Dunedin's attractions delighted passengers on the first cruise ship of the season yesterday.
Golden Princess, carrying 2600 passengers, berthed at Port Chalmers about 7am.
Harrison and Fran Murphy (both 69), of New York, who were among the 484 cruise ship passengers who went on one of the two Dunedin Railways train trips to Pukerangi, said the experience was ''wonderful''.
The couple started their 28-day trip in San Francisco and Dunedin was one of the best stops, Mrs Murphy said.
Passengers Lin (76) and Jan (69) Powell, of Queensland, are on a 34-day cruise to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
Mr Powell said the train trip was ''fabulous'' and the best excursion they had taken on the cruise.
''The scenery is magnificent.''
Dunedin Railways chief executive Murray Bond said cruise ship passengers were ''extremely important'' to the Dunedin economy.
''We are really, really grateful the cruise ships come to Dunedin ... this is really important to our business and to Dunedin City.''
Best Cafe co-owner Susannah Yeoman said the Stuart St restaurant was busy yesterday.
''We were chocker.''
Golden Princess departed Port Chalmers at 6pm.
It was the second of 70 cruise ship visits scheduled for the season - the first on September 30 was cancelled because of a bad weather forecast.
