Our whole existence and our success is due to the port of New York City

Tourism chief Cristyne L Nicholas

The passenger ship terminal on Manhattan's west side was closed after the terror attack, and cruise ships scheduled to stop in New York docked instead in Baltimore, Boston and other cities.

Tourism in the city has been hit hard, as the cruise industry pumps $594m every year into New York State's economy and is responsible for 11,500 jobs.

Cristyne L Nicholas, head of New York's tourism agency NYC & Company, said: "Our whole existence and our success is due to the port of New York City.

"When that was shut down due to the events of 11 September a piece of us was taken away."

After the suicide attacks, the passenger ship terminal served for more than a month as an emergency management command centre.

World cruise

Families of victims visited the pier to receive help and information from charities and government agencies.

The command centre has since been relocated to a bank near the Twin Towers site - now known as Ground Zero.

After its visit on Monday, the QE2 - built in 1969 - embarked on a 108-day world cruise.

It is due back in New York in April and will then begin its regular trans-Atlantic schedule to Southampton.