Plymouth Cruise Season Draws 11,000 Visitors and 38 Future Enquiries
First-time callers during the season included Ritz-Carlton's Evrima and P&O Cruises' Aurora, while SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream II arrived in September.
Phoenix Reisen’s Amera departed Plymouth Sound on October 20, closing a season that brought more than 20 calls by cruise ships, superyachts and tall ships to Cattewater Harbour Plymouth. Approximately 11,000 guests came ashore through the accessible Barbican Landing Stage.
The harbour’s cruise pipeline includes 38 call enquiries across 2027 and 2028, many of them already confirmed, plus a further 10 listed for 2029. Cattewater Harbour expects additional enquiries in the coming months.
The season included first visits by Ritz-Carlton’s Evrima and P&O Cruises’ Aurora. SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream II also made its inaugural call in September.
Evie Smith, cruise business development lead for Cattewater Harbour, presented the city’s three-year cruise outlook at a cream-tea gathering held to close the season. Those attending included volunteers, the council’s deputy leader and representatives of Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership.
Cattewater handles its cruise passengers mainly by tender. Ships anchor inside Plymouth Sound, sheltered by Plymouth Breakwater, and the transfer to the landing stage takes approximately eight minutes. Passengers arrive close to the Mayflower Steps and the historic Barbican’s cafés and shops. The city centre is also close, and coach parking can be arranged nearby.
Smith also outlined how the harbour keeps in contact with the cruise industry. Plymouth hosted a familiarisation trip earlier in the year and welcomed the Cruise Britain Summer Event in June.
Smith’s update also covered public-realm improvements at Commercial Wharf intended to give visitors a better welcome.
