Stadium, as well as dredging operations near the Taff Mead Embankment, has meant that the Waterbus has been unable to guarantee services early in the morning. So to avoid confusion the commuter service has been suspended for now. However the Taff landing will still operate as part of the day time timetable. |
| COMMUTER
SERVICE STARTED 7AM MON 9TH AUG! The long awaited commuter service between Penarth, the Waterfront and the City started on Aug 9th. Originally what the Waterbus service was created for, everybody can now travel on a service 4 years in the making! "Leave your car at home, use the boat!"  The Waterbus cruising down the river Taff
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| PASSENGER
SURVEY Now that the Water Bus service into the City is becoming established (See Below), we are now looking to the future and the introduction of an early morning commuter service into the City and Mermaid Quay from Penarth and of course the other way! Please fill out the questionnaire so that we can analyse the results to enable us to construct a new timetable that will hopefully be convenient to everybody. And if you have any thoughts or comments on this subject please feel free to add them, all information is useful!! QUESTIONNAIRE click button |
SATURDAY
NIGHT SERVICE NOW OPERATING
OR AT MERMAID QUAY AND TRYING TO GET TO PENARTH AND THE CUSTOM HOUSE OR GOING TO CARDIFF FROM PENARTH? WHY NOT USE THE WATERBUS! A GREAT FUN WAY FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TO TRAVEL AROUND CARDIFF BAY AND THE RIVER TAFF! VISIT THE SATURDAY NIGHT PAGE HERE |
| MORE PICTURES UNEARTHED OF OUR BOATS
ABOARD THE LINER KUNGSHOLM VISIT THE HISTORY PAGE NOW
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| HALF
TERM WEEK Feb 2004 Another very busy week for the waterbuses during Half Term helped by massive media exposure during the week. Cardiff Waterbus was featured on HTV News as well as in the South Wales Echo, whilst Skipper Ben Salter and Cygnet featured in a Channel 4 documentary about Cardiff singer Charlotte Church, the Waterbus also appeared in local press and Primary Times! It seems that whatever the weather... Rain or shine, cold wind or warm breeze; People just love to travel with Cardiff Waterbus! |
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