Falmouth has been chosen as first port of call for the maiden voyage of the brand new cruise ship Viking Venus which arrives today (Wednesday) for a cruise call.

In doing so Viking Cruises becomes one of the first companies to resume passenger operations round the UK, and marks Falmouth's first cruise ship visit of the season. 

Drystan Jones, director of port development in Falmouth and general manager of Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company, part of the A&P Group, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming cruise business back to Cornwall, and Falmouth in particular, after 20 months.

“It is a privilege to be welcoming Viking Venus on her maiden call and we will look forward to six further visits by the ship in May and June.

“As Covid-19 restrictions are eased further, the vaccine roll-out continues apace and with the strict protocols in place on board cruise liners, Falmouth can look forward to welcoming more cruise ships and passengers throughout the 2021 cruise season.

“A&P recognises that the cruise industry is important to Falmouth and the wider south west economy and we will provide a first class welcome and an excellent visor experience for passengers and crew.”

The ship sailed from Portsmouth on Monday evening with a number of invited guests including the ship’s 'godmother', acclaimed journalist Anne Diamond, who named the ship in mid-Channel.

In keeping with the naming custom, Anne assisted in breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit on the ship's hull – using an historic Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that symbolically held the bottle in place.

This Saturday guests will embark Viking Venus in Portsmouth for the first of five round-trip sailings of the 'England's Scenic Shores' itinerary in May and June. Part of Viking's “Welcome Back” collection, the eight-day voyages also call in Liverpool, the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth and Portland.

Anne Diamond will also join guests for the first three sailings of England's Scenic Shores and will serve as a guest lecturer with her presentation about the untold story of British radar inventors, including her father, during World War II.

Under stage three of the four-stage government road map to lift restrictions, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the green light for cruising to resume came this week, with passenger numbers limited to 1,000 passengers or 50% of the ship’s capacity on smaller vessels.

The 47,800 ton Viking Venus is expected off the pilot station at 6.30am to berth alongside North Queen’s wharf at 8am. The 745 feet long ship built in Italy is equipped to carry 930 guests, however government restrictions will see this number reduced.

The safety of passengers and crew onboard ships is of paramount importance to Viking, who say: “Those who sail these new voyages will also experience Viking’s industry-leading health and safety programme. Grounded in scientific research, the Viking Health and Safety Programme was developed in partnership with an international team of medical advisors, including Raquel C Bono, MD, Viking’s chief health officer.

"Dr Bono is a board-certified trauma surgeon and retired vice admiral of the United States Navy Medical Corps – and most recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Utilising a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean ship, all guests and crew will receive daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms.

"Additional health checks, sanitisation and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey."

The company was founded in 1997 with a number of river cruise ships and has favoured Falmouth since 2015 when the luxury ocean-going cruiseships came into service.

Viking Cruises is ahead of the game, with P&O due to start in June with the Britannia and the new ship Iona, doing short scenic cruises of the Dorset Jurassic coast and Cornish coast.

Cunard is starting its UK cruise programme in July with just one ship, the Queen Elizabeth, making 13 short cruises.

I was amused reading details of the "Sun Voyages" seven nights at sea cruise. Cunard say: “Enjoy the perfect summertime escape and seven uninterrupted sea days to indulge on board Queen Elizabeth as your captain sets a course that goes wherever the sun shines brightest each day of your voyage.”

The Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 will resume cruising later this year.