Step aboard the New Mersey Ferry in a brand-new virtual experience

A super-realistic virtual tour is giving passengers their first glimpse of the highly anticipated New Mersey Ferry, offering an immersive 360-degree preview of what it will look and sound like to sail on the Royal Daffodil when it launches in summer 2026.

Released by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the virtual tour takes viewers on a journey from Gerry Marsden Ferry Terminal at Pier Head, across the landing stage, and onto the Royal Daffodil, which arrives in its iconic black, white, and red colours.

Once across the drawbridge, viewers enter the stylish, fully accessible, new interior bustling with passengers and people enjoying a 30^th birthday party in the ferry’s event space against a backdrop of a cruise ship and Liverpool’s iconic waterfront.

The fully immersive VR tour leads viewers through the Royal Daffodil’s upper and lower decks – including close ups of artworks – and the ferry’s outside seating area.

Construction work on the first new Mersey Ferry in more than 60 years is well underway at Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird shipyard. The vessel is due to set sail in summer 2026.

Councillor Steve Foulkes, Chair of the Transport Committee, said:

“The world-famous Mersey Ferries attract visitors from around the world and they’ve connected communities on both sides of the River Mersey for hundreds of years. They are an instantly recognisable symbol of our city region, around the globe. This newest virtual reality walkthrough offers prospective passengers the chance to get excited, along with us, about the future of the Mersey Ferries.

“Being built on the banks of the River Mersey at Cammell Laird’s Birkenhead shipyard the Royal Daffodil is beginning to take shape.”

Cllr Foulkes added:

“We’ve taken something that’s deeply woven into the history of our region and reimagined it for the future.

“This ferry isn’t just about getting from one side of the river to the other—it’s about the enjoyment, the views, the memories, and the moments people will share on board. From commuters to couples celebrating their wedding day, we’re creating a space that’s as special as the Mersey itself.”

The new vessel will offer a world-class experience for passengers thanks to improved accessibility, new seating areas and bars. The vessel will feature large open plan decks as well as event spaces for corporate functions and private parties.

The vessel has been designed to harness state-of-the-art green technology, with a cutting-edge Azipod propeller system for increased fuel efficiency, along with a diesel-electric hybrid-ready engine – with potential for future conversion to full electric propulsion as technology develops.

Accessibility is also a top priority. A designated lift will provide easy access to the upper deck, ensuring all passengers, regardless of mobility, can enjoy all of the ferry’s amenities and views.

Take a tour of the new Royal Daffodil here.

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