Furious Cornish locals have hit out at the ‘disgustingly’ massive cruise ships they say are over-running their idyllic seaside town with tourists – branding them ‘horrible’ and ‘an eyesore’.
Residents of Fowey, a picturesque harbour town in Cornwall with a population of just 2240, were left fuming this week after the colossal Amera cruise ship docked in their tiny port.
Dramatic photos show the 40,000-ton, 673ft-long vessel towering over the quaint town’s skyline on Monday, sparking fresh concerns over what locals have called ‘over-tourism’.
The German-owned liner, which can accommodate up to 835 passengers across nine decks – supported by a crew of 449 – boasts a string of luxury amenities including four restaurants, two bars, a sauna, gym, swimming pool, casino, and even a theatre.
With Fowey’s modest population of 2240, the cruise passengers alone boost the town’s numbers by more than a third in a single day – and that’s not even counting the crew.
But while some welcome the boost in trade from visiting cruise-goers, many locals say the small town is being swamped by crowds.
One woman didn’t mince her words, describing the cruise ships as ‘horrible things’, while another simply remarked: ‘Oh dear.’
A third local blasted the vessels, saying: ‘Horrible, I really love Fowey but the ships are disgusting.’
Residents of Fowey, a picturesque harbour town in Cornwall with a population of just 2240, were left fuming this week after the colossal Amera cruise ship docked in their tiny port
The German-owned liner, which can accommodate up to 835 passengers across nine decks – supported by a crew of 449
The enormous cruise ship Amera dominates the small coastal town of Fowey in Cornwall
Fowey town centre in August 2020. Fowey’s deep-water port has long been a draw for cruise ships thanks to its rich Celtic connections, maritime history, and literary ties
Another added: ‘I’m amazed at everyone’s reactions. Is that what you all want, Fowey to be overrun with tourists as it soon will…’
One local labelled the Amera a blot on the landscape: ‘Nice but would be a lot better without the eyesore.’
Despite the backlash, supporters argue the visitors bring a vital financial lifeline to the region.
In fact, cruise tourism is expected to inject up to £5 million into the Cornish economy this year alone.
More than 60 cruise ship visits are already scheduled across Cornwall’s ports – mainly Fowey and Falmouth – between April and October 2025, bringing an estimated 75,500 passengers to the area.
One resident hit back at the critics, saying: ‘Cruise passengers stay for a few hours at most. Vast majority go on coach trips around Cornwall.
In 2023, the massive cruise ship Spirit of Adventure looked out of place in the tiny town as it towered over St Fimbarrus (right), Fowey’s parish church, and Place House’s grade I listed tower (left)
Locals were furious about another massive ship docking at Fowey Harbour in 2023
The town offers a range of independent shops, eateries, and historic landmarks for day trippers. Pictured: Fowey in August 2020
Visitors at town quay in beautiful Cornish harbour town Fowey in South Cornwall
‘They bring in a lot of income to the local economy. Much better than the second home owners who dominate Fowey in the summer.’
Another agreed, adding: ‘There were lots of coaches heading back from Heligan or Eden. It brings income to the area.’
Fowey’s deep-water port has long been a draw for cruise ships thanks to its rich Celtic connections, maritime history, and literary ties – with the town offering a range of independent shops, eateries, and historic landmarks for day trippers.
The wider Cornwall region continues to attract the rich and famous, including celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who bought a seaside property in Rock for a whopping £4.4million back in 2015.
In comes after similar grievances were aired in 2023 when the 58,000-ton Spirit of Adventure stopped in Fowey.
Residents said that the ship’s visit was ‘awful’ and ‘shouldn’t be allowed’ claiming that the fumes being pumped into the air by the Spirit of Adventure had affected air quality in the coastal town.
