All up, 55 liners made up the 2017/18 schedule which was 10 up on the previous season.
And the numbers are set to rise to 58 next season as the cruise industry booms and passenger numbers increase.
The following season was also set to see an increase at this stage.
As Hawke's Bay Tourism general manager Annie Dundas said, the revenue generated in the local economy from a cruise ship visit depends on the size of the ship.
For the local economy the cruise ship industry generated around $20 million a season.
"It is a hugely important boost for hospitality, retailers and tourism operators," Ms Dundas said.
Up to 130,000 passengers and crew will have stepped ashore at Napier since the season sparked up in November last year with the arrival of the Noordam.
And while the industry only made up a relatively small part of the Napier Port's overall business the economic impact it made on the region made it "hugely important", chief executive Garth Cowie said.
The 2018/19 season will kick off in a big way with the first arrival set to be the 330m giant Majestic Princess which carries 3560 passengers and has a crew of 1346.
The growing numbers of liner arrivals reflects a global rise in the industry.
In a report released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) last year the growth and evolution of the industry worldwide was described as happening "at a record pace".
When CLIA first began compiling figures in 1980 it emerged that about 1.4 million passengers were embarking on cruises.
In 2006 there were about 15 million and during 2016 that figure had risen to 24 million.
The association also noted that last year member cruise lines debuted 27 new ocean, river and specialty ships, with the total investment coming in around the $6.5 billion mark.