7 May 2024
The small port of Dartmouth, Devon, on the UK’s South West coast, experienced its busiest week on record during the first week of May. Cruise arrivals are usually spread out evenly across the summer season, but this season, the team looked after 5 ships over 8 days.
Ponant kicked off the week with a visit by Le Lyrial, followed by her sister ship, Le Boreal some 5 days later. Silversea’s newest expedition ship the Silver Endeavour made two calls into the town, whilst HX’s MS Maud, rounded off the period on 7 May.
The ships were sailing on various British Isles, Western Europe and Iceland itineraries for which Dartmouth is particularly suited, being easily reachable from other SW ports, the Channel Islands, the Scillies, as well as the southern ports of Ireland. Guests enjoyed a wide variety of tours, including Agatha Christie’s Greenway House by water, the steam train, Dartmoor, Slapton Ley nature reserve, kayaking the creeks and Sandridge Barton vineyard.
Harbour Master, Paul Britton commented: “We have enjoyed some amazing days here in the South West, and all of the guests had a great time in town or on tour. The most memorable moment was swinging the Silver Endeavour in the middle of the town on departure, with hundreds of people waving from the quay, whilst exchanging a whistling contest between the ship and a passing steam train. Definitely a uniquely Dartmouth experience”