The dramatic impact of the Eden Project on Cornwall's tourism industry is only too evident. And this weekend is no exception as the cruise liner Van Gogh returns to the port with 500 passengers aboard all destined for Eden. Travelscope, the tour operators running cruises on the Van Gogh this year, advertised the 24 hour cruise to Falmouth from Harwich with a trip to the Eden Project included and return coach travel to the South East.

Docks port operations manager Mike Reynolds was quietly surprised when he heard the news. He had expected the liner to arrive empty on Saturday ready to embark a full complement of passengers for the Falmouth to the Fjords cruise.