Angry locals in a tiny Cornish town where second homes were banned have criticized the arrival of a massive cruise ship that increased the population by 50 percent that day.
The 58,000 tonne cruise ship Spirit of Adventure, operated by Saga Cruises, stopped in Fowey, Cornwall on Friday.
The 775-foot-long cruise ship, weighing almost 60,000 tons, is the longest and heaviest ever to dock in Fowey, according to harbormaster Paul Thomas.
He said the Spirit of Adventure’s arrival was a “big thing” for tourism in the Cornish town and surrounding areas, but her arrival would need to be carefully prepared to ensure a successful berthing.
But not everyone is happy about the massive number of ships docking at Fowey Harbour. ‘Terrible. “Shouldn’t be allowed,” said author Sasha Swire on X (formerly Twitter).
The 58,000 tonne cruise ship Spirit of Adventure, operated by Saga Cruises, stopped in Fowey, Cornwall on Friday. The deep sea port of Fowey is a popular cruise ship destination due to its strong Celtic connection, maritime history and literary involvement
The town of about 2,200 residents offers day-trippers various shops and restaurants as well as several historic buildings. The giant cruise ship Spirit of Adventure seemed out of place in the tiny town as it towered over St Fimbarrus (right), Fowey parish church and the Grade II-listed tower of Place House (left) on Friday
But not everyone is happy about the massive number of ships docking at Fowey Harbour. ‘Terrible. “Shouldn’t be allowed,” said author Sasha Swire on X (formerly Twitter). Another user added: “With water levels very low it looked way too big for Fowey.”
One user added: “With the water very low it looked way too big for Fowey,” while another said: “Amazing!” And they want to attract more of the same to Fowey!’
“That’s a lot of dirt being pumped into the atmosphere in the heart of Fowey.” “Impressive scale though,” commented a fourth.
This sentiment was shared by another resident who wrote: “How terrible.” “It’s so terrible when you realize someone has parked one of these floating apartment blocks and is blocking your view, not to mention all the pollution they emit. “
This comes after it was revealed that Fowey residents are being locked out of their homes due to the influx of second home buyers, which has driven up property prices by more than £100,000 in just a year, according to the Sunday Times.
In a referendum in 2020, residents voted to ban the sale of new homes as second homes, meaning homeowners will now have to prove the home will be used as a primary residence rather than a second home.
According to data from Cornwall Live last year, Fowey has a total of 1,461 homes, 239 of which are used as second homes.
Many second home owners also come to the city without knowing how to pronounce the name correctly – much to the dismay of local residents. The city is correctly pronounced “foy” – like “joy”.
The huge cruise ship Spirit of Adventure towered over St Fimbarrus, Fowey parish church and the Grade II listed tower of Place House.
“We are trying to attract this size of ship, which is at our limit right now, but that means we can get these passengers to visit the city and nearby destinations,” harbor master Thomas told the BBC, adding that even another pilot He traveled to Germany to use a simulator to test how the ship would dock in different weather conditions.
Ray Wrigg, head of the Polruan Coastguard Station, said the size of the ship was impressive, even hiding most of the houses opposite. “It gives you an idea of how tall the ship is.”
The deep sea port of Fowey is a popular cruise ship destination due to its strong Celtic connection, maritime history and literary involvement.
The town of about 2,200 residents offers day-trippers various shops and restaurants as well as several historic buildings.
The huge cruise ship towered over the small boats in the harbor, much to the dismay of local residents
Other residents were concerned about the fumes that the huge cruise ship was blowing into the air in Fowey
Because of its 775-foot length, the Spirit of Adventure was hard to miss as it anchored in Cornwall on Friday
This comes after it was revealed that Fowey residents are being locked out of their homes due to the influx of second home buyers, which has driven up property prices by more than £100,000 in just a year
The 775ft cruise ship, weighing almost 60,000 tonnes, is the longest and heaviest ever to dock in Fowey, according to harbor master Paul Thomas (pictured).
Ray Wrigg, head of the Polruan Coastguard Station, said the size of the ship was impressive, even hiding most of the houses opposite. “It gives you an idea of how tall the ship is.”
The Spirit of Adventure is described by operator Saga as a “boutique cruise ship”.
It features impressive, modern interiors and offers a private balcony, all-inclusive drinks and specialty dining for each guest
It features several luxurious restaurants and offers a wide range of shows, a spa and a selection of bars
Described as a “boutique cruise ship” by operator Saga, Spirit of Adventure features a stunning, modern interior and offers a private balcony for each guest, all-inclusive drinks and specialty dining. It also features several luxury restaurants and offers a wide range of shows, a spa and a selection of bars.
The outrage over the huge ship moored in the tiny Cornish town comes after the Mail discovered that hordes of selfie-obsessed tourists boarded giant cruise ships resembling the Spirit of Adventure to enjoy La Dolce Vita in the most exquisite gem the Italian Riviera, Portofino.
On a typical summer day in the Italian port city, two huge cruise ships lie on the horizon, black smoke rising from their chimneys. Together they carry more than 4,000 passengers from the USA, Great Britain and several European countries.
And thanks to a local law that allows these behemoths to anchor up to 600 meters from the sheltered bay, a flock of visitors can hop onto dinghies from the mother ship to Portofino in just minutes.
The cruise ship hordes flock to the city several mornings a week – just as other tourists are disembarking from the crowded ferries to the neighboring coastal towns of Rapallo and Santa Margherita.
Added to this is the logistical pressure of the many tender boats, around ten of which arrive and depart every hour
But visitors don’t just come by sea. At 10 a.m. the main public parking lot has already reached its capacity for 250 vehicles.
Motorists are being turned away as buses from Genoa, 22 miles away, bring their own crowds.
Cruise ships, ferries and day trippers: At 11 a.m. this small village is under siege. Hundreds of tourists come from all directions.
Portofino now finds itself in a battle between those who want to protect its charm and those who argue that everyone has the right to visit whenever they want.
As the crowds arrive, residents are forced to retreat from the chaos, while luxury vacationers retreat to their yachts and five-star hotels.
An experienced manager who works in the hotel industry in Portofino said: “We obviously want people to see Portofino.”
At 10 a.m. the main public parking lot has already reached its capacity for 250 vehicles. Motorists are being turned away as buses from Genoa, 22 miles away, bring their own crowds
Cruise ships carrying up to 3,000 passengers land in the small, picturesque town of Portofino, where they crowd the small streets and don’t spend money in the shops
The cruise ship hordes stream into the city several mornings a week – just as other tourists are disembarking from the crowded ferries in neighboring coastal towns
It’s an iconic place and everyone is welcome. But for safety reasons, with regard to crowds and to preserve the village, we should think about attracting smaller ships since it is a small place.”
The paving stones are now barely visible beneath the sandals and sneakers of the “hit and run” tourists, as the locals call them.
Holidaymakers wielding selfie sticks are ignoring signs warning that they could face a £240 fine if they are caught lingering in “no waiting” and “red zones”.
The city’s mayor, Matteo Viacava, introduced the policy earlier this year to prevent what he called “anarchic chaos” caused by tourists blocking the narrow streets as they stop to take photos for Instagram to make or shoot videos for TikTok.
The regulation states that “serious obstacles and potential dangers” must be prevented – not least on the quay, which has no safety barriers.