Plymouth Boat Trips has introduced a new vessel to its fleet of cruise boats and ferries for 2026. The Legend of Plymouth, formerly the Legend of Loch Ness, has been brought to Plymouth from the Scottish Highlands, having previously cruised Loch Ness.

The boat comes complete with advanced echo sounding sonar equipment and screens on board to view what lies beneath the water’s surface, where it formerly searched for the mythical Loch Ness Monster.

“The Legend of Loch Ness is a fantastic, spacious and versatile addition to our fleet, with capacity for 107 passengers,” said Ben Squire, owner of Plymouth Boat Trips. “It’s perfect for both our river cruises and network of foot ferry routes that service Plymouth and South East Cornwall.”

The Legend of Plymouth has a modern design, including an open top deck plus an enclosed and heated saloon, as well as a bar and two toilets on board. The vessel’s onboard sonar equipment and three screens fitted around the boat means passengers can see the incredible rock formations that lie beneath the surface of Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar.

The new boat joins the Plymouth Boat Trips fleet that provides tailored trips for coach groups to discover Plymouth Sound, the historic Royal Naval Dockyard, and the scenery of the South West coast, as well as inland cruises including the River Tamar among other local rivers.

Meanwhile, Plymouth Boat Trips is also launching a newly-branded ferry service, connecting Plymouth and Southeast Cornwall. In a change from the separate ferry routes, from Wednesday 1 April the Waterlink Ferry service will connect three of the region’s waterfront destinations, including The Barbican, Royal William Yard, and Saltash.

“Our new Waterlink service presents another step towards Plymouth Boat Trips’ vision to further connect key local waterfront areas by ferry. Our aim is to make water transport as easy to use as possible, bring communities together and supporting local businesses, while offering a greener, more scenic alternative to traveling by car between Devon and Southeast Cornwall,” says Ben Squire.

The Waterlink Ferry also offers an easy onward connection to Mount Edgcumbe Country Park via the historic Cremyll Ferry.

For the 2026 season, all ferry routes and services will resume normal operations on 1 April 2026. Find out more at plymouthboattrips.co.uk.