Businesses in Dockyard - struggling since the loss of the regular cruise ship Crown Dynasty - have been raving about the recent visits of the megaship Carnival Triumph.

Business was booming at the weekend when the ship, with 2,946 passengers and 1,057 crew, reached the West End for a four-day stop. And the message from Dockyard traders is that they would love to see the supership become a regular visitor throughout the summer.

The 895-foot ship is making three visits to Dockyard this summer from Norfolk, Virginia. The first was for two days on June 1, and the final four day visit is from tomorrow.

Businesses have also had an extra spin-off from the visits as many locals have visited Dockyard to see the massive ship, which has a gross tonnage of 101,509 tonnes.

This year Dockyard has been visited by the Nordic Empress and the Pacific Princess, but Government has been unable to find a replacement for regular caller Crown Dynasty, which went bankrupt more than a year ago. Dianne Christie, the manager of Triminghams' Dockyard store, said yesterday: "It's been overwhelming, really great for business.

"Last week it was here for Sunday and a Monday which was a tremendous boost for us. They've been buying just about everything - china, gift items and souvenirs.

"It would definitely be great for business if it came regularly at the weekends. But Dockyard needs to think seriously about adding extra staff at the weekend it if gets really busy, but that's fixable."

Alice Woolridge, of A.S. Cooper's in Dockyard, said: "We've been very busy and it's been pretty good up here. But we've been quite steady through the summer. But we would welcome the ship through the summer." A staff member at Pirate's Landing restaurant added: "It's been great, we've been really busy and I think everyone in Dockyard has been really busy.

"It would be wonderful news if it came to Dockyard every weekend because it would benefit a lot of people. Business generally has been about the same as last year, steady but not overbusy."

A staff member at the Frog and Onion bar and restaurant said: "It's been pretty good and everyone in Dockyard has been busy. We've had a lot of business from passengers, crews and locals who've come up to have a look at it.

"Everyone has been curious about it because there has been so much talk about it and with the radio pieces on it, everyone has been motivated to see it. We're all glad to be busy and everyone has been benefiting and these people want to spend their money and go out and around the see the Island.

"The only disappointment I've heard from them was that the shops were closed in Hamilton because of the holiday.

"So far, it's been not too bad. We're still only in the first couple of weeks, but we've already seen more people than we anticipated."