£26m Royal Daffodil Launches on River Mersey, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• The Royal Daffodil has set sail for the first time along the River Mersey.
• The ferry is the first new Mersey Ferry made for use on the River Mersey in the past 60 years.
• The ship was built in Cammell Laird Birkenhead, which is now Balaena Birkenhead.
• Its naming ceremony took place at Liverpool Pier Head on 22 September 2026.
• The naming ceremony had the traditional blessing, the smashing of a bottle into the ship, performances from local choirs, salute by a tugboat, and flares and confetti.
• Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, attended the ceremony along with other dignitaries and stakeholders.
• Actor and singer, Claire Sweeney, was the host of the ceremony.
• The Royal Daffodil has an accessible lift, bike racks, baby changing facilities and USB charging points.
• The ferry has facilities for holding events and conferences, and part of it has been made to cater to tourism and leisure purposes.
• The ferry will be introduced for public use in phases following tests for safety, certification, competence, and reliability.
• The Royal Daffodil comes after the Royal Iris of the Mersey, which has gone into decommissioning after many years of service.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 22, 2026 – The £26 million Royal Daffodil has made its maiden voyage on the River Mersey, marking the arrival of the first new ferry built for Mersey crossings in around six decades.

The vessel’s formal introduction took place during a naming ceremony at Liverpool’s Pier Head. The event brought together Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, local representatives, maritime stakeholders, special guests and members of the public.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the ceremony included performances by local choirs, a blessing of the vessel, the traditional breaking of a bottle against the hull and a tugboat marine salute. The proceedings formally introduced the Royal Daffodil into the Mersey Ferries fleet.

The launch represents a major investment in the future of one of the Liverpool City Region’s best-known transport and visitor services. Although the ferry’s maiden voyage has now taken place, full passenger operations are expected to follow a controlled, phased process.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has said that safety, crew competence, reliability and customer experience will be central to the decision on when the vessel is ready for full service.

Why is the £26m ferry significant?

The Royal Daffodil is significant because it is the first new Mersey Ferry constructed for river crossings since the 1960s. Its arrival follows nearly two years of construction and represents a major modernisation project for the Mersey Ferries fleet.

The ferry was built at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, a shipbuilding facility with a long association with the Wirral and the wider Merseyside area. The shipyard is now known as Balaena Birkenhead, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The project also gives the Liverpool City Region a new vessel designed around present-day passenger expectations. Reported features include an accessible lift, bicycle parking, baby-changing facilities and USB charging points. These additions are intended to make the ferry more practical for a wider range of passengers, including families, cyclists and people with mobility requirements.

The Royal Daffodil also contains event and conference spaces. That design reflects the importance of tourism and leisure to the ferry service, alongside its role in transport and sightseeing.

Gary Evans of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority told the BBC that the ferry service remained a vital part of the region’s transport network. He also described the new vessel as the first Mersey Ferry specifically designed with leisure in mind.

What happened at the naming ceremony?

The naming ceremony at Pier Head combined formal maritime traditions with performances and references to the region’s cultural history.

According to the BBC, the event included a blessing, the breaking of a bottle, flares and confetti. Claire Sweeney, the actor and singer, hosted the ceremony and described the opportunity as one of the greatest honours of her career.

Sweeney also spoke about her personal connection with Mersey Ferries. She recalled attending discos on the Royal Iris during her childhood and said her mother appeared as an extra in the 1965 film Ferry Cross the Mersey. The film featured Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose connection with the river remains part of the ferry service’s public identity.

The Liverpool Echo reported that local choirs also performed during the event. The tugboat salute added a maritime element to the ceremony and helped connect the launch with the history of Liverpool’s docks, shipyards and river traffic.

The ceremony was therefore not only a technical or administrative milestone. It also presented the Royal Daffodil as part of the region’s wider maritime story.

What did regional leaders say about the vessel?

Steve Rotheram described the Royal Daffodil as the “final piece of the puzzle” in the wider transformation of public transport across the Liverpool City Region, according to BBC reporting. That transformation includes investment in trains and buses as well as the new ferry.

Rotheram’s comments placed the vessel within a broader transport strategy rather than presenting it as an isolated tourism project. The ferry is expected to support connections across the Mersey while also strengthening the waterfront visitor experience.

Maritime Minister Keir Mather was also due to attend the ceremony. The BBC reported that he linked the ferry with the work of generations of dockyard employees and with the international reputation created by Liverpool’s musical and maritime heritage.

Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council, described the Royal Daffodil as a symbol of continued investment in Liverpool’s waterfront and visitor economy.

Paula Basnett, leader of Wirral Council, highlighted the vessel’s construction in Birkenhead. She said the ferry represented both the area’s shipbuilding heritage and its future, according to the BBC.

The comments from regional leaders reflect the two-sided role expected of the Royal Daffodil. It is intended to operate as part of a transport network while also functioning as a prominent attraction for visitors to Liverpool and Wirral.

When will passengers use the Royal Daffodil?

The maiden voyage and official naming ceremony do not necessarily mean that the ferry has immediately entered unrestricted passenger service.

The Liverpool Echo reported that the vessel would enter full service through a phased and controlled process. Safety checks, crew training, reliability assessments and customer-experience tests will determine when regular operations can begin.

Earlier reporting by the newspaper said public and stakeholder celebration activity was planned after the September 22 naming ceremony, including a special sailing on September 26. Passenger service was expected to begin in October, subject to remaining assurance and certification work.

This approach is intended to ensure that the vessel, its crew and its operating procedures are ready before routine services begin. It also allows Mersey Ferries to identify and address any technical or operational issues during the introduction period.

Passengers should therefore check official Mersey Ferries announcements before travelling specifically to use the new ferry. The timetable and availability may differ during the phased introduction.

What facilities does the new ferry provide?

The Royal Daffodil has been equipped with features intended to improve accessibility and convenience.

Reported facilities include:

• An accessible lift.
• Bicycle parking.
• Baby-changing facilities.
• USB charging points.
• Event and conference spaces.

The accessible lift is intended to support passengers who cannot easily use stairs, while bicycle parking may make the ferry more useful for people combining river travel with cycling journeys. Baby-changing facilities also address the needs of families travelling with young children.

The event and conference spaces distinguish the vessel from a ferry designed only for short-distance crossings. They provide an opportunity for private functions, organised activities and tourism-focused sailings.

The combined facilities suggest that the Royal Daffodil has been planned as both a working ferry and a flexible waterfront attraction.

How does the ferry replace the Royal Iris?

The Royal Daffodil succeeds the Royal Iris of the Mersey, which entered the decommissioning process earlier in 2026 after a long period of service.

The Royal Iris had operated for approximately 67 years and was closely associated with Liverpool’s cultural identity. It also appeared in Ferry Cross the Mersey, linking the vessel with the city’s music history and with generations of visitors.

Mersey Ferries previously confirmed that the Royal Iris would be replaced by the £26 million Royal Daffodil later in the year. The new vessel’s arrival therefore marks a transition between an older ferry that had become a heritage symbol and a modern ship intended to meet current operational and passenger requirements.

The change may be emotional for regular passengers and local residents who associate the Royal Iris with childhood trips, family outings and Liverpool’s musical past. However, the Royal Daffodil has been named in a way that preserves a direct link with the Mersey Ferries tradition.

Why do Mersey Ferries matter to Liverpool?

Mersey Ferries have operated on the River Mersey for more than 800 years, according to the BBC. The first regular service was operated by Benedictine monks who rowed across the river on market days.

The service has since developed from a basic river crossing into a combination of public transport, sightseeing and cultural attraction. It connects the Liverpool and Wirral waterfronts while offering views of the river, docks and city skyline.

The ferry is also closely linked with Liverpool’s international image. The service’s association with Ferry Cross the Mersey, Gerry and the Pacemakers and the city’s maritime heritage has helped make it recognisable beyond the region.

The Royal Daffodil’s launch is consequently being presented as the beginning of a new phase rather than a simple replacement of one vessel. It maintains an old connection with the river while introducing modern facilities and a stronger emphasis on leisure use.

What does the Royal Daffodil mean for tourism?

Tourism is one of the main areas expected to benefit from the new ferry. The Liverpool City Region attracts millions of visitors, and the ferry service provides a distinctive way to experience the city and its waterfront.

Gary Evans told the BBC that the region attracts 61 million visitors annually and described the new ferry as specifically designed with leisure in mind.

The event and conference spaces could allow Mersey Ferries to develop more organised experiences for visitors, businesses and local groups. These may include private events, corporate functions and sightseeing activities, subject to the operator’s final arrangements.

The vessel’s modern design may also make the service more attractive to visitors who expect accessible facilities, charging points and better support for families. Its visual presence on the river is likely to reinforce the waterfront as a central part of the region’s visitor economy.

What happens next for Mersey Ferries?

The immediate priority is the completion of the remaining safety, assurance and certification work before the Royal Daffodil enters full service.

Crew members must become familiar with the vessel’s systems and operating procedures. Earlier reports said training would be carried out for the captain and crew before the ferry’s launch.

The introduction will then proceed in stages, allowing the operator to assess reliability and the passenger experience. The exact operating pattern, timetable and use of the event spaces will depend on the final service arrangements announced by Mersey Ferries and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The Royal Daffodil is expected to become the flagship vessel of the fleet, succeeding the Royal Iris in that role.

What is the background to the Royal Daffodil development?

The Royal Daffodil was commissioned as part of a £26 million effort to modernise the Mersey Ferries fleet. It was built in Birkenhead for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and underwent construction, testing and crew preparation before its 2026 launch.

Sea trials began in April 2026 after the vessel left the Birkenhead shipyard, according to Daily Business Now reporter Harry Turnbull. The ferry was painted in the historic red, white and black Mersey Ferries colours.

The project followed the decision to retire the Royal Iris of the Mersey after decades of operation. The older vessel had become a cultural landmark through its appearance in Ferry Cross the Mersey, while the Royal Daffodil was intended to provide a modern replacement with improved facilities and dedicated leisure capacity.

Mersey Ferries have served the river for centuries, making the introduction of a new vessel a development with significance beyond fleet renewal. The Royal Daffodil combines the practical role of connecting communities with the commercial opportunity to expand tourism and events on the Mersey.

How could the Royal Daffodil affect passengers and visitors?

The Royal Daffodil could give commuters, tourists and local residents a more modern ferry experience, particularly through its accessibility features, bicycle facilities, baby-changing provision and USB charging points. Its full effect will depend on service frequency, fares, reliability and the timetable introduced after certification.

For visitors, the event and conference spaces may create additional ways to use the ferry beyond a standard sightseeing trip. That could support the Liverpool City Region’s visitor economy and provide more opportunities for organised waterfront experiences.

Regular passengers should expect a phased introduction rather than an immediate change to every Mersey Ferries service. Safety checks, crew competence and operational reliability are expected to remain the main conditions before the vessel enters full service.

For the region, the ferry’s arrival is likely to strengthen the connection between Liverpool’s maritime heritage and its modern transport and tourism ambitions. The Royal Daffodil’s success will ultimately be measured by how reliably it serves passengers while preserving the cultural identity that has made Mersey Ferries internationally recognised.