Isles of Scilly concludes cruise season with zero weather cancellations

The Isles of Scilly, an island destination off the coast of Cornwall, UK, has concluded its 2026 cruise season with 46 cruises and 19,000 passengers. Notably, the season saw zero cancellations due to bad weather.

This outcome challenges the traditional perception that ports relying on tender boat services face higher cancellation risks during inclement weather. The islands' unique geography provides two exclusive cruise anchorages, offering protected options depending on weather conditions. Additionally, local tender boats are capable of operating in more demanding conditions than those of the cruise ships themselves.

Cruise captains and operators are increasingly relying on real-time meteorological advice from local port agencies and excursion managers rather than standard forecasts to make docking decisions. Tom Jackman, managing director of Scillonian Marine Consultants, noted that local expertise allowed a small cruise ship to dock in May despite forecasts of winds exceeding 20 knots and swells over four meters, as the vessel was able to find a position with minimal swell.