Bow of PS Murray Princess at Mannum
History
Australia
Name	PS Murray Princess
Owner	Sealink Travel Group
Operator	Captain Cook Cruises
Port of registry	Mannum, Australia
Launched	June 1986[1]
In service	August 1986[2]
Status	Operational
General characteristics
Type	Passenger Ship
Tonnage	1506 tonnes
Length	67 metres
Beam	15 metres
Draft	1.2 metres
Decks	5
Installed power	2 x Scania AB DB 9 engines powering hydraulic pumps
Propulsion	Hydraulic Stern Wheel - fitted with Caterpillar 3408 Bow & Stern Thrusters
Speed	6 knots
Capacity	120 passengers
Crew	Varies on passenger numbers; Minimum Crewing 6

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.

Vessel details

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.^[3]

• 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 use the Sun Deck to watch the scenery pass by. 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.^[4]