CRUISE ships are known to dock at Barbados, Jamaica or Panama.

So it was first yesterday when a cruise liner carrying hundreds of passengers docked in Newport - bringing at least one passenger from the sun of Barbados to the rain of Gwent.

As the MS Prinsendam approached its berth at ABP Port of Newport, the heavens opened and passengers in T-shirts and shorts peered out at the grey skies.

Its arrival in the city had been eagerly anticipated by local people, dozens of whom had called the Argus to tell us they had seen the liner coming into port.

As it approached from the Severn Estuary to the south dock, the huge vessel was visible from various parts of the city such as the Gaer and the top of Stow Hill.

Luckily, the weather cleared up for the 800 passengers- mainly from the USA, Canada and Holland- some of whom planned to play golf at Peterstone or the Celtic Manor courses.

The 200 metre long ship is operated by tour company Holland America Line and is captained by Dutchman Albert Schoonderbeek.

It left Greenwich last week on a 12 day cruise around the UK and Ireland and arrived in Newport from Waterford yesterday - the ship is too big for Cardiff’s port.

The arrival of the 800 passengers and 425 crew was estimated to bring tens of thousands of pounds to the local economy, said Associated British Ports spokesman James Champness.

He said: “It’ll hopefully be the first of many to arrive here. Golfing trips with the Ryder Cup next year are an obvious call.”

Coaches were waiting to ferry passengers to Cardiff, Newport and Bath. After spending around eight hours in Newport, the ship left at 8pm for Falmouth.

Brian Gomes, 55, from Barbados, said: “Most people cruise around Barbados, but we’ve come the other way.

“It’s certainly a bit wetter here than back home.”

And Ken Cosca, 51, of New Jersey said: “We’ll just wander round Newport. I always find the best way is to stop in a pub and talk to locals.”