Scenic Trains
Glacier
Express
Bernina
Express
Golden
Pass Line
Gotthard Panorama
Mont
Blanc - St Bernard
Palm
Express
Excursion Trains
Jungfraujoch
Chocolate
Train
Gornergrat
Matterhorn
Mt
Pilatus Railway
Mt
Rigi Railway
Roches
De Naye
Lake Cruises
Lake
Geneva
Lake
Lucerne
Lake
Constance
Lake
Thun & Brienz
Three
Lakes
LAKE GENEVA CRUISES
Lake Steamers From the Golden Age
How more elegant to enjoy the beauty of Switzerland’s largest
lake than from the deck of a “La Belle Epoch” golden age
historic paddle wheel steamer cruise ship. Hop between ports of call
along the Swiss Rivera, or take a round trip theme cruise and enjoy local
cuisine from top flight Swiss chefs while the majesty of the Savoy Alps
or the ancient wine vineyards of the Lavaux region pass on the shore.
Visit Switzerland’s most picturesque castle made famous by Lord
Byron, or salute Freddie Mercury triumphant on the shoreline plaza at
Montreux with its jazz Festival or the reflection of Mont Blanc shimmering
in the waters.
The cruise ships on Lake Geneva are operated by the CNG fleet. The line
operates five of the historic steam paddle wheelers which make regularly
schedules stops around the lake shore, along with more modern diesel
cruisers as both ferry ships from town to town or as excursion scenic
tour cruises. The paddle steamers are in themselves works of art as well
as transportation. When the coast of Lake Geneva with its temperate warmer
climate attracted the Le Belle Age tourists of the industrial age to
its shores from Geneva to Lausanne, Vevey and Montreux, a class of ship
equal to the elegance the grand dame hotels was called upon. The Montreux
is the oldest steamer in the fleet, originally setting sail in 1904.
Each newer ship grew larger and grander. The La Suisse was christened
in 1910 with room for nearly 700 passengers and dining room seating for
376, and her sister ship The Simplon was launched in 1920, even larger.
The CGN regular Lake Geneva cruise line schedule allows hop-on and hop-off
at all the ports around the lake with a day ticket. You can take multiple
journeys or purchase a ticket for one or more stop segments. The cruise
ships of Lake Geneva, both the classic paddle steamers and modern ship
can be traveled without a reservation, except for special theme cruises
and cruise-dinner packages. The schedule of stops begin the shortly after
sun-up in the morning and end around 10 pm at night. The routes around
the lake are broken into segments from Geneva to the west, Lausanne in
the middle and Haut Lac from Vevey to Villenueva at the eastern end.
There are no individual cruises that travel the full lake, which would
take way to long. Routes are limited in the winter months.
The CGN line offers specialty dining cruises which depart from either
Geneva or Lausanne-Ouchy. Lunch Cruises depart at noon and Dinner Cruises
at 6:30 pm. Try a special Fondue Cruise for a particularly Swiss experience.
The specialty cruises operate in the spring, summer and autumn months.
The lake ports connect with train and bus transportation, making it
easy to travel portions of the lake by cruise boat and part by rail.
Busses stop directly at the port while train stations can be a short
walk, or in Geneva and Lausanne, a tram ride away. Bicycles are allowed
on the ships for an extra charge.
Passage on the Lake Geneva Cruise boats is purchased as a Day Tickets which allows travel on all scheduled ships for a full day, with a price based on a distance segment basis. A Swiss Pass allows travel on the standard day cruise schedule, with a 50% discount. For special dinner and lunch cruises the fare is half-price with a passs, but not the meal. Children from 6 to 16 travel a half fare and kids under 6 are free.