The Belle Époque paddle steamboats cruising on Lake Geneva may be seen together at the annual Parade Navale on Lac Léman when all the historic ships meet up for a spectacular parade. The rest of the year these elegant boats cruise Lake Geneva on pleasure excursions.
CGN’s fleet of historic belle époque paddle steamboats cruises daily on Lake Geneva. CGN currently has five working paddle steamers and two further electric-powered paddle boats, which first entered service between 1904 and 1927, sailing on Lac Léman in Switzerland and France. Once a year, all paddle steamers gather together at the same venue for the Parade Navale display. This naval parade is held on Pentecost Sunday in May but the venue shifts annually between the ports used by Lake Geneva pleasure boats.
- The 2023 Parade Navale on Lake Geneva is scheduled for Morges on Sunday 14 May 2023 — weather depending, some tulips may still be in bloom.
Historic Paddle Steamboats on Lake Geneva
CGN operates a fleet of Belle Époque paddle steamboats on regular pleasure cruises on Lac Léman in Switzerland and France. Revealing their pre-1930s historic origins, these boats offer two classes of service: First Class passengers use the upper decks with the best views and smartest saloons while Second Class passengers are on the lower decks with smaller outdoor areas.
These elegant, graceful boats offer sightseeing, lunch, and dinner cruises from Geneva, Lausanne, Evian, and many further ports on the lake. Food and drink are available on all boats and are usually optional to the ticket fare.
Historic Belle Époque Paddle Steamers on Lake Geneva
CGN’s fleet of paddle boats includes seven boats in daily use while a further one is awaiting restoration.
The five Belle Époque steamboats in use are:
- SS La Suisse (1910) – the pride of the fleet. This elegant vessel can accommodate up to 850 passengers and currently sails twice daily between Lausanne and Montreux (Chateau de Chillon). Pick this boat if the schedule allows!
- SS Simplon (1920) – similar in size to the La Suisse and almost as elegant but with a much larger dining area. The Simplon can accommodate 850 passengers and currently sails between Geneva and Lausanne (and Evian).
- SS Montreux (1904) – the oldest paddle steamer on Lake Geneva. The Montreux can accommodate 560 passengers and currently sails mostly from Lausanne to Montreux and Yvoire.
- SS Savoie (1914) – similar lines to La Suisse but smaller with space for only 600. The Savoie can accommodate up to 560 and currently sails mostly from Geneva on lunch or dinner cruises and excursions to Yvoire.
- SS Rhône (1927) – the Rhône returned to service in 2022 following a three-year restoration project. It will mostly do the long Geneva to Lausanne route.
CGN has three further paddle Belle Époque boats on Lake Geneva but these are fitted with diesel rather than steam engines, which allow them to operate year-round:
- MS Vevey (1907) – this Belle Époque boat was launched in 1907 and received a diesel-electric engine in the 1950s. The Vevey returned to service in 2013 after a full restoration and currently cruise year-round on the Lausanne-Geneva route.
- MS Italie (1908) resumed passenger cruises on Lake Geneva in 2016, after a decade out of service. Like the Vevey, its paddles are powered by a diesel-electric engine. For half a century, the Italie crossed the full length of Lake Geneva from Genève to Le Bouveret twice per sailing day and although the new schedule is less exhausting, this beautiful boat will be in active service from Lausanne in winter and all over the lake in summer.
- MS Helvétie (1926) has been out of service since 2002. It was used as a floating temporary Olympic Museum off Lausanne-Ouchy, while the main museum was under renovation. The Helvétie is awaiting a full restoration and is expected to return to service in time for its centenary.
The Annual Naval Parade on Lake Geneva
Although it is easy to see, or cruise, on one of the historic paddle steamers on Lake Geneva, it is rare to see more than two together. However, once a year, on Pentecost Sunday (usually in May but moving yearly with the dates of Easter) all steamboats come together for CGN’s Parade Navale. The venue changes annually between the ports on Lac Léman.
At the Naval Parade, the paddle steamers usually steam by twice close to the lakeshore before all line up to release balloons. Afterward, the boats reverse at impressive speed before returning to their homeports. The parade is usually between 14:00 and 15:30 with boats departing from the furthest ports already around 10:00.
Viewing the parade from the quays is free and the host port will often erect pavilions and stands, which may be used for free to get a better view. The host port will usually offer free events, free museum entries, and other festival entertainment.
Special cruises on these steamers are offered on the naval parade day from many other ports on Lake Geneva. Reservations are highly advisable while reservations are required for meals on these cruises.
CGN has several further motor vessels operating as passenger ferries and pleasure cruise boats. However, as ticket prices are the same for the same distance covered, it is worth scouring the CGN timetables to rather cruise on one of these graceful steamers.
More on Lake Geneva Pleasure Boats and Cruises:
- Pleasure Boats and Ferries on Lake Geneva
- Lake Geneva Boat Cruises in Spring
- Passenger Ferries on Lake Geneva
- Passenger Ferries and Cruises from Lausanne to Evian and Thonon
- Savings Tickets for CGN Lake Geneva Boat Cruises
- Summer Lake Geneva Boat Excursions and Day Cruises
- Spring & Autumn Cruises on Lake Geneva
- Winter Cruises on Lake Geneva
- Pleasure Boat Excursions to Yvoire
- See the Historic Paddle Steamers at the Parade Navale
- New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruises on Lake Geneva