England Traveller

P&O Cruises now offer a selection of cruises that include the city of Falmouth in England as a Port-of-Call.

To describe Falmouth as picturesque would be an understatement. Its natural harbour, the third largest deep-water harbour in the world, makes it a real draw for sailing enthusiasts. The town’s heart lies just off the waterfront, where you’ll find a charming mix of shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. Great for indulging in the local specialities of freshly caught seafood and the delights of Cornish cream teas.

Of course, Falmouth is really famous for its beautiful sandy beaches. Along the coastline, and within easy walking distance of the town, you’ll discover clear waters, long stretches of beach and secluded sheltered coves – all perfect for swimming or just having fun. With the National Maritime Museum, art galleries and gardens, together with the nearby castles of Pendennis and St Mawes (built by Henry VIII), you’re sure to find plenty to do in this relaxing seaside town.

A full list of the P&O cruises that feature Falmouth as a Port of Call can be found here:

Falmouth Cruises from P&O Cruises

P&O Falmouth Cruises also feature a fantastic selection of shore excursions. We’ve listed a few of the most popular excursions below. Please check the P&O Falmouth Excursions page for a complete list of current excursions.

Beautiful St Ives
St Ives is a world renowned seaside resort, characterised by a wealth of history and tradition set amongst its cobbled streets.

Today, as for centuries before, life in St Ives revolves around the picturesque harbour where fishing boats still moor alongside the granite piers as their catch is brought ashore. Radiating out from the harbour is a maze of narrow cobbled streets filled with flowers and shops of every description. As well as conventional shopping, St Ives is world famous as an art centre, with an abundance of studios, shops and galleries. The centrepiece is the Tate St Ives, part of the Tate Gallery of London.

If it is beautiful beaches that you’re after, St Ives once again provides the answer, with its glorious sandy beaches. St Ives is often referred to as ‘the jewel in England’s seaside resorts’; the accolade is richly deserved.

You will also have the opportunity for a photo stop at one of the highlights of Cornwall; the smaller sister of Mont St Michel in France, St Michael’s Mount. This concludes a wonderful day exploring beautiful Cornwall.

The Eden Project
Visit rainforests, the warm Mediterranean and the Exotic East; all in a global garden in an old quarry in deepest Cornwall.

The Eden Project first opened its doors to the public in March 2001 having cost a massive £133.6 million to construct. Since 2001, Eden has attracted over 7 million visitors, making it one of the top 5 visitor attractions in the United Kingdom. Travel across the world’s complete spectrum of plants in just a few hours. The size of this dramatic global garden is quite staggering. Covering an area of over 30 football pitches, the Eden Project nestles like a lost world in a crater overlooking St Austell Bay.

Visit a series of incredible ‘biomes’- giant conservatories, including the Humid Tropics where you will experience the sights, smells and sheer scale of the rainforests in the world’s largest conservatory. In the Warm Temperate Biome you will travel the world of plants from the Mediterranean to South Africa and California. See just how amazing plants can survive and even thrive on drought and poor, thin soils. This unique site brings the whole world of plants together, almost, under a single roof.

Trelissick Gardens
Travel by private river boat along the beautiful River Fal to reach the magnificent Trelissick Gardens.

Board your private boat for a river journey of approximately 45 minutes, passing the delightfully situated thatched Smugglers’ Cottage, which is approximately 500 years old. See the area which witnessed the build up to D-Day, being used as one of the main embarkation points for American troops. Your specially chartered boat will take you directly to the Trelissick Gardens.

Trelissick is made by its setting; a sloping, wooded peninsula embraced by Lamouth Creek to the north, the winding of the River Fal to the east, and Channal’s Creek and the Carrick Roads to the south. Enjoy a guided tour in the magnificent gardens, superbly maintained by the National Trust. You will also have the chance to stroll in the extensive parks and woodlands with breathtaking riverside walks.

Trelissick also offers you the chance to enjoy a delicious cream tea in the lovely tea room; the perfect recipe for a relaxing half day tour in the most beautiful of surroundings.

St Mawes Castle and Cream Tea
Enjoy the beautiful little fishing village of St Mawes, and relax over a cream tea at the magnificent Tresanton Hotel.

Board a privately chartered boat to take you across the estuary that separates the town of Falmouth and St Mawes. During the crossing, your guide will tell you about the importance of the River and its enormous significance with regard to the D-Day Landings. Learn about the fact that in harsh economic times, the river is used as a temporary resting place for many ships and of course the history of the excellently maintained St Mawes Castle.

Dock in the pretty little harbour of St Mawes and take a gentle walk uphill to the ancient Castle of St Mawes. This Castle is the best preserved and most elaborately decorated of those built by Henry VIII between 1540 and 1545. It was built to counter the threat of invasion from the French and Spanish. After your visit, it is just a 10 minute walk back down towards the harbour for a delicious cream tea in the magnificent Hotel Tresanton.

Hotel Tresanton is an award-winning, luxury hotel and is rightly renowned as being one of the most famous hotels in the West of England.

After your cream tea, reboard your private boat for the journey back across the River Fal.

Land’s End
Visit the furthest point west on the mainland of England, and see the magnificent St Michael’s Mount.

Travel alongside the River Fal as you depart Falmouth, its tree lined banks and creeks fringing the country road as you journey towards the market town of Helston. The River has played an important role in this area including preparations and sailing for the D-Day Landings.

From Helston your journey will take you past Penzance to the granite mass of Land’s End, which tumbles into the sea at the end of the Cornish peninsula. To English mariners of old, sighting Land’s End meant the end of long sea journeys. See why this rocky headland has been a symbol to travellers for centuries. Have your picture taken beneath the most famous signpost in England, pointing out that the next stop going west is 3,147 miles away.

Travel back to Falmouth via the village of Marazion where, lying offshore, is a small granite island rising out of the water like a giant sandcastle. Incredible St Michael’s Mount is connected to the coast by a stone footpath that is only accessible at low tide. From the shoreline, you can photograph the island, which is crowned by a castle hugging the rock’s peak.

Walking the Lizard
Visit the most southerly point of the United Kingdom, a stunning location better known as ‘The Lizard’.

Arrive in the small, but quaint, Lizard Village and begin your walk toward the coast and Caerthilian Cove. Once at the seashore enjoy magnificent scenery from the cliff tops as you view the sea below you and the spectacular shoreline that stretches away into the distance.

Walk along the rolling coastal path, often covered with wild flowers, and keep an eye out to sea for seals and dolphins lazing off shore. Your walk will give you the chance to look down on the old lifeboat station. Further along the path you will come to the Lizard Lighthouse, used to try and prevent ships foundering on the treacherous rocks and hidden reefs that make this part of Cornwall’s coastline so infamous for shipwrecks during past centuries.

After your walk, head back inland to the Lizard village where, time permitting, you will have the opportunity to browse in the tourist shops, perhaps enjoy a well earned Cornish pasty, or purchase a pint in Top House, the local village pub.

Trebah Gardens
Visit Trebah Gardens, rated amongst the top 80 gardens in the world.

Washed by the warming waters of the Gulf stream, Cornwall enjoys a micro climate in which some of England’s most beautiful gardens flourish. Just a short journey from the quay in Falmouth you will find the magnificent Trebah Gardens.

Trebah is characterised by being a garden for all seasons with year round colour and scent. This spectacular 26 acre Cornish garden features giant tree ferns that mingle with palms in a forest of Rhododendrons, Magnolias and Camellias in an ever-changing display of colour: simply a magical playground for all ages. One of the many attractions of the garden is a walk down to the Garden’s own beach. Your reward, after a climb back to the top, is a wonderful Cornish Cream Tea.

Go Surfing!
Where better to master the art of surfing than the surfing capital of the United Kingdom.

Spend the day on the beach in the company of top surfing instructors at the Gwithian Academy of Surfing, a surfing school with the highest possible approval rating from the British Surfing Association. The school is located in Gwithian Bay, a beautiful location and a highly commended conservation area, with rideable surf all year round.

You will be kitted out with a wetsuit and surfboard for the day, and even if it is your first time, the school has a 90% success rate of getting you up and riding the wave the first time out. The usual surfing conditions along this part of the Cornish coast means that the surf is ideal for beginner or intermediate surfers. During the morning you will have a 2 hour lesson. In the afternoon enjoy time for surfing and your chance to ‘hang ten’ or ‘ride the pipeline’.

Gwithian Beach
Visit Gwithian Beach, with one of the longest stretches of golden sand in Cornwall.

Just one hour away from the port of Falmouth are the beautiful beaches of North Cornwall, featuring mile after mile of golden sand.

Spend the day on the beach in a highly commended conservation area. Gwithian Beach is one of the most beautiful on the Cornish coastline and features wonderful scenery as well as superb sand.

Behind the beach are cafés where you will find typical sea-side products and the obligatory ice-creams. There is also a superb local pub in the nearby village. Enjoy a dip in the sea or relax on the beach, in the most magnificent of Cornish surroundings. The perfect tour for those wishing to watch the surfers.

Rib Safari
Ready for something exhilarating? Why not experience the Cornish coastline on a fun RIB ride.

Built to carry just 12 passengers and 2 crew members, your Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) will power you through the water at speeds up to 50 knots.

Cornwall’s coast, as well as being spectacular, is also rich in marine wildlife, and the speed of the boat means that during your 2 hour high speed safari you will be able to get close to the action. Explore the coastline from close quarters in a boat that is specially constructed for the purpose. During your expedition there is a possibility of seeing Dolphins, Basking Sharks, Whales, Sun Fish and Turtles as well as a wide variety of sea birds.

St Michael’s Mount
Visit one of the most dramatic and famous sites in Britain – St Michael’s Mount.

Accessible by a causeway at low tide, and otherwise by boat, the dramatic castle on top of the crag dates from the 12th century. During its long history, the Mount has been a church, priory, fortress and private home. The flanks of the Mount are softened by lush sub-tropical vegetation and on the water’s edge there is a traditional harbour side community.

Formerly an ancient trading place for tin and other Cornish goods, the quay is home to interesting shops and restaurants. Now in the care of the National Trust, this magical island is the jewel in Cornwall’s crown, and a national treasure. Your visit brings you face to face with the legends and history that have been associated with the Mount for centuries.

Once on the Mount, commence the climb up the steep pathways to the castle entrance. During the climb, you will be rewarded with magnificent views towards Land’s End and the Lizard Peninsula. Once inside you will find a medieval castle, full of life and still home to a modern family. The rooms give you a great insight into the English aristocracy over the centuries.

St Michael’s Mount is a tranquil and beautiful location that has played its part in many furious battles over the centuries. This award-winning tourist destination is well worth a visit.
Show moreEssential informationDuration:

You will find the full and current list of P&O Falmouth Shore Excursions at

Falmouth Shore Excursions from P&O Cruises

Book online and qualify for P&O online booking discounts.

All P&O Cruises to Falmouth are fully bookable online at P&O Cruises.