NEWCASTLE hosted its first cruise ship visit of the year yesterday, the penultimate journey for the ocean liner before Newcastle becomes its home port.
About 2000 passengers stepped ashore from the Dawn Princess.
Another visiting vessel, Volendam, will stop in the city on March 15, before Pacific Sun takes up residency in the Port of Newcastle from September.
Cruise Hunter manager David Brown said more than 300 passengers visiting yesterday toured Port Stephens, the Hunter Valley, Maitland and Morpeth and wider Newcastle.
About 1600 people explored the inner city or took private tours.
Popular attractions included Queens Wharf, Fort Scratchley, Nobbys Beach, Christ Church Cathedral, Hunter Street Mall markets and Darby Street, Mr Brown said.
Between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of voyagers were domestic tourists, while the other 30 per cent to 40 per cent were international passengers, mostly from North America and Europe.
Mr Brown said that after next week's cruise stop, attention would turn to preparing Newcastle as home port.
Newcastle Port Corporation and the State Government will spend $2.5 million refurbishing Channel Berth on Dyke Point to cater for Pacific Sun.
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