Queens Wharf offers shabby welcome

By SIMON HENDERY

Waves of discontent continue to wash around Auckland's use of down-market Queens Wharf as a berth for luxury cruise liners.

Industry sources said Auckland's reputation as a cruise ship destination was suffering through the occasional peak-time use of sub-standard berthing facilities at Queens Wharf, which is more regularly used to unload second-hand car imports.

Ship operators are forced to berth at Queens Wharf when the overseas passenger terminal at the Hilton hotel on nearby Princes Wharf is unavailable or being used by another liner.

Industry publication Travel Today reported this month that although cruise operators appreciated that a second multimillion-dollar terminal was not necessary, they were fielding a growing number of complaints from passengers and ship staff about the primitive Queens Wharf facilities.

"It's disgraceful and the shed conditions are only getting worse," one source told Travel Today.

"Something needs to be done, even if it's just tidied up, the leaks are sorted out and there's more seating and screens."

Industry insiders expressed similar concerns to the Business Herald yesterday, but declined to be quoted.

A Ports of Auckland spokeswoman could not be reached for comment yesterday. The company has previously said that building a second dedicated passenger facility is not feasible considering the small amount of use it would get.

Five liners have berthed at Queens Wharf during the course of this summer's cruise season, including two six-star ships, the Seven Seas Voyager and Silver Shadow, and the five-star Deutschland.

On Tuesday, the four-star Pacific Venus became Queens Wharf's latest cruise visitor - forced to slum it because another liner, Black Watch, was berthed beside the Hilton.