The 2023 cruise season started off in fine form with the arrival over Easter of the cruise ships Balmoral and Viking Jupiter.

Balmoral was on her five day ‘Easter on the River Seine’ cruise from Southampton to Rouen, Falmouth and return to Southampton, and Viking Jupiter arriving from Leixoes on Viking Ocean Cruises popular ‘Bergen to Barcelona cruise’ - both on Easter Monday.

Phil Body, chair of the Falmouth Ambassadors, a group of dedicated volunteers who meet and greet passengers from every ship, said: “We had 15 ambassadors on the morning shift and seven in the afternoon.

"Balmoral was carrying 1,019 passenger, with Viking Jupiter 837.”

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Excursions to various locations in south west Cornwall saw six coaches assigned to Balmoral with a further 16 coaches to Viking Jupiter. Viking Ocean Cruises lay on a local tour which is included in the cruise price for every port call.

During the 10.5 hours both ships were in port the Falmouth Ambassadors clocked up 1,300 plus passengers opting to visit the town which was buzzing all day.

Phil said: “We had some incredibly favourable feedback from passengers not only for the town but for us the cruise ship ambassadors.”

The next batch of ships is due in May when the Spirit of Discovery (May 4) , Deutschland (May 11), Renaissance (May 16), Artania (May 23), AIDAaura (May 29) and Balmoral (May 29) are scheduled to call.

Booking for berths are coming in slowly for 2024 and 2025.

The 2024 season will see Viking Ocean Cruises ships Viking Saturn, Viking Mars, Viking Sky and Viking Star calling, along with numerous calls by Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess and Island Princess.