Cruise liner MSC Magnifica, the largest cruise ship to visit the Cook Islands anchored just outside the Avatiu Harbour, Rarotonga bringing more than 2000 passengers yesterday.

The Punanga Nui Market and Avarua Town was bustling yesterday as around 1000 passengers disembarked tenders throughout the day and took advantage of the sunny weather onshore.

MSC Magnifica sailed into Rarotonga from Aitutaki, she was previously in Papeete and Moorea in Tahiti.

Cruise Cook Islands’ Stuart Henry said there were around 2100 passengers on the ship and approximately 1000 crew.

Henry said about 600 passengers booked tours and probably another 150 took direct bookings through websites while others caught public transport and taxis, or walked through town.

MSC Magnifica was last here in 2023.

The vessel is 293.8 metres (963 ft 11 in) long, with a beam of 32.2 metres (105 ft 8 in), and the 93,330-gross ton vessel can reach a maximum speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). The ship is on a world cruise and was scheduled to depart Avatiu yesterday at 5pm headed straight to Auckland New Zealand to the Bay of Islands.