Ships sail through US travel tempest

By SIMON HENDERY

The country's growing cruise ship industry may have escaped much of the fallout from the September 11 attacks, but it faces more pressure next summer when US companies are expected to cancel voyages.

New Zealand's busiest cruise season began yesterday with the arrival in Auckland of the 70,000-tonne, 245m Regal Princess.

Travel phobia after the attacks on the US, and the collapse of the Florida-based Renaissance Cruises line, mean passenger liners will make 350 port calls in New Zealand this summer instead of 385 - still a big jump on last season's 240 visits.

Cruise New Zealand chairman Craig Harris said 48,000 passengers and crew were expected to spend time in New Zealand, down on the 55,000 forecast before September 11, but significantly up on last year's total of 36,000.

An August study predicting the industry would generate more than $600 million in economic activity this year was still accurate, he said.

But indications were that ship and passenger numbers would drop next year as cruise companies reacted to US customers' travel fears and reworked itineraries to focus on trips off the American coast.

Mr Harris said the drop-off was a hiccup.

"Despite these problems, the trend is still moving markedly upwards for the number of cruise ships and cruise visitors to New Zealand."