Two cruise ships in two days

ABELL Point Marina was all systems go last week as two cruise ships arrived within two days bringing more than 4400 passengers to the Whitsundays.

ROYAL VISIT: Townsville newlyweds Kris and Vicky Brennan enjoyed a close shave with visiting cruise ship the Queen Elizabeth on their Whitsunday Jetski Tours ’Daydream extreme’ tour. Picture: Contributed

ABELL Point Marina was all systems go last week as two cruise ships arrived within two days bringing more than 4400 passengers to the Whitsundays.

Celebrity Solstice arrived last Wednesday with 1101 passengers booking tours.

Volunteer cruise ship ambassador Judi Dunn said this was a record number of passengers booking tours off one ship and it was a welcome boost for local tour operators.

Adding to the excitement was the arrival of the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship the following day (Thursday, March 6).

Mrs Dunn thanked all ambassadors who volunteered their time over both days.

"Fifty per cent of those who came ashore said they would return for a holiday and we would not have been able receive such good feedback without their efforts," she said.

"I just hope all local retailers also enjoyed the large numbers of visitors we had."

The two cruise ships had a total of 4411 passengers and crew disembark, with 3251 travelling to Airlie Beach and 1588 booking local tours.

The next cruise ship scheduled to arrive in the Whitsundays is the Radiance of the Seas this Saturday, followed by the Ocean Princess on March 21, Sun Princess on March 27 and Pacific Dawn on March 31.

Originally published as Two cruise ships in two days