THE second of 16 luxury liners to visit Cairns during this year's cruising season is due at the port this afternoon.

Seven Seas Voyager returns to the Far North after visits in January and February last year with 1130 passengers and crew on board.

The ship is scheduled to dock at 12.30pm and stay overnight, leaving tomorrow at 8pm.

Of the 16 liners, four  Columbus 2 (February 10), MV Artania (February 19), MV Seabourn Quest (February 22) and Caledonian Sky (March 15)  are on maiden journeys.

The biggest vessel due to visit Cairns, Rhapsody of the Seas, will return twice next month and in March.

Columbus 2 is an R-class cruise ship built for Renaissance Cruises and is sailing for Hapag-Lloyd. The 180m long $230 million vessel can carry up to 1508 passengers and 400 crew.

MV Artania, previously Royal Princess and Artemis, is a cruise ship of the Phoenix Reisen fleet. The $165 million ship is 230m long and can accommodate up to 1260 passengers and 537 crew.

MV Seabourn Quest is a luxury cruise ship of the Seabourn Cruise Line. It is 198m long and can carry 450 passengers and 335 crew.

The 90m Caledonian Sky is one of the smallest luxury cruise ships in the world. It has a maximum of 114 passengers and 74 crew.

Other ships due to arrive are Silver Shadow (February 5), Asuka II (February 12), Crystal Symphony (February 16), Europa (February 27), Oceanic Discoverer (March 3), Seabourn Odyssey (March 5), Pacific Princess (March 7) and Orion (March 27).

Queen Mary 2 returns to moor off Yorkeys Knob on March 2. Other liners to moor there include Pacific Dawn, Aurora and Celebrity Solstice.

Ports North chairman Brett Moller said his organisation would provide a special welcome to the new arrivals.

"For maiden voyages, we go on board, meet the captain, talk to them about their experience coming into port and the facilities, and make sure they're happy with everything.

"We also present them with a plaque, have a big welcome sign, farewell them with a band and provide a tropical fruit tasting from the region."

The number of visits is down on last year because the Pacific Sun, which visited several times last year, is out of service.

Mr Moller said ships were getting bigger with many unable to visit the port because of their size. He said it was important the Cairns Shipping Development Project, which was considering dredging, was completed as soon as possible.

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