On Thursday the Pacific Jewel makes its way to Twofold Bay for the first time this season, while the Norwegian Jewel has its maiden voyage into the port on Friday.

Then next week on consecutive days the Pacific Jewel returns Monday, the Oceania Regatta on her maiden voyage Tuesday and the MS Noordam on Wednesday.

Passenger numbers from Cruise Eden suggest a total of more than 9000 passengers, both domestic and international, will be arriving on the five ships, which are staffed by an estimated 3820 crew.

Cruise Eden’s Natalie Godward said the Norwegian Jewel in particular will be the largest cruise ship to make port in Eden, with 2376 passengers and 1100 crew.

Eden is its first port of call on a nine-night Australian cruise out of Sydney. After travelling on to Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and Adelaide the huge ship will return to Sydney.

As usual, Cruise Eden’s volunteer meet and greet teams will on hand at the wharf to welcome the visitors from each of the five cruise ships.

There are also market stalls and visitor information for our guests. As well as ferrying those who wish to wander through town up the hill, organised tours are also part of the experience granted to cruise passengers, including to Green Cape, Haycock Point, Kiah Wilderness, local oyster leases and restaurants, Longstocking Brewery and the Seahorse Inn at Boydtown.

As two of the five ships arriving are on their maiden voyages, formal handovers of plaques to the respective captains of the Norwegian Jewel and Oceanic Regatta will take place.

“It's all hands on deck - and all heads on pillows - at the wharf this week,” Ms Godward said with a chuckle.

Thursday’s arrival of the Pacific Jewel is the third arrival of the current cruise ship season for Eden, although the first in mid-November had to be waved away due to choppy seas.

In total, there are 15 cruise ships booked for the 2017/18 season, up on last summer’s 12, which generated an estimated $6million for the local economy Ms Godward said.

Given those figures, it’s hoped the injection of direct spending by passengers as well as flow-on from return visits and word of mouth promotion will be even greater this year