Cruise ships coming to Cornwall in 2024 bringing 65,000 tourists

Cruise ships are set to visit Cornwall more than 60 times in 2024, according to harbour schedules that have recently been published. From some of the largest cruise liners in the world, to smaller, luxurious vessels, the main ports of Falmouth and Fowey will be kept busy from April till October, with at least four cruise ship visits to Penzance scheduled as well.

An estimated 65,000 passengers will arrive in Cornwall on cruise ships this year, with one massive liner responsible for 10,000 of those. One of the largest cruise ships in the world, the 181,000 tonne MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to visit Falmouth twice in 2024, bringing around 5,000 passengers each time.

It has been estimated that each passenger arriving on a cruise ship spends an average of £70 in Cornwall. This means that cruise tourism could bring an extra £4-5million to the Cornish economy in 2024.

One cruise ship that is likely to become a familiar sight this year is Ambassador Cruise Line’s new ‘premium value’ ship Ambition, which began British Isle Discovery round trips from Falmouth last year, marking the return of cruises from the town for the first time in seven years. Ambition is due to visit the harbour no less than nine times this year.

As well as the huge cruise ships that will dwarf their Cornish surroundings, the Duchy will also be visited by some much smaller, but no-less interesting vessels, such as Polar expedition ships SH Vega and the National Geographic Explorer. The eye-catching ‘ultra-luxury’ Scenic Eclipse will also be making a return to Fowey in the summer.

Here is the full list of cruise ships scheduled to visit Cornwall in 2024:

Friday, April 5, 2024: Ambition – arriving 2pm in Falmouth, departing 1.20am (April 6), with around 1,250 passengers.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024: Viking Saturn – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 900 passengers.

Sunday, April 14, 2024: Ambition – arriving 11.30am in Falmouth, departing 8pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024: NG Explorer – arriving in Penzance for day visit, times TBC, with around 150 passengers.

Friday, April 26, 2024: Ambition – arriving 9.45am in Falmouth, departing 4.30pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Ambassador Cruise Line’s new ‘premium value’ cruise ship Ambition is welcomed into Falmouth harbour on Wednesday, September 6, where awaiting passengers will board for for the ship’s inaugural cruise leaving from the port. It marks the return of cruises leaving from Falmouth for the first time in seven years.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024: Le Lyrial – arriving 7.30am in Fowey, departing 6pm, with around 244 passengers.

Friday, May 3, 2024: Ambition – arriving 12 noon in Falmouth, departing 00.15am (May 4), with around 1,250 passengers.

Sunday, May 5, 2024: Le Boréal – arriving 7.30am in Fowey, departing 6pm, with around 264 passengers.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024: Deutschland – arriving 9am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 500 passengers.

Friday, May 10, 2024: Hebridean Sky – arriving 7.30am in Fowey, departing 5.30pm, with around 118 passengers.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024: Ambition – arriving 12 noon in Falmouth, departing 7.30pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Thursday, May 16, 2024: Caribbean Princess – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Saturday, May 18, 2024: Viking Mars – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 900 passengers.

Two cruise ships docked in Falmouth on Tuesday, June 13 – Viking Mars and The World.

Monday, May 20, 2024: Viking Star – arriving 6.30am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 900 passengers.

Tuesday, May 21, 2024: Spirit of Adventure – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 900 passengers.

With 900 passengers onboard, 60,000 tonne cruise ship Spirit of Adventure makes an unscheduled stop in Falmouth on Wednesday, November 1, to seek shelter from Storm Ciarán whilst en route from Portsmouth to Madeira as part of its ‘Sunshine in the Canaries’ cruise.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Zuiderdam – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 2,000 passengers.

Friday, May 24, 2024: Ambition – arriving 9am in Falmouth, departing 7pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Saturday, May 25, 2024: SH Vega – arriving 7am in Fowey, departing 7pm, with around 152 passengers.

Sunday, May 26, 2024: Hebridean Sky – arriving 8am in Fowey, departing 8pm, with around 118 passengers.

Friday, May 31, 2024: MSC Virtuosa – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 7pm, with around 5000 passengers.

Monday, June 3, 2024: Ambition – arriving 3.20am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Monday, June 3, 2024: Scenic Eclipse – arriving 7am in Fowey, departing 11pm, with around 228 passengers.

‘Ultra-luxury’ 6-star cruise ship Scenic Eclipse, which carries 228 passengers, arrives in Fowey on the morning of Thursday, June 23.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024: Spirit of Discovery – arriving 7.30am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 900 passengers.

Sunday, June 9, 2024: Ambition – arriving 8.45am in Falmouth, departing 7pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Sunday, June 9, 2024: Le Dumont D’Urville – arriving in Penzance for day visit, times TBC, with around 180 passengers.

The brand new cruise ship Le Dumont D’Urville visits Penzance.

Wednesday, June 12, 2024: Sirena – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 750 passengers.

Thursday, June 13, 2024: Star Legend – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 10am, with around 340 passengers.

Monday, June 17, 2024: MS Hamburg – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 11pm, with around 400 passengers.

Tuesday, June 18, 2024: Spirit of Adventure – arriving 8am in Fowey, departing 5pm, with around 987 passengers.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024: NG Explorer – arriving 7.30am in Fowey, departing 1pm, with around 148 passengers.

Friday, June 21, 2024: NG Explorer – arriving 1pm in Fowey, departing 7pm, with around 148 passengers.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024: Balmoral – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6.40pm, with around 1,300 passengers.

Falmouth is visited by two cruise ships on Monday, May 29th. The AIDAaura, which arrived first thing in the morning bringing 1250 passengers, and Balmoral, which followed at midday, bringing 1350 passengers.

Sunday, July 7, 2024: Spirit of Discovery – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 900 passengers.

Monday, July 8, 2024: MS Hamburg – arriving 7.30am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 400 passengers.

Sunday, July 14, 2024: Caribbean Princess – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024: Seabourn Quest – arriving in Penzance for day visit, times TBC, with around 450 passengers.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024: Island Princess – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 2,000 passengers.

Sunday, July 21, 2024: Europa – arriving in Penzance for day visit, times TBC, with around 400 passengers.

The Saga cruise ship Spirit of Discovery visits Falmouth for the first time on Thursday July 1. At 236m in length, Spirit of Discovery is understood to be the longest ship to ever dock at County Wharf.

Monday, July 29, 2024: Caribbean Princess – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024: Ambition – arriving 11.40am in Falmouth, departing 11.20pm, with around 1,250 passengers.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024: NG Explorer – arriving 7am in Fowey, departing 10pm, with around 148 passengers.

Sunday, August 4, 2024: Seven Seas Navigator – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 550 passengers.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024: Caribbean Princess – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Thursday, August 15, 2024: Spirit of Adventure – arriving 5.30am in Falmouth, departing 5.15pm, with around 900 passengers.

Saturday, August 17, 2024: Vasco da Gama – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 8pm, with around 1,000 passengers.

Huge cruise ship Vasco da Gama visits Fowey on Tuesday, September 26, bringing 1,250 passengers to the small harbour town ahead of Storm Agnes.

Sunday, August 18, 2024: Regal Princess – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Thursday, August 22, 2024: Europa – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 400 passengers.

Thursday, August 22, 2024: Seven Seas Splendour – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 5.45pm, with around 750 passengers.

Monday, August 26, 2024: Amadea – arriving 10am in Fowey, departing 6pm, with around 624 passengers.

Cruise ship MS Amadea comes into Falmouth harbour for the day.

Friday, August 30, 2024: Caribbean Princess – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 3,000 passengers.

Friday, August 30, 2024: Waverley – arriving 2pm in Fowey, departing 3.30pm.

Saturday, September 7, 2024: Viking Saturn – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 900 passengers.

Sunday, September 8, 2024: Amadea – arriving 9am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 550 passengers.

Monday, September 16, 2024: Viking Sky – arriving 7.30am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 900 passengers.

Monday, September 23, 2024: Viking Venus – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6.55pm, with around 900 passengers.

Cruise ship passengers return to Falmouth for the first time since the Covid pandemic began as the brand new Viking Venus stops at the Cornish harbour on Wednesday, May 26, as part of her maiden voyage.

Sunday, September 29, 2024: World Voyager – arriving 8am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 200 passengers.

Thursday, October 3, 2024: Seven Seas Splendour – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 5pm, with around 750 passengers.

Thursday, October 10, 2024: MS Hamburg – arriving 7.30am in Falmouth, departing 4pm, with around 400 passengers.

Monday, October 21, 2024: MS Hamburg – arriving 12.30am in Falmouth, departing 6.30pm, with around 400 passengers.

Thursday, October 24, 2024: MSC Virtuosa – arriving 7am in Falmouth, departing 7pm, with around 5,000 passengers.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024: Sirena – arriving 7.30am in Falmouth, departing 6pm, with around 750 passengers.

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