IT'S luxurious and caters for every desire and its passengers are expected to spend almost $4.5 million in the Far North in the next six months.

The 77,000 tonne ship Dawn Princess docked off Yorkeys Knob on Friday on its maiden voyage around Australia, carrying 1998 passengers and more than 900 crew on its 14 decks of luxury accommodation.

The superliner, which left Sydney just under a week ago, will cruise the Australian coastline for 28 days, stopping for just one day in the Far North to allow passengers to visit the region’s attractions including Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns city.

Carnival Australia, which operates the luxury liner, has already promised it will return nine times between now and April.

Tourism Minister Desley Boyle, Tourism Tropical North Queensland head Rob Giason and a throng of media toured the ship on Friday, soaking up the atmosphere and recognising the cash injection the ship’s passengers brought to the region.

"We estimate they will be spending up to half a million dollars today alone," Mr Giason said.

"People are coming and while they are not staying, they are getting a taste of what the region has to offer.

"It’s a significant contribution to our economy and that’s without the flow-on effect."

Carnival Australia chief executive officer Ann Sherry said cruises were an increasingly popular way for people to travel.

"Queensland has always been popular with our cruise passengers so it’s only fitting that Dawn Princess visits three ports on her first Romantic Tour of Australia," Ms Sherry said.

Passenger Lynette Sordelli, from Silkwood, who was also on her maiden voyage, said the cruise was relaxing and better than she ever expected.

"I am just sad we didn’t do it earlier," Mrs Sordelli said.

"It’s absolutely wonderful."

The luxury liner cost more than $400 million to build in Italy and entered service in 1997 with a four-star rating.

It is 261m long, has a height of 49.4m above the waterline and travels up to 21 knots.

The ship’s home port will be Sydney until November 2009 when it will move to Melbourne.

 

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