With Dartmouth being billed as ‘England’s Fjord’ it’s no wonder that cruise ship operators are putting the River Dart on their port-of-call schedules.
Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority has welcomed six cruise ships in 2026 – starting with the inaugural visit from ‘MS Hamburg’ in April.
Built in the MTW Wismar German shipyard and renovated in 2020, the 144m ship boasts cabins with infinity windows, various restaurants, wine bar and Palm Garden. ‘MS Hamburg’, as with many cruise ships today, has a strict adherence to environmental policies – there is waste incineration, bio-sewage treatment and an osmosis plant on board and all cleaning and care products used on board are biodegradable.
There is also a stipulation that only low-sulphur marine gas oil is used during operations.
Second to grace the port in May was ‘Le Bellot’, the 131m luxury expedition cruise ship. Run by Ponant, and with 134 passengers on board, she glided into the river early in the morning – her silence testament to her hydrodynamic design and the diesel engine which is assisted by electric turbines. ‘Le Bellot’ has a very special feature on board – located below the waterline of the ship, the Blue Eye is an innovative underwater lounge, which gave the passengers a sneak peek under the waterline of the River Dart!
With underwater sensors, anchorless electronic positioning system, ballast water and grey water treatment, reduced noise and vibrations, there is an obvious respect for the environment, which is always welcomed by the Harbour Authority.
May also saw the 156m Silversea expedition cruise ship ‘Silver Wind’ enter the harbour, accompanied by the ‘Lady Sarah’ tug. She underwent renovations in November 2021, benefitting from a strengthened ice-class hull which made her one of the most adaptable ships in their fleet.
Her passengers disembarked using their own Zodiacs, utilising the new Dart Harbour tender landing – the floating pontoon supplements the main tender pontoon and is located in the heart of Dartmouth, offering a journey of under one minute from ships moored on the river’s mainstream buoy moorings to the town’s facilities. Designed to accommodate Zodiac-type tenders and enhance accessibility for passengers, it is ISPS certified and equipped with a hoist for passengers with disabilities, as well as storage space for lifejackets.
Paul Britton, Harbour Master at Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority, said, “With expedition ships becoming increasingly regular visitors to Dartmouth, we are very pleased to be able to open this new facility to allow their passengers an even easier gateway to visit our town, and explore the outstanding natural beauty of the surrounding area.”
‘MS Europa’ was the only ship of 2026 to anchor offshore, due to tidal conditions. Visiting in July, the 5‑star luxury cruise ship is operated by Hapag‑Lloyd Cruises and carries a maximum of 400 passengers, ensuring impeccable service and elegant luxury. Due to her position just outside the castles, the tender ride in to town provided the most wonderful scenic experience, with passenger feedback including ‘what a wonderful little trip!’ and ‘such a pretty ride!’.
‘MS Deutschland’ visited the harbour in August – sailing at 175.30m she was built in Kiel in 1998 and designed in the architectural styles of Classicism, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. She brought a touch of Olympics history with her – she was used as an entertainment ship in Sydney, Australia, for the 2000 Summer Olympics and then she was tasked as a hospitality ship for the German Olympic Committee at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The last visit of the year in September was a very special one, with heritage ship ‘Nordstjernen’ (pictured) moored in the harbour to celebrate her 70th birthday! Translating to The North Star, she was built in 1956 at the renowned Hamburg shipyard Blohm & Voss and ,for 56 years, she sailed the Norwegian coast, operating as a post office for small towns before the development of the road and rail networks.
She was extensively renovated and restored in 2012 after being sold to the Norwegian shipping company Vestland Classic, after receiving the Highest Norwegian Authority for the Protection of Historical Monuments – the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage protected her as an outstanding example of 1950s ship design.
There are many original decorations on board designed by Paul René Gauguin, grandson of Paul Gauguin, including wall-mounted wood engravings, glass inlays and ceramics in the lounge, stair tower, dining room and bar.
Margit Distler, Cruise Director on ‘Nordstjernen’, said: “Including the communication beforehand, from emails and conversations, from the very first moment I thought ‘this is our port’. Paul was so enthusiastic about our visit and it makes us feel so welcome. It was perfectly organised.
“The location, the approach and the landscape is all perfect, and we fit perfectly! We belong to this port in this position! We will come back!”
Every visit by a ship into Dartmouth is a stunning spectacle – watching the vessels round the bend past the Castle and enter the harbour, expertly guided by the River Team and maritime pilot, is always an impressive sight. Each cruise call brought a vibrancy to the town, with passengers disembarking to explore all that Dartmouth and the local area has to offer.
Paul Britton concluded: “We always love welcoming every cruise call into Dartmouth – it’s a pleasure to showcase what our area can offer in terms of location, excursions and activities.
“Ships moored up on our Mainstream Buoys gives such a wonderful focal point for the river and suits every vessel, from expedition and luxury cruise ships to historic heritage vessels and we look forward to giving both returning and new ships a very warm Dartmouth welcome in the future!”
