cruise ships

Three ships have already visited in January and February bringing thousands of passengers and crew.

The Ministry of Tourism confirmed that Europa 2 will be arriving in Nuku’alofa on Saturday, 18 February.

The cruise ship is expected to bring over 500 passengers and crew for a day's visit.

“March sees more cruise ships arriving and more listings through to December.”

“Five cruise ships visited Tonga for the latter part of last year, after Tonga fully re-opened its international borders, sea/air effective 27 September, 2022.”

It comes with a range of other immigration announcements, including sector-specific agreements to support a shift away from low-skilled migrant labour, and a new 'Green list' of 85 hard-to-fill high-skill roles that provides a priority pathway to residency.

Visas for some 20,000 migrants already in the country are also being extended, and there will be new restrictions on students being able to work.

The Nuku'alofa Tourism Office said the order to refuse entry came from acting director of health, Reynald 'Ofanoa.

Three ships were to arrive in Nuku'alofa today - the Astor, Columbus, and Crystal Serenity.

A fourth vessel, a super-yacht Windstirid, was to call into Vava'u having sailed from Rarotonga.

The Astor is a German-registered vessel with 600 passengers; Columbus carries 1500 passengers and sailed from London while the Crystal Serenity is carrying 1000 passengers.

The cruise ships are reported to be heading for Suva and New Zealand waters.

Berthed at Vuna Wharf, the cruise ship arrived with 603 passengers mostly Americans, and 379 crew members.

Passengers got off to a hot sunny day in the capital and visited stalls at the wharf and the Central Business District, including shops, cafes and market.

The cruise ship, which arrived from American Samoa left Tonga for New Zealand's Bay of Island

The first cruise ship to arrive in Tonga is the Pacific Princess arriving on Thursday, February 4 followed by three ships - MS Artania on February 6, Pacific Pearl February 11 and onwards to Vava’u with the Black Watch on February 24.

Since the establishment of the Vuna wharf in 2012, the cruise market has seen developments over the past few years from an increase in frequency of visits throughout the year to welcoming three ships within a day – a gold star for Tonga’s cruise market.