CRUISE ship ambassadors were treated to a tour of the new Cruise Whitsundays terminal at Port of Airlie last week.

The 24 volunteers were taken by ferry to the pontoon where it is planned that cruise ship tenders will eventually dock.

Just two weeks ago, Port of Airlie welcomed its first cruise ship passengers from the luxury vessel The World.

Since then, Cruise Whitsundays CEO Nick Hortle said his company had been approached by other cruise ship operators, expressing an interest in running ship to shore transfers through the new ferry terminal at Port of Airlie, expected to open in August or September 2014.

"We've been discussing this with them as we've been building the terminal. It's just an added benefit for them," he said.

Port of Airlie general manager Andrew Forster said it was "a natural progression" that more cruise operators would want to utilise the expanded facilities at the port.

"The main thing is, the cruise operators see Airlie Beach as being a good destination and the experience of coming ashore at Port of Airlie is obviously very tempting because of the short distance to the main street and the markets," he said.

Volunteer ambassador co-ordinator Judi Dunn said Friday's outing was a great opportunity for ambassadors to see the new facilities, currently under construction, first-hand.

"And I am personally confident the cruise ship companies will be as impressed as we were," she said.

Ms Dunn said the ambassador program was formed to welcome cruise ship passengers into Airlie Beach.

"And we will accommodate them wherever they arrive, be that Abell Point Marina or Port of Airlie," she said.