THE fledgling Newcastle cruise industry is bracing for one of its biggest ever days, with two ships and 4700 passengers expected to pass through the port today.
The arrival of the Pacific Sun and Discovery liners will also provide a stern test for the $2.55million Dyke Point cruise terminal, which experienced some teething problems and criticism when it opened in 2010.
Cruise Hunter coordinator David Brown was confident the terminal was equipped to handle passengers arriving and departing from the port.
‘‘These people wouldn’t be coming to Newcastle if we didn’t have the port facilities and we didn’t have the tourism products,’’ he said.
The cruise industry will also be hoping for some good weather after torrential rain greeted passengers last week and turned the grass car park at Dyke Point into a bog.
Newcastle is a ‘‘home port’’ for the 223metre long Pacific Sun, which means it requires baggage screening and customs services not feasible at other port sites.
The Pacific Sun arrives at 5.30am and will disembark about 2000 passengers at the terminal’s Channel berth. Another 2000 will board for a 4pm departure on a 10-night South Pacific Cruise.
Discovery, a 169metre long ship carrying 700 passengers on a round-the-world voyage, will enter Newcastle harbour for the first time about 8am. After berthing at Dyke 1, passengers will be ferried to Queens Wharf for tours of Newcastle and the Hunter.
Newcastle Port Corporation spokesman Keith Powell said the growth of the cruise industry was important for the harbour.
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