This week’s torrential rain disappeared in perfect timing for the arrival of the Dawn Princess cruise ship into Port Douglas on Thursday.

The Dawn Princess, used by the original cast of the TV show “The Love Boat”, dodged the wet weather that drenched much of the tropical Queensland coast since the weekend and put a dampener on the cruise liner’s Whitsundays visit.

Passengers, Bruce and Margaret Scott-Smith from Sydney (pictured), were both relieved to be in fine weather and celebrating their own romance - the 28-day cruise around Australia and Bali a 60th wedding anniversary gift.

Mr Scott-Smith said it was the first time the couple had returned to Port Douglas in 30 years and admitted the town had changed considerably since their last visit.

“None of this was here back then,” he said, gesturing to the development on Port Douglas Esplanade and Macrossan Street.

Meanwhile, other passengers were seen happily wandering the streets of Port Douglas and enjoying the gentle breeze of Four Mile Beach on their one-day stopover, with café owners and shop keepers reporting high numbers of foot traffic.

Locals and tourists will be happy to hear the return to good weather will continue this weekend, with NW to SW winds at 10 to 15 knots throughout today (Friday), easing to 5 to 10 knots Saturday morning.

The Dawn Princess is due to return to Port Douglas on June 2, July 22 and November 13.


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