Liners will provide accommodation and transport for several thousand fans
Rugby fans will be able to celebrate at sea with plans to accommodate thousands of people on cruise ships during next year's Rugby World Cup.
Tourism Auckland chief executive Graeme Osborne said three official cruise ships would berth in Auckland for the semifinals and final.
"Of course having cruise ships berthed in the heart of the [central business district] will also add hugely to the buzz and vibrancy in Auckland during the event," Mr Osborne said.
The latest projections anticipated 85,000 visitors during the Rugby World Cup, with a maximum of 43,000 at any one time, which would be around the semifinals and final in Auckland, he said.
"The problem is that no one is going to go and build a hotel on the basis of a big event which is going to come and go and so therefore the cruise ships, to us anyway, represent a really sensible and quite innovative solution to the accommodation pressure."
Rhapsody of the Seas, MS Volendam and Pacific Dawn could cater for nearly 5500 people with cruise packages targeted at rugby fans, including tickets, transfers and hospitality.
"The good thing about the cruise ships is that they solve the problem of accommodation and they also solve the problem of transportation," Mr Osborne said.
"We'll be working alongside the official travel agents to encourage these visitors to enjoy the rugby as well as the diverse activities and experiences that Auckland has to offer."
The ships would call at several ports around the country, and make mid-week visits to places like the Bay of Islands, he said.
Tourism Auckland said 105,000 people visited Auckland during the 2009 cruise season, with bookings for 2011/12 suggesting about 180,000 international visitors.
