After a huge cruise ship with up to 1,500 passengers stopped in their charming town, dwarfing the small village and nearly doubling its population, Cornish residents are furious.
Following the arrival of the 58,000-ton Spirit of Adventure ship at the harbour on Friday, Fowey residents once again had to deal with an enormous rush of tourists this week.
Saga Cruises’ ship, flying the British flag, can accommodate up to 987 passengers and over 500 staff members, all of whom arrive at the peaceful coastal village with a population of about 2,240.
The 774-foot ship, which has an alfresco lido, a theatre, and a spa, arrived early on Friday morning and unloaded its human cargo before guests returned in time for it to set sail once more in the early evening.
Twenty cruise ships are expected to stop between April and September, making it the fourth time this year that a massive ship has blotted out the skyline for locals.
The World Navigator, carrying 650 passengers, will take its turn on Saturday.
Every year, the enormous liners cause division among the people and lead to charges of “over-tourism,” which leaves the small village overrun with tourists and unable to handle the influx.
For those who have lived there their entire lives, many detest the ships’ presence in the port, claiming it destroys both the land and the sea.
Following the arrival of the 58,000-ton Spirit of Adventure ship at the harbour on Friday, Fowey residents once more had to deal with an enormous rush of tourists this week.
Twenty cruise ships are planned to visit between April and September, making it the fourth time this year that a massive ship has blotted out the skyline for locals.
Others, however, draw attention to the commerce that the passengers bring to the community, which helps to sustain the local economy all season long.
One homeowner said, “I’m glad this never happened when I was at school there, detracts from the beauty of Fowey… what an eye sore,” in response to the Spirit of Adventure’s arrival on Friday.
“What a horrible sight despoiling both land and sea,” said a second.
A third merely referred to the ship as a “hideous monster,” and another joked that it appeared as though someone had “built a block of holiday flats in the middle of Fowey Harbour.”
Others expressed dissatisfaction over a temporary market that prevented people from using the disabled parking bays: “And once again, there has been complete disregard for the disabled parking bays.” It is truly inadequate and ought not to occur.
Fowey hosts an artisan fair for tourists on Albert Quay to coincide with the arrival of numerous ships.
Supporters claim that this chance for local enterprises and the commerce that cruise visitors bring to the larger town give the area with a crucial financial lifeline.
Cruise ship tourism was predicted to contribute £5 million to the Cornwall economy annually in 2018; this amount is probably much higher now.
Every year, the big liners cause division among the people and are accused of “over-tourism,” which leaves the small village overrun with tourists and unable to handle it.
On Friday, the ship made its fourth such arrival of the year, towering over the small town.
Approximately 75,500 people will be transported by more than 60 ships that are scheduled to visit the area, including Fowey and Falmouth.
In response to detractors, one local claimed that the ships “don’t stay long and bring good business.”
“Hope that they enjoy their visit to such a wonderful place,” said a second.
The Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature is another event that visitors may enjoy this week. This year’s lineup includes author and broadcaster Fern Britton as well as royal biographer Andrew Lownie.
Fowey has been one of Cornwall’s most popular tourist destinations for decades, with the ancient town dating back at least to the Middle Ages.
Its harbour has always been a source of trade that supported the survival of local people, although the rise of other towns such as Plymouth meant its fortunes began to dip by the 1800s.
The harbour is now mostly used for cruise ship docking and year-round local ferry services across the estuary rather than for trade.
Fowey won the title of cruise “destination of the year” at the Seatrade Cruise Awards in 2024, defeating competitors from Dubai and Kingston, Canada.
Fowey Harbour’s Head of Cruise, Kate O’Hara, said at the time: ‘I am so delighted to have accepted this prestigious award on behalf of the destination and the Fowey Harbour team.
“It is fantastic that the teamwork that has been done to give cruise passengers a warm welcome to our stunning destination has been acknowledged.”
