Torbay will say goodbye to the last cruise ship when Arcadia leaves today, Wednesday 13th October.
Torbay has seen many cruise ships stay during the pandemic but it will soon be a different scene when Arcadia leaves at approximately 2pm this afternoon.
The cruise ships have been welcomed by the community who sent gifts and cards out to the ships in the bay last Christmas.
The ships have marked many occasions by sounding their horns including new years eve, remembrance day and a salute following the passing of Prince Philip.
Rhianne Buckland, crew on board the Arcadia posted in a Facebook group last night: “On behalf of the Captain of Arcadia, Ashley Cook, and all of the officers and crew, we would like thank the residents of Torbay – and the members of this Facebook group – for your kindness, enthusiasm, generosity and warm hospitality, over what has been a very testing 18 months.
“Since our arrival in Babbacombe last year you have gone out of your way to make us feel so welcome (the Christmas gifts were so thoughtful) and it has been really touching to see your excitement and enthusiasm surrounding our movements (and our noises!). I don’t think Arcadia has ever been photographed so much! You have provided us with a safe and beautiful place to shelter whilst we waited for the go-ahead to sail again and we really have loved our time here, as much as we wanted to be sailing the world!
“We have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of your community, and as an Exmouth girl myself, I’m glad that two weeks ago some of our guidelines changed which meant that many of our crew were able to go ashore and experience the brilliant Devonshire hospitality up close.
“But sadly it is now time to leave you, and it is even more poignant as we are the last ship to depart. I’m sure all the ships that have been here share my sentiments too. We are heading to Newcastle tomorrow afternoon in order to start making preparations to sail again. At approximately 2pm we hope to be able to say farewell properly with a sail past and a few blasts of the ship’s whistle. If any of you come to watch us leave, we’ll be waving right back at you. Thank you all again, we will miss you!”
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