Port Denarau Marina was abuzz yesterday as tourists on board MV Pacific Pearl were welcomed.

This also marked the first cruise liner to arrive since the flooding and the aftermath of Cyclone Zena ena early this week.

Queensland couples Karen and Gary Byrnes were among the 1761 passengers on board.

Ms Brynes said, “It’s first time for us to visit Fiji.”

She said they were in the capital city of Suva on Friday.

“We were in Suva which was raining but we stopped over here and the weather is just beautiful, a tropical paradise indeed.

“We are planning on doing sightseeing in Nadi and maybe shop around,” she said.

Bruce Richard from Palmerstone North in New Zealand was also on board.

He said he was with his families including grandchildren.

“We are planning on shopping and having a good time during this trip.”

Mr Richard said the cruise liner left Auckland, NZ before arriving to the Fiji waters and will set sail for Vavau’ in Tonga.

Tourism Council of Nadi president Chandar Prakash welcomed the news.

He said, “The township is recovering from the recent flooding and there has been some  loss.”

Mr Prakash added the arrival of tourists will be a catalyst to uplift business to resume normalcy.

Meanwhile, Pacific Pearl is the sixth cruise ship of the P&O Cruises Australia brand.

She was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, in France and launched in 1988 as Sitmar FairMajesty, first entered service with Princess Cruises as Star Princess in 1989.

From 1997 to 2003, she served in the P&O Cruises fleet as MV Arcadia.

She was renamed Ocean Village in 2003 when the brand was established. She was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Pearl.

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