Dartmouth is expecting 9 cruise ship visits this season.

The first is a regular visitor to Dartmouth, the Serenissima. She will moor mid-river on May 10. Exactly one-month later, the six-star Silver Wind comes into port.

Also returning to the river from 2016 are Aegean Odyssey, National Geographic Orion and the tall ship Sea Cloud ll with her 32,150 feet of sail.

The largest vessel, Regent Seven Seas Explorer, will come to Dartmouth three times. She was launched last year and boasts 375 all-suite cabins with the largest balconies on any cruise ship. At 224 metres in length, this vessel will remain out by the Castle for all 3 visits in June, July and September.

The final visitor of the season is German Hapag Lloyd’s Europa, returning to Dartmouth, in September.

A spokesperson for the DHNA said: “Dart Harbour is currently engaged in reviving the debate about how best the town can come together to support these visits. It was this co-operation that helped revive the current push as a cruise ship destination.”

“Conversation has already begun between the DHNA, the Chamber of Trade, the TIC and Town Council to understand how the town can ensure maximum benefits.”

“Co-operation of local communities like this, is common practice in most cruise ports.”

“We can learn lessons from those who have been most successful in attracting ships to their ports, if we want to see ships and their guests in Dartmouth in future years.”

“In order to judge the desired effort to attract vessels in the future, it is important for the community to understand the balance of benefits. These need to be weighed against the resource and any disadvantages of cruise ship visits to the town.”

“This year’s schedule has a reasonably wide spread of the type of vessels and therefore offers an opportunity to review future efforts in light of experience.”

Details of the current schedule of arrivals can be found on the DHNA website: www.dartharbour.org