[1][2] The passenger boats of the SNL principally provide services for tourist purposes, but they also connect Lugano with other lake-side communities, in both Switzerland and Italy, some of which have no road access.

Although both ends of this link were in Italy, the company was created with Swiss finance, and registered in Lugano.

[4] The outbreak of World War I lead to a considerable loss of traffic and financial problems, and the SNF decided to sell its railways and concentrate on operating its steamboat services on Lake Lugano.

After the sale, the company changed its name to the Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano.

[1][10] The Ticino, a near sister ship to the Lugano and Italia, now serves as the Lord Nelson Pub, permanently moored on the lake in Porto Ceresio.