"This local cruise activity spend represents 19 per cent of the total national cruise spend," she said.
"Tauranga welcomes the second highest international cruise activity spend behind only Auckland."
Dunne said it was estimated the new season would generate 1224 cruise-related jobs in the Bay of Plenty.
"These figures are evidence that our region's reputation as a world-class destination continues to soar, as cruising becomes more popular and more achievable," she said.
Mount Mainstreet board of trustees chairwoman Jane Debenham said the new cruise ship season was an exciting time for Mount Maunganui and the wider city.
"It always marks the sign of summer. It brings a neat, vibrant atmosphere in the streets," she said.
Debenham said the Lioness club was ready to welcome passengers at the iPort and help the new visitors find their way around the city - and businesses would no doubt put welcome signs out to greet new customers.
"It is great for businesses and retailers; everybody enjoys it."
Pohutukawa Gallery manager Jo Odgers said the business had been around for 15 years and the cruise ship season always brought a "cool vibe" to the main street.
"It brings a nice buzz to the town," she said. "It feels like summer."
Mark Rundell of Artastic Print Place said the cruise ship season was a positive for the region's economy.
However, he said the season generated more foot traffic than revenue for most businesses in downtown Mount Maunganui.
"The cruise ship season puts more than $50 million into the Tauranga region, but the spend by today's passengers is nowhere like it used to be 15 years ago," he said.
"It certainly lightens the vibe in the street ... but they [passengers] just want to have a look around."
Rundell said how much passengers spent also depended on whether it was the first or last port of call for the cruise ship.
Mount Maunganui and District Lioness Club's Christine Potter co-ordinated about 26 regular volunteers to meet and greet the cruise ship passengers as they arrived.
"Depending on what time the ships come in we usually do a two-hour stint," she said.
Potter said the volunteers were there to welcome the cruise ship passengers to Mount Maunganui and answer any questions they had about where to shop, dine or get some exercise.
"It is just being a smiley face ... a temporary friend for a couple of hours," she said.
"Most of the passengers were repeat cruisers. It is good knowing people are coming back."
Most of the passengers had ventured to Rotorua on their first trip and were returning to see more of Tauranga city, or vice versa, Potter said.
The Majestic Princess is scheduled to arrive at 5.15am on October 5 and will depart at 4.30pm the same day. People are invited to farewell the cruise ship at Pilot Bay from 4pm.
Tauranga Intermediate School's kapa haka group will also farewell the passengers.
THE DETAILS:
What: Farewell Majestic Princess cruise ship
Where: Pilot Bay
When: Friday, October 5, 2018
