This week the cruise company Royal Caribbean announced the Radiance of the Seas would include Port Kembla in its seven-night East Coast and Tasmanian cruise from October 2016, bringing in 2400 guests each time it docks at Port Kembla.

At the start of 2014, the P&O cruise ship Pacific Jewel stopped off the coast of Kiama as part of a promotion for the Sunrise TV program.

Kiama councillor and president of the Kiama Game Fishing Club Mark Way – who worked with the cruise liner’s master mariner on the Kiama visit last year – said the council had been hopeful that building a mini-breakwall in Kiama Harbour could lure cruise liners on a regular basis by providing 24/7 access to the wharf to safely ferry people from the cruise ships to the harbour.

‘‘The ships can anchor a mile off the shore and the benefits for the Kiama CBD is that you can bring hundreds of people to town with no cars,’’ Cr Way said.

Cr Way said funds were still being sought for the project but he had recently raised the matter with Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Duncan Gay who ‘‘seemed supportive’’.

‘‘I’m confident once we get the breakwall in we will be in the mix to bring ocean liners to Kiama,’’ Cr Way said.

‘‘I’m also confident once we become competitive, given the natural beauty of Kiama, patrons would sooner come here.

‘‘Not to put down anything they are doing in Wollongong but if tourists are given the option of a day in Kiama or a day in Port Kembla we would be winning hands down.’’

Earlier this year Kiama MP Gareth Ward expressed his preference for Kiama to be a potential cruise ship destination over Wollongong and Port Kembla.

However Mr Ward was confident a regular visit from a cruise ship to Port Kembla would not just benefit Wollongong, but nearby tourist destinations such as Kiama, Kangaroo Valley and Berry.

‘‘At the end of the day it is up to the passengers and tourists as to what experiences they choose seek out,’’ Mr Ward said.