The sun shone over the glistening swimming pool, the sunbathing passengers lounged on the gleaming deck. It could have been the Amalfi coast or the Caribbean.
But this was the south Dublin docks, not the most glamorous location. The largest cruise liner, in terms of tonnage, ever to dock in Dublin, the Grand Princess, brought glamour and luxury to the port yesterday. The €450 million vessel is 290 metres long, the equivalent of three football pitches.
The Grand Princess offers a vast range of facilities for its 3,000 passengers. There are three swimming pools, nine whirlpools and a nine-hole putting green. There is also an ocean view gym, a beauty salon and a three-storey atrium holds the shopping mall.
There are several restaurants, some offering 24-hour service, a casino, and a theatre which seats 750 people. The highlight is the Skywalkers nightclub, which hangs over the stern of the ship, 150 feet above sea level.
A standard cabin on a liner such as the Grand Princess next year will cost an average £1,139 per person, including flights and transfer. The largest suite will set you back £2,573 per person.
The captain, Andy Proctor, said it was a "huge responsibility" to command a vessel the size of the Grand Princess.
He likened his role to a chairman of the board or mayor of the city, but pointed out that it was all about teamwork.
The Grand Princess was in Dublin as part of a deal between Dublin Port Company and Princess Cruises to bring 10 giant cruise liners to Dublin in 2005.
Mr Enda Connellan, chief executive of Dublin Port Company, estimates these visits will bring €23 million to the local economy.
The port company set up Cruise Ireland 10 years ago to promote Dublin port as a cruise liner destination.
Mr Connellan highlighted the huge revenue that the cruise industry could bring to Dublin.
The one-day stop by the Grand Princess yesterday was expected to inject €3 million into Dublin's economy.