The cruise ship season has begun but only some Front Street retailers are feeling it.

The rest are waiting for the arrival of luxury liners like Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, whose is due to arrive on Friday.

Almost 4,000 cruise passengers arrived this week as the first regular cruise callers docked in Hamilton and St. George?s this week, giving shops and restaurants a boost.

Fulivil Colombo, of Bob Royle?s ice creams near Chancery Lane, said he had seen a ?100 percent increase? in sales of sodas and ice creams this week.

?If it wasn?t for the tourists we would be out of business,? he said.

Similarly, a spokesperson for Onion Jack?s Trading Post said: ?Cruise ships are our bread and butter.?

However, some of Hamilton?s more high end retailers said they had not yet seen a big increase in sales. Julia Currelly, a buyer for Cecile, a boutique that sells European designer clothes, shoes and handbags, said there had been an increase in people coming in the shop, but they were browsing, not buying.

She said she expected an increase on Friday when the Radisson ship ? whose motto is ?luxury goes exploring? ? came in.

Sales staff at jewellers Astwood Dickinson said they were having a similar experience, but said people buying jewellery tended to take their time before making a purchase.

Further along Front Street, Wadson?s Ltd. said the store was selling more souvenirs like key chains and T-shirts. A spokesperson said she was looking forward to the opening of Harbour Nights tonight from 7 to 10 p.m.

She said the shop was considering taking on some summer students to cope with the increased activity on the sales-floor, but planned first to give full employment to staff who have worked there during the winter months.