The new Vuna Wharf welcomed its first cruise ship, the Ocean Princess, this morning with over 700 passengers coming mainly from Australia.

Passengers disembarked at the newly opened wharf and were greeted by handicraft sellers, taxi drivers and tour operators, who were excited to showcase what they had to sell and offer the tourists. Most of the tourists took the island tours around Tongatapu, bypassing the CBD, but a few strolled to town.

The presence of the cruise ship on Vuna Wharf in central Nuku'alofa was also an amazing sight, as it towered at the end of Hala Taufa'ahau.

Kaati Takitaki of Jones Travel, a local agent for the Ocean Princess, said the cruise ship is owned by a company based in the United States. It sailed from Australia via New Zealand, and berthed in Nuku'alofa for a few hours before deaprting at 6:00pm for Samoa, she said.

The Ministry of Tourism confirmed this was the 15th and last cruise ship for Tonga for 2012.

The Tonga government anticipated that the new wharf would attract more cruise ships to Tonga, which should help to boost the local tourism industry.

HM King Tupou VI opened the wharf yesterday 10 December.