The Port of Truro marked a significant milestone by welcoming its first-ever cruise ship to the River Fal on Friday 2nd October.
The expedition cruise vessel National Geographic Endurance arrived in the upper reaches of the Fal this morning, holding position near Trelissick where guests were able to experience one of Cornwall’s most spectacular riverside landscapes. The vessel later continued to Falmouth as part of its visit to Cornwall. Named in honour of the legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his famous ship Endurance, the state-of-the-art expedition vessel is designed to carry up to 138 guests on voyages to some of the world’s most remote destinations. The ship previously visited Penzance Harbour earlier this year, making this its second call to a Cornwall Harbour in 2026.
Christopher Jones, Maritime Manager for Cornwall Harbours, said:
“We are delighted to welcome National Geographic Endurance to the Port of Truro. This is a historic occasion for the port and demonstrates the growing interest in Cornwall’s harbours as destinations for high-quality expedition cruise tourism. The River Fal offers a unique visitor experience, combining outstanding natural beauty and rich maritime heritage. We are pleased to have worked with our partners to facilitate this visit and showcase the very best that Cornwall has to offer.
We hope this successful call will help pave the way for further opportunities to welcome appropriate cruise vessels to the upper Fal in the future.”
The visit involved close collaboration between Cornwall Council Harbours Board , National Trust Trelissick, Balaena (Falmouth Dock), Falmouth Harbour, Denholm Port Services and other local partners to provide guests with access to the river, woodland and gardens surrounding Trelissick before continuing their voyage.
Her visit was the first ever of a cruise ship in service; the River Fal being more familiar to such vessels in lay up such as the SS Windsor Castle and SS Uganda. The port hopes to welcome further cruise vessels in the future.
