The Princess fleet is an eponym for the coastal vessels of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in the first half of the 20th century.[1] The names of these small ocean liners began with the title "Princess."

The ships of the British Columbia Coast Steamships came to be called "pocket liners" because they offered amenities like a great ocean liner, but on a smaller scale.[2] The CPR princesses were a coastal counterpart to CPR's "Empress" fleet of passenger liners which sailed on trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes.[3]

James William Troup is credited with conceiving and building the Princess fleet. In 1913, 10 of the 12 Princess ships in the coastal fleet had been built to the orders of Capt. Troup.[4]

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

PRINCESSES OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC STEAMSHIP FLEET

Active Service Vessel Name Launch Date Maiden Voyage Other Names Notes Loss / Decommission Date

Canadian Pacific Railway (1884–1915)

1869 Princess Louise 1869 1869 Olympia (1869–79) 1906

1888 Princess May[5] 1888 1888 SS Arthur, 1888–1896; SS Cass, 1896; SS Ninghchow, 1896–1899; SS Hating, 1899–1901 1935

1902 SS Princess Patricia I[6] 1902 1902 SS Queen Alexandra, 1902–1912 1937

1903 Princess Beatrice[7] 1903 1903 1929

1903 SS Princess Victoria[8] 1902 1903 Tahsis No. 3, 1951-1953 converted oil carrier 1953

1907 SS Princess Ena[9] 1907 1907 1936

1907 Princess Royal[10] 1907 1907 1933

1908 SS Princess Charlotte[11] SS Mediterranean, 1950–1965 1965

1910 SS Princess Adelaide[12] 1910 1910 SS Angelika, 1949–1967 1967

1910 SS Princess Mary[13] 1910 1910 1954

1911 SS Princess Alice[14] 1911 1911 SS Aegaeon, 1949–1966 Pacific coast, 1911–1949; Mediterranean, 1949–1966 1966

1912 SS Princess Sophia[15] 1911 1912 Pacific coast, 1912–1918 1918

1913 SS Princess Maquinna[16] 1912 1913 1962

1913 SS Island Princess[17] 1913 1913 SS Daily 1913–1918, SS Cy Peck, 1930–1986 1986

1914 SS Princess Margaret[18] 1914 1914 1929

1915 SS Princess Irene[19] 1914 1915 converted minesweeper, blew up Sheerness 27.5.15 1915

Canadian Pacific Steamships Ocean Services Ltd. (1915–1971)

1921[20] SS Princess Louise[21] 1921 1921 U.S. Largest Floating Restaurant, Los Angeles Harbor 1966 1990

1923 MV Motor Princess[22] 1923 1923 MV Pender Queen, 1961–1980 sold as a hotel at Saltspring Island, BC in 1981

1925[20] SS Princess Kathleen[23] 1924 1925 Pacific coast, 1925–1939; war years, 1939–1947; Pacific coast, 1947–1952 1952

1925[20] SS Princess Marguerite I[24] 1924 1925 1942

1928[20] SS Princess Elaine[25] 1927 1928 floating restaurant, Seattle 1963-71 1976

1928[20] Princess Norah[26] 1928 1928 SS Queen of the North, 1955–1958; SS Canadian Prince, 1958–1964 1964

1930[20] SS Princess Elizabeth[27] 1930 1930 SS Pegasus, 1961–1973; SS Highland Queen, 1973–1976 1976

1930[20] SS Princess Helene[28] 1930 1930 SS Helene, 1963–1965; SS Carina II, 1965–1967; SS Carina, 1967–1977 Bay of Fundy, 1930–1963 1977

1930[20] SS Princess Joan[29][30] 1930 1930 SS Hermes, 1961–1974 1974

1944 SS Trailer Princess[31] 1944 1944 SS Coronis, 1944–1966

1945 SS Princess of Alberni[32] 1945 1945 SS Pomare, 1948–1953; SS Nootka Prince', 1958-1959; SS Ocean Crown, 1959-1985 1985

1946 SS Yukon Princess[33] 1945 1946 SS West Princess, 1959; SS Rosita, 1959-1964 1964

1949 TEV Princess Marguerite II[34] 1948 1949 1996

1949 TEV Princess Patricia II[35] 1948 1949 1989

1950 SS Princess of Nanaimo[36] 1950 1951 SS Princess of Acadia, 1963-1971; MV Princess of Nanaimo, 1971-73; SS Henry Osborne, 1973-1974 Pacific coast, 1949-1963; Bay of Fundy, 1963-1971 1974

1955 MV Princess of Vancouver[37] 1955 1955 MV Vancouver Island Princess, 1987-1993; MV Nan Hai Ming Zhu, 1991-2001; MV Pearl of South China Sea, 2001- Pacific coast, 1955-1990

1971 MV Princess of Acadia[38] 1971 1971 Bay of Fundy, 1971-

Former ferries of CP Steamships that were absorbed by Washington Marine Group (WMG) in 1998. Two years before WMG had gained full control of Seaspan.

Trailer and rail ferries

Active Service Vessel Name Launch Date Maiden Voyage Notes Current Status

1973 Carrier Princess Seaspan uses the same name after 1998. Still in service for Seaspan.

1974 Princess Superior Originally named the Incan Superior when built. Renamed Princess Superior in 1993 for Coastal Marine Operations, Seaspan uses the same name after 1998. Still in service for Seaspan.