Ready to meet two cruise ships today was Alex Robinson, who has just turned three years old. Out of bed early, he was down at Salisbury Wharf to welcome in the Noordam followed soon after by the Regatta.

The Noordam, registered in the Netherlands has a 82897 gross tonnage, is 286m long and has 1865 passengers and 819 crew members on board. It arrived after dawn from Auckland and leaves at 5pm for Napier.

The Regatta, registered in the Marshall Islands is 181m long, is carrying 824 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 30277. It arrived from Wellington this morning and leaves Tauranga for Auckland at 4.15pm.

Alex says he hasn't seen a cruise ship before, that today is his first day. He didn't think he would go home for breakfast after the Noordam and Regatta had arrived.

'I'm going to wait for another big cruise ship,” says Alex. 'If any more are coming in I can stay and watch.”