Passengers who disembarked from the luxury cruise ship Silver Whisperer in relatively calm seas yesterday were treated to some brilliant – if a little hot and sticky, weather yesterday morning.

Though numbers who chose to come ashore seemed lower than those who disembarked from the French-Polynesian ship Paul Gaugin last week, a number were picked up by tour operators and taxis and taken to see the sights.

Those who ventured into town on foot weren’t so lucky, with just a sprinkling of businesses open, including CITC department store which was crowded for its popular annual Boxing Day sale. Outlets serving food and coffee were few and far between.

Silver Whisperer’s current cruise is 37 days, one-way from Valparaiso-Santiago to Auckland, themed as “New Year”". Prices start from $US19900 (almost $NZ32,000) at double occupancy rates. The itinerary started on December 2 2022 and ends on January 8, 2023.

The vessel sailed to Aitutaki on December 27 and will call at Fiji and Samoa before the cruise ends in Auckland, New Zealand on January 8.

Silver Whisper entered service in 2001, and is operated by Silversea Cruises. The passenger capacity is 382 passengers, and there are 295 crew members.

Her sister ship is Silver Shadow and both ships were built at an Italian shipyard.

The cruise vessel is the third to call at Rarotonga over the last week or so, prompting a flurry of activity at the port.