First cruise liner of new season due

The 2750-passenger Diamond Princess in the Bay of Islands today. PHOTO / Peter de Graaf

Northland's $28 million summer cruise ship season started today with the arrival of the Diamond Princess and its 2750 mainly Australian passengers.

It is the first of a record 54 cruise ships expected to visit the Bay of Islands in the 2015-16 season, eclipsing the previous highest tally of 52 in the Rugby World Cup season of 2011-12.

The visitors are forecast to inject $28.7 million into Northland's economy.

The chairman of Business Paihia's cruise ship committee, Heinz Marti, said while the number of vessels was only eight more than last year the number of passengers would almost double from 60,000 to 105,000 due to the ships' ever-increasing size.

The benefits were spread across the Far North, he said. On average, a third of passengers pre-booked tours as far away as Hokianga or the glowworm caves at Waiomio.

Another third organised their own excursions by hire car or helicopter, or stayed in town spending money, while the rest stayed on board.

In the Bay of Islands, however, the proportion going ashore was often up to 90 per cent.

Passenger surveys ranked the Bay their second-favourite port in New Zealand, behind only Milford Sound, where cruise passengers did not go ashore.

Among those getting ready for today's influx were the volunteers of the Bay of Islands Cruise Ship Ambassadors scheme.

The ambassadors meet arrivals at Waitangi jetty, point them to shuttle buses to town, direct traffic and answer questions.

Co-ordinator Anika West said the most common question was, "Where's the best fish and chips?", but they were always careful to give general tips.

They would also organise transport as required and keep passengers entertained if they had to wait to get back to the ship.

When one ship had problems with its tenders last year, resulting in huge queues, the ambassadors helped them pass the time by organising Mexican waves.

The 290-metre Diamond Princess arrived about 6am from Auckland. It will leave at 5pm for Sydney.

Among other ships visiting the Bay of Islands will be several brand-new vessels including the Costa Luminosa, Noordam, Le Soleal and Azamara Quest.

The biggest by passenger numbers, just over 3100, will be the Explorer of the Seas on March 14.