Guest Blog – by Karen Perrow, Manager at Dartmouth Visitor Centre
Dartmouth saw the MS Serenissima arrive on Wednesday 10th May – its first cruise ship of the season.
Cruise ship organiser Tricia Daniels and DVC manager Karen Perrow were on the town jetty to hand out discover dartmouth guides and welcome passengers ashore.
The mainly British guests were also greeted by Dartmouth Town Crier Lez Ellis and his wife Liz.
Around 100 people disembarked for organised trips to National Trust properties at Greenway and Coleton Fishacre before heading back to spend the afternoon in Dartmouth.
The handsome Noble Caledonia’s Serenissima was moored mid-river until about 6pm. The had cruise began in Lisbon and took in coastal towns and villages of historic and scenic significance.
She had sailed overnight from Roscoff in France and passengers – many whom said they were pleased to be returning to Dartmouth – were due to disembark in Portsmouth the following day.
One not so lucky passenger had to be brought ashore on a stretcher suffering with a suspected broken hip. The town’s inshore lifeboat and coastguard team attended.
The French Navy patrol vessel Pluvier will be alongside the Town Jetty this Sunday (May 14) and is open to the public between 1000 and  midday , then 1400 to 1700.
Visitors are invited to just come along – no booking is believed to be necessary.
