About the Yacht
The Volunteer Princess is the only modern and luxurious dining cruise vessel on the upper Tennessee River. Named after the University of Tennessee Volunteers, the Volunteer Princess is one of Knoxville’s prime destinations offering unique public cruises and private events.
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A 132-passenger yacht built specifically for experiencing all the Knoxville skyline has to offer, the Volunteer Princess features:
- Two fully enclosed and climate-controlled decks
- In-house catering and alcohol service
- All-inclusive packages created with reputable vendors
- Scenic views from every seat on the ship
- On-site event planning with your style, budget, and vision in mind
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- Year Built: 2007
- Manufacturer: SkipperLiner
- Length: 96 feet
- Beam: 20 feet
- Draft: 3.5 feet
- Weight: 83 tons
- Engines: Twin 350hp Caterpillar Diesel (3126)
- Generators: Westerbeke 60 BEDA; Westerbeke 32 BEDA (Bow Thruster)
- Top Speed: 8.7 Knots (10 mph)
- Cruising Speed: 5.2 Knots (6 mph)
- Passenger Capacity: 132
- Crew Capacity: 11
- Fuel Capacity: 1000 Gallons Diesel
- Cost: $2.2 million
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The Volunteer Princess departs from Volunteer Landing Marina located behind Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse off of Neyland Drive. We cruise downstream as we pass the Sunsphere – the symbol of the 1982 World’s Fair, Neyland Stadium – the mecca of Big Orange Country, the University of Tennessee’s Forensic Anthropology Center – infamously known as the Body Farm, and the plush Sequoyah Hills community.
As many of our cruise lengths vary, the distance we travel depends on the length of the cruise. During our one-and-a-half-hour cruises, we reach the top of Loony Island, located just before the US Naval Reserve Center on Alcoa Highway. On our two-hour cruises, we pass Loony Island and sail into the Sequoyah Hills community before we turn around. If you join us for an additional thirty minutes, we cruise past Cherokee Country Club next to Lakeshore Park before we return to dock and end our three-hour cruises.
No two cruises are the same. There are a number of factors our captains must consider each time we leave the dock.
- Current: The downstream current can run up to five knots. The downstream cruising speed could be considerably faster than the speed returning to the dock.
- Wind: Sometimes wind from the east makes docking much more difficult. Don’t be alarmed; wind typically does not impact our cruise route unless those east winds are extremely fast.
- Boat Traffic: Cruising can be altered by other boaters. We always keep safety in mind while cruising along the Tennessee River, especially during higher traffic times throughout the year.