Isles of Scilly just broke its OWN cruise record…
Britain’s smallest inhabited islands just had a near-impossible season!
The Isles of Scilly’s 2026 cruise season has ended with a 100% success rate.
This means that out of 46 cruise ship calls, 46 managed to dock. Around 19,000 passengers ferried ashore and there were zero cancellations due to weather!
For an archipelago with no deep-water harbour, where every visitor has to be tendered ashore by small boat, this is pretty impressive!
This is VERY rare!
Most small-boat cruise ports lose calls to bad weather most seasons. Swell and wind can make tendering passengers ashore too risky which can force captains to skip the stop altogether.
The Isles of Scilly’s advantage is having two dedicated anchorages, which gives ships shelter options depending on which way the wind is blowing. It’s backed by local tender boats built to operate in demanding conditions.
Tom Jackman, managing director of Scillonian Marine Consultants, said cruise captains and operators are increasingly getting in touch with port agency providers before making a cancellation call, seeking advice based on real-time weather conditions. Oftentimes, locals know better than forecasters based elsewhere!
Season highlights
September brought two maiden calls to Scilly on the same day: SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream II and Vestland Classic’s Nordstjernen. The latter marked a 70th-anniversary voyage for the vessel.
The season came to a close on 15 September 2026, with Fred Olsen’s Bolette the final ship of the year to call at the islands!
What’s next
SeaDream I has already booked a return visit for September 2027. With this season’s record behind them, the islands are aiming to attract more luxury vessel visits and establish themselves as a premier UK cruise destination!
