Cruise season has kicked off in Newcastle with the first liner of the 2019 to 2020 season arriving on Wednesday morning at 7.45am.
Celebrity Solstice, which carries 2852 passengers and is slated for four visits to Newcastle during the season, is expected to help take the number of cruise passengers visiting the port past last year's figure.
The luxury ship embarked from Sydney on Tuesday for a 12-day round trip to north Queensland.
The Port Authority of NSW opened Nobbys headland to the public so passengers of the ship could visit the site, and will open the headland for future cruise arrivals. Over 200 visitors had gone through its gates by midday.
Jim Milford of Bristol, in the United Kingdom, said he had not known what to expect from the stop.
"I think it's wonderful and the view is tremendous," Mr Milford said while on the headland. "The people here are so helpful and gentle."
The Celebrity Solstice departed at 5pm. The next liner, the Explorer Dream, is due to arrive on October 28.
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