New season and farewell to Josef Špička after almost 50 years on board

This year's opening cruise of the steamboat Vltava had a ceremonial tone — beyond marking the start of the new season, it was above all a farewell to Josef Špička, who is retiring after nearly fifty years in the service of Prague steam navigation.

Josef Špička trained for the steamboat trade and in 1976 joined the Vltava as a deckhand. Over a long career he held every position the trade requires — he served as boatman, helmsman and dispatcher. He also passed the captain's exam, but he never sought out command of his own boat or the responsibility that comes with it.

For many years he stood at the wheel of the steamboat Vyšehrad, where he would also fill in as stoker when needed — he held the stoker's certification too. After the Vyšehrad was decommissioned, he came back to where his journey began decades earlier: in his last few seasons he served once again as boatman on the steamboat Vltava.

He was one of those people the crew and the operation could always rely on. He was diligent and dependable, and knew the operation and the trade's specifics inside out. He stayed on long past retirement age — he officially retired in 2024 and the 2025 season was his very last on board.

We thank Josef for his work, for his honest and reliable approach to the trade, and for everything he contributed to our company over decades. We wish him health and quiet enjoyment of his well-earned rest — and we hope to meet him on board one of our steamboats again, even if as a passenger.