The Butterfly Princess Sets Sail / 真愛碼頭-小琉球航線 正式啟航
The Butterfly Princess Sets Sail
◎Text by Fang-Ju Lin ◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
The Butterfly Princess Ferry now runs between the Love Harbor Ferry Pier (in Kaohsiung) and Hsiao Liouciou Island (Pingtung). Its maiden voyage took place on January 6, 2008, making the trip between Kaohsiung and Hsiao Liouciou much quicker and more convenient. Mayor Chen also has future plans to form a ferry transportation network which she hopes could include a northern route to Tainan and a southern route to Kenting.
Butterfly Princess Ferry is operated by Ocean Legend Develop Ltd. It now only takes one hour to reach Hsiao Liuchiu's White Sand Port and it is forecasted this express ferry route will bring a wealth of business opportunities for the island. Hsiao Liouciou residents came out to give the first group of 149 passengers of the Butterfly Princess Ferry a grand welcoming.
Kaohsiung City Government has successfully developed The Love Harbor Ferry Pier into a visitors' hotspot. The surrounding areas have also taken on an entirely new look. With convenient parking and the Love Boat, the Tourist Ferry, The Love Harbor Ferry Pier has become the center of an intricate water and land transportation network.
Hsiao Liouciou Island is also tourists' hotspot and is the only coral island in Taiwan. Famous for its beautiful sea gardens, splendid scenery and famous spots such as Vase Rock, Beauty Cave, Lobster Cave and Black Ghost Cave, the island is spectacular. Residents of Hsiao Liuchiu depend greatly on fishing and tourism for their incomes. With direct routes from Kaohsiung, it is forecasted the tourism will increase substantially. These direct routes are all part of a "Blue Highway" project. Mayor Chen hopes these developments will be a great role model for transportation systems and improve local tourism.
The Love Harbor Ferry Pier-Hsiao Liuchiu Island ferry will run one round trip on Fridays and two over on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Monday to Thursday trips will only operate according to need and special bookings. Tickets regularly priced at 300NT (one-way) and 580NT (roundtrip) and 350NT (one-way) and 680NT (round trip) on holidays.
真愛碼頭-小琉球航線 正式啟航
◎文／江戶川 明 ◎照片提供：鮑忠暉．琉球鄉公所．海洋傳奇開發有限公司
真愛碼頭─小琉球航線正式啟航！行駛高雄至屏東小琉球的蝴蝶公主號觀光船在高屏首長及滿載賓客的見證下，於１月６日完成首航，想前往當地旅遊的民眾也有了更佳選擇，在高雄真愛碼頭就有船班搭乘。高雄市長陳菊期待，未來可以往北延伸台南、往南直達墾丁，串連南部水路。
由民間企業海洋傳奇公司經營的蝴蝶公主號觀光船，首航當天從真愛碼頭出發，經過１個多小時的乘風破浪，抵達屏東小琉球白沙漁港。預期蝴蝶公主號能為當地帶來的商機潛力，小琉球各界也在碼頭舞獅，歡迎首批滿載149人的進港遊客。
經過高雄市政府全力規劃建設，真愛碼頭已是港都熱門水岸名勝，周邊環境煥然一新，停車空間充足，也是愛河愛之船及環港觀光遊輪的轉運站，儼然成為高雄市水陸交通運輸的轉運中心。
至於小琉球，素有「海上公園」之稱，是全台唯一的珊瑚礁島嶼，鬼斧神工渾然天成，擁有花瓶岩、美人洞、龍蝦洞、烏鬼洞等天然景觀，旅遊人氣一直居高不下，當地箱網養殖興盛，飼養高經濟價值的海鱺、紅魚、黑格、紅甘及石斑等魚苗，則是漁民重要收入，也蔚為重要的觀光漁業。
蝴蝶公主號的首航對高高屏三縣市觀光旅遊產業具有正面、積極效益，代表內河（愛河）、港域（高雄港環港）、縣市間海上航線的藍色公路建置完成，可將各縣市的觀光景點串連，方便遊客一氣呵成，促進觀光旅遊產業的發展。
真愛碼頭─小琉球航線在營運後，每週五固定往返高雄、小琉球各１班，周六及週日各往返２班，週一至週四因非假日，客源較少沒有固定班次，視團體及個人訂位人數機動行駛，以現場公告為主，營運初期至97年１月31日前，促銷推廣價平常日單程300元，來回580元；假日單程350元，來回680元。
高雄市長陳菊表示，蝴蝶公主號的啟航，可望做為高屏地區發展觀光、促進地區共榮的成功案例。