Falmouth and indeed Cornwall had a big thumbs up from many of the 1,800 mainly American passengers that came ashore from the large resort cruiseship Constellation on Monday when she anchored off the port for a day long cruise call after arriving from Dublin.

Pilot Captain Dave Pickston anchored the 90,000 ton Constellation as close to the port as safely possible to reduce the distance tenders had to steam to the docks to disembark the passengers.

County wharf acted as a coach terminus with 20 coaches requisitioned from all over the county to take passengers to Pencarrow House (1 coach) Lands End via St Ives (3) Polperro (2) Lanhydrock House (1) a Coastal Trek and Pub (1) a Cornwall drive and Lands End (3) St Michaels Mount (2) Fowey (2) and St Mawes (5). Two boat trips went direct from the ship, one to Trelissick and the other to St Mawes with another 50 passengers.

Constellation's master Captain Ioannis Papanikolaou, who has worked for Celebrity Cruises for 40 years, welcomed me aboard for the outward sailing. On the bridge I was introduced to Captain Nikolaus Soulias, a retired Celebrity master, who was captain when Ioannis was his young third officer.

Making his 47th cruise with Celebrity was American businessman and television host Chris Nahatis and his charming daughter Johanna who live in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Chris, who has been married over 60 years, told me that he has sailed with Ioannis many times. "With Celebrity Cruises you get brilliant food, courteous staff and a terrific onboard experience.

"My family had a marvellous day today. Falmouth, Truro and St Mawes are delightful. The English countryside is so beautiful, so green, the gardens are amazing and the people so friendly. I would recommend all my friends to visit Cornwall and Falmouth harbour.

"In down-town St Mawes we enjoyed a pint of Guinness and fish and chips at the Rising Sun pub," said Chris, who is president of Saladmaster Inc, a company specialising in kitchen utensils.

Spreading across Constellation's foyer is a conservatory in a glass house with a unique botanical environment with flowers, plants, trees, mini gardens and fountains. The ship boasts a 1,300 square metres shopping arcade with brand names Versace and Hugo Boss. Glass sided lifts transport passengers through 11 decks.

The 1,198 seat San Marco restaurant is a two deck high formal restaurant with a grand staircase connecting the two levels. Forward is the 900 seat theatre on three decks.

Constellation sailed for Le Havre and Southampton before beginning her European cruise season, which in 2008, Celebrity Cruises is spearheading with five ships.