Bumper cruise ship season ahead

Cruise ships Noordam and Regatta at anchor in the bay in January. Picture by Liam Clayton

New Zealand’s biggest ever cruise season is estimated to bring in up to $10 million to Gisborne this summer.

NZ Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd was in Gisborne last week for a series of meetings with Mayor Rehette Stoltz and Trust Tairāwhiti and Eastland Port representatives, ahead of the new season.

“It was a great chance to meet the operators, and see how the port operates and check out some of the tourism product, which was really amazing,” Ms Lloyd said.

“We are expecting this season, nationally, to have about $600m visitor-spend coming from cruise visitors to the country.”

Cruise ship visits to New Zealand resumed last year, following the Covid-19 pandemic, when cruise liners were barred from entry.

“The return last year was stronger than anyone anticipated. We are definitely seeing a big increase.”

Last year, about 251,000 cruise passengers came to New Zealand. This year, 360,000 people are expected.

“That’s the biggest season that New Zealand has ever had.”

Gisborne could expect to benefit from that growth, she said.

Ms Lloyd said Gisborne expected about 15,000 passengers and 8,000 crew this year.

“If I look to a similar number visiting other New Zealand ports in the 2019/2020 season, this could generate an estimated $10m in cruise spend in the region.”

While that was just an estimate, it provided an idea of the spend that cruises could bring into the region.

Twin berth a ‘great bonus’

“If cruise growth continues as it is for New Zealand and the world, what Gisborne and Tairāwhiti has to offer really suits some great ships to come into the region.

“It’s a  great experience in Gisborne and certainly, what we know works well is when ports, regional tourism organisations and councils and tourism operators work closely together, because passengers come back on to the ship inspired with what they have experienced.

“The way the port and Trust Tairāwhiti are working together here to ensure a good welcome and good experience within the region is gold.

“This region works very well together and that means the visitors have a wonderful experience and the cruise lines want it to be easy as well. Knowing how easy it is to work with the port and the harbour-master and all the other organisations involved in cruise really makes a difference and does very well for Tairāwhiti.”

Eastland Port’s twin berth project, intended to allow two ships to berth at the port, would be a “great bonus” and one Cruise NZ would put to cruise lines looking at future bookings.

“The opportunity not to tender is a real positive for a lot of cruise lines, as it takes away extra time that passengers spend on shore. That can be up to an hour for people getting on and off, so it gives more time on the ground and it’s easier to manage passenger control and volume.”

The cruise season here starts with the National Geographic Orion, which will arrive on November 13. It will be the first of 26 cruise ship visits scheduled before the end of March next year.

■  Anyone interested in being a cruise ambassador this summer can sign up at the i-Site on Wednesday October 25, between 11.30am and 1.30pm.