A glamorous surprise at The Barbican
SeaDream II
There was a rather smart-looking visitor alongside the Barbican Landing Stage today (Wednesday 9 September 2026).
SeaDream II is one of the two luxury yachts operated by SeaDream Yacht Club - and at just 104.8 metres long, she's a very different proposition from the huge cruise ships that occasionally loom over Plymouth.
But she still dominated the pontoon today.
She carries a maximum of 112 guests, looked after by 95 crew. That's almost one crew member for every passenger, which gives you some idea of the level of personal service SeaDream provides
There are just 56 staterooms and suites, all with ocean views, and SeaDream describes the experience as ‘yachting rather than cruising’. The vessels are deliberately small enough to visit ports that aren't practical for larger cruise ships.
But here's the surprise...
As far as we can tell, Plymouth wasn't supposed to be today's stop.
SeaDream II is currently on a seven-night voyage from Dublin to Bordeaux. The published itinerary has her visiting Fishguard, the Isles of Scilly and Fowey before crossing to Douarnenez in Brittany today, followed by Belle Île and Bordeaux.
Instead, she arrived here in Plymouth. And rather nicely, she didn't just pass through the Sound. She came right into the Barbican and berthed alongside the waterfront.
Quite why Plymouth was added to the itinerary isn't clear, but we're certainly glad someone changed the plan.
A growing part of Plymouth's waterfront economy
SeaDream II is also a reminder that Plymouth's relationship with the cruise industry continues to grow.
The city welcomed 15 cruise ships during the 2025 season, bringing more than 15,000 passengers and crew to Plymouth.
Cattewater Harbour Commissioners say those visits generated around £1.3 million in additional economic spend for the city.
The number of cruise calls has risen steadily in recent years - from 7 in 2022 to 10 in 2023, 13 in 2024 and 15 in 2025.
SeaDream II may have been an unexpected visitor, but she certainly made an impression.
And, hopefully she had the city’s tills ringing from her passengers’ trip ashore.
More info on the SeaDream Yacht Club website.
A little Plymouth welcome
SeaDream II being watched over by one of the St Luke's Hospice’s Guiding Lights sculptures on the Barbican.
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