About the Boat
The Viking Princess is a steel-hulled, 40' long passenger excursion vessel built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding in Somerset, Massachusetts in 1966. It is the only commercial vessel on Cape Cod powered by biodiesel. The Cape Cod Times in 2006 described our use of this fuel as "establishing a beachhead" for its use on Cape Cod. We afford this in part because the engine is a highly reliable and fuel-efficient Detroit 453 diesel used together with a BorgWarner Velvetdrive transmission,
a combination perfectly suited for harbor cruises and 1-2 hour excursions on Cape Cod Bay. Top speed is 8 knots.
The boat is US Coast Guard certified for 49 passengers and 2 crew. A metal railing about 3' 6" high (with sheet metal panels covering most of the first 3') surrounds the deck so that no one goes overboard. Seating consists of ten wooden park
benches and plastic resin chairs as wanted.
A decorative "wheelhouse" and "smokestacks" atop the roof help to capture the look of steamship passenger ferries that served Provincetown in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The faux wheelhouse also stores clean fresh water for the bathroom (a marine head), extra coolant for the engine, and a USCG-required whistle, as well as GPS and VHF antennas. As the highest point on the boat, one of the smokestacks (if present) holds the ship's anchor light (illuminated when at anchor, this is fixed on the wheelhouse whenever the smokestacks are down). A white rubber over plywood roof covers the rear two thirds of the
boat and in 2005 replaced earlier fiberglass/plywood rooves. The new roof sheds water very efficiently and should last for several more years. Attached to the roof are transparent vinyl windows with white trim that roll down, zipper together, and snap into place. The bow third of the boat is completely open
overhead. Speakers and life preservers are stored under the benches and inside the roof (where they are easily accessible through hinged wire
"doors").
A
fully functional Wilcox
Crittenden manual toilet in a private, enclosed "head" in the
stern flushes to a 100-gallon, plastic holding tank below the deck.
This tank is pumped out regularly at a new (2008), public pump-out
station at the base of the pier which is connected directly to Provincetown's
new (2003) wastewater treatment plant.
We are proud to be one of the first passenger excursion boats in this area to use a new, more environmentally friendly, bottom coating called ePaint. This paint is free of copper (which could instead result in bioaccumulating environmental cuprous oxide pollution), and the protective (or "anti-fouling") method is designed to last only as long as needed, then safely break down in the environment.
Four circular tables are stored just below the roof atop poles in the back half of the boat during most of our public trips but are lowered for special occasions and as wanted. With mood lighting and tablecloths, the Viking Princess's wide open "dance floor" can quickly be transformed into a romantic, intimate space for sumptuous appetizers and luxurious buffets. An attractive and spacious galley counter (refaced and resurfaced in 2008) accomodates multiple party platters, chafing dishes, etc., and large coolers on the deck can hold plenty of ice and refreshments.
For added comfort in cold conditions, a space heater is located directly under the benches running down the port and starboard sides of the deck.
On most of our trips, two flags are flown. On the bow mast is a Jack of the United States, showing the "union" portion (or top left corner) of the national ensign, which flies from the stern mast. Flying the jack signifies that the Viking Princess is a "working boat," i.e., one that carries passengers for hire. On select occasions, other optional flags are used instead or or in addition to the jack.
The Viking Princess served in Newport, Rhode Island for a time as part of a "fleet" of boats with the name "Viking," and earlier was known as and served in "The City of Fall River," Massachusetts. Since the summer of 2000, the Viking Princess has served as the main platorm for educational and entertaining trips with an ecological perspective of Provincetown harbor led by Viking Princess Cruises operating from May thru October on MacMillan Pier, the town pier of Provincetown. During winters, the boat is presently stored at Northside Marina in East Dennis - just the other side of Cape Cod Bay.
It's a boat that holds a warm and enduring place in the hearts and memories of both our regular and one-time-only passengers of all ages from weeks old to over one hundred years. Please peruse the pictures from passengers, friends, and crew in our slideshows (one of these appears below, and you may view the pictures enlarged and with captions by clicking on it), call (508-487-7323 May-Oct/508-237-2673 Nov.-Apr.) or e-mail (peter @ capecodecotours.com) for more information or to place a reservation and join us on the water as soon as you are able.
