Saga Cruises ended the 2026 cruise season in fine style for Falmouth and their guests onboard the Spirit of Adventure, when the cruise ship arrived from Portland on the Captain’s ‘Mystery’ cruise that began in Portsmouth.
As the ship docked for an overnight stay at the cruise terminal a drone light display entertained the guests.
Following a welcome by mayor Alan Jewell, the Newquay singers Oll-an Gwella sang to a packed audience in the ship’s theatre.
Posting on social media, guests waxed lyrical over the singers and their repertoire.
Excursions were laid on to visit St Ives, Pendennis Castle, National Maritime Museum Cornwall and tea tasting at Tregothnan.
Many of Saga’s guests are seasoned travellers, having taken multiple cruises on Saga ships over many years.
Spirit of Adventure has very good green credentials.
The ship is fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system and advanced exhaust gas scrubbers which reduce sulphur dioxide emissions significantly, complying with MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) legislation.
A ‘Selective Catalytic System’ coupled to the ship’s propulsion system further reduces emissions by breaking down the nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and water.
Falmouth Lifeboat Decibel Too launched on exercise during the cruise call under the command of Deputy Coxswain Joe Sibley.
This exercise was a joint exercise with Spirit of Adventure’s crew.
The exercise allowed the lifeboat crew to train alongside the Saga team in embarkation and disembarkation via the pilot ladder, casualty care and casualty transfer.
It also allowed Falmouth Lifeboat medical advisor Dr Rachel Wilson to meet and chat to the ship’s medical team and discuss casualty management and transfer.
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The following day Captain Tanner and some of the ship’s officers visited the station and met Station Coxswain Luke Wills, Deputy Coxswain Elliot Holman and Deputy Mechanic Andy Edwards and toured the station, boats and equipment.
Coxswain Luke Wills said: “Training like this is really important for us to be ready if and when we are needed to support casualty transfers.
"We have undertaken a number of transfers from cruise ships before and it's important we allow our teams to train for them as and when we can.
"Massive thank you to Saga Cruises and Balaena Famouth for facilitating the exercise and to Captain Tanner and his crew for their warm welcome and engagement during the training.”
The 25-day-long Mystery Cruise was kept confidential in port circles for over a year so as to not spoil the impending cruise.
Captain Tanner designed the itinerary and to date the passengers have been kept in the dark as to the ports to be visited.
Captain Tanner gives some small clues as to the next port where the ship may be heading and has dropped a few red herrings to make guests become cruise detectives.
From Falmouth the ship docked in the small Galician fishing port of Marin on Spain’s north west coast making Spirit of Adventure the first cruise ship to visit the port.
Tugs with fire monitors working welcomed the ship, along with port dignitaries.
I expect this will feature on other Saga Cruises in the future.
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