The MS Queen Elizabeth pulled into Nuku'alofa early yesterday morning bringing a nine-hour cash injection to Tonga's economy.
The 90,900 tonne ocean liner from the Curnard shipping line brought more than 1900 voyagers and 992 crew to the Friendly Islands.
It was a particularly big day for the people of Tonga who gathered in Nuku’alofa to view the giant luxury cruise liner.
Queen Elizabeth holds almost 1000 crew and 2000 passengers and has 10 restaurants and cafes, a two-storey library complete with leaded glass ceiling, a globe from the original Queen Elizabeth, and a games deck.
It left the kingdom at 5pm heading to Tauranga in New Zealand.
Tonga is expecting Queen Elizabeth's sister ship Queen Victoria to arrive in Nuku’alofa next month, March 17.
