CRUISE ENGLISH RIVIERA
Cruise Tourism is a designated target market in the ERBID2 Business Plan, with an aim of attracting more international visitors to the resort. In 2023, a new brand Cruise English Riviera was launched and a cruise specialist was appointed to help us make quality introductions to cruise companies around the world, including at Seatrade Europe in September 2023. The English Riviera has the potential to be an exceptional port of call for both domestic and global cruises. The English Riviera Visitor Information Centre, working closely with Tor Bay Harbour Authority, provides a 'meet and greet' service at the quay as guests come ashore, offering maps, advice and a warm welcome to the English Riviera.
Torquay Harbour can provide experienced piloting, tender operations and safe and sheltered anchorage for cruise ships of all sizes. Five to eight cruise ships typically call each year and are promoted on the ERBID What’s On Calendar.
Cruise passengers can disembark with direct access to the town centre, palm-lined sea front promenade, visitor information, local guides, shops, cafes, restaurants and bars, which are actively promoted to cruise passengers by the welcoming ERBID team. Guided excursion highlights include Greenway, the holiday home of Agatha Christie; Kents Cavern, a UNESCO global geopark site; the Paignton to Dartmouth steam train; Cockington Craft Village; Torre Abbey Gardens; and Babbacombe Model Village. Being the birthplace of Agatha Christie is a great USP to attract more international visitors. Our aim is to make shore excursion planning as easy as possible for the Cruise Companies and encourage them to include as many local attractions as possible.
The ERBID Company work in partnership with Tor Bay Harbour Authority and Cruise Britain to raise the profile of the English Riviera and the cruise ship facilities available in Tor Bay Harbour and work to get Torquay included on more Cruise Companies itineraries. Cruise lines around the world are constantly looking for new and exciting ports and destinations to include on itineraries to entice new and existing passengers / guests to cruise with them.