Dazzle Ferry
One of our most colourful attractions is our stunning Dazzle Ferry, created by Sir Peter Blake, as part of the First World War commemorations. Sir Peter Blake is most famous for The Beatles Sgt Pepper album cover.
The Royal Iris is operating on commuter and River Explorer Cruises. The Dazzle is currently not in service. Please note we reserve the right to change the vessel in service, due to operational reasons.
The eye-catching dazzle design is in honour of the patterns that were first used on vessels in World War One. They worked by ‘baffling the eye’ and making the ships difficult to target. Each ship’s pattern used unique colour and monochrome designs – to avoid making classes of vessels recognisable to enemy U-boats and aircraft.
The Dazzle Ferry, called ‘Everybody Razzle Dazzle’, is the only operating dazzle ship in the UK and the design has been commissioned by Liverpool Biennial, 14–18 NOW the First World War Centenary Art Commissions, and Tate Liverpool in partnership with Merseytravel and National Museums Liverpool. Supported by Arts Council England, National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund and Department for Culture Media and Sport.
Taking a River Explorer Cruise aboard Snowdrop the Dazzle Ferry is the best way to appreciate it in all its glory whilst learning more about dazzle history through the on board exhibition panels. We operate two vessels, the Dazzle Ferry and Royal Iris in traditional colours, either one of these ferries will be operating the River Explorer Cruise.