newcastlecentric

The crowds have gathered, the tugs are ready and willing, the weather is fine - despite rumours to the contrary, today’s the day the Tuxedo Princess leaves the shelter of the Tyne Bridge forever.

newcastlecentric.com is on the quayside to watch the spectacle, provide you with an ongoing commentary and perhaps more important, sample the early morning breakfast specials of the Quayside Market.

0840 A few moments after 8am, the Yarm Cross departed the banks of Newcastle Quayside and cross over the fully-upright Tuxedo Princess. Another tug, the Svitzer Maltby, is still docked here. A spare tug? Buy-one, get-one-free? Or will it play a role once the boat has cleared the Millennium bridge?

There’s been a steady stream of people arriving on the Quayside and bridges to watch, despite the best efforts of the Quayside Market management to shoo them away. About 100 onlookers are scattered along both sides of the river and the chances are they’ll have a wait; this looks like it’s going to take a long time.

Right now, crew are working to attach the York Cross to the stern of the boat; she’s going to be taken from behind, so to speak.

0916 And we’re off. The second tug sprang into life about fifteen minutes ago and pulled the boat out from the Quayside. The Millennium bridge is fully tilted, the Princess is about level with the Sage and a pack of photographers are leap-frogging one another for the best vantage point.

0926 The crowd breathes a collective sigh of relief as the Tuxedo Princess clears the Millennium bridge. Not much room to spare, mind. People on the Quayside are reminiscing about the boat; wedding parties held on there, whether or not this is really the Tuxedo Princess or another of the floating nightclubs that have served the Tyne at one point or another.

0931 The T4 on Tour bus is pulled up alongside the Pitcher & Piano, giving the southern folk an unexpected opportunity for filming. The Tuxedo Princess has passed the Baltic and the Millennium bridge has nearly lowered back into position.

0942 The Tuxedo Princess has cleared the bend of the Tyne, beyond Ousegate and has disappeared from the Tyne forever. Sniff. The public are dispersing, wondering into town and through the market, fondly recollecting their first taste of a Barcardi Breezer and falling off that dancefloor while swinging each other round to CottonEye Joe.

Goodbye, sweet princess. You will always have a place in our hearts. And our liver.

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