Our waterfront roundsman was present when , without fanfare , a luxury cruise ship carrying nearly a thousand passengers arrived in hot and humid Townsville on Boxing Day and said there were many interesting human interest stories.
A passenger from Texas remarked on the heat ; another woman from Vancouver said it could get hot and sticky back in Canada.
A couple from Sydney said they had splurged on the cruise . However, the husband said he would rather be back in Sydney attending the Boxing Day sales .
Passengers disembarked for trips to Charters Towers, up Castle Hill overlooking Townsville , Magnetic Island , Hidden Valley. There were 17 stalls at the terminal offering a variety of goods and services . Locally made earrings and scarves some of the items bought.
Later in the day the ship departed for Darwin , Indonesia and other ports.
The cruise ship season runs from November through to March , four ships due that month.
When the 2024 cruise season commences next November it will include larger P&O vessels carrying 2000 passengers.
