MS Queen Elizabeth calls into Nuku’alofa [1]
Friday, February 21, 2014 - 18:15. Updated on Friday, February 21, 2014 - 19:12.
The MS Queen Elizabeth cruise ship docked at Vuna Wharf in Nuku’alofa today, bringing over 2900 passengers and crew, the biggest cruise liner to have visited Tonga this year.
Nuku'alofa's central business district was unusually busy after the cruise ship arrived at 8:00am with 1919 passengers and 992 crew from American Samoa, before leaving for Auckland at 5:00pm.
The passengers came mainly from the United Kingdom, US, Australia and New Zealand.
Excited locals, along with handicraft sellers and tour operators turned out at the waterfront to view the sight of the giant vessel. The MS Queen Elizabeth is the newest luxury liner of the Cunard Line, a British-American owned shipping company based in Southampton, England.
The Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour expect 16 cruise ships to visit Tonga this year.