More people than ever cruise into city

Sapphire Princess was one of 48 ships to visit Auckland during the season, which closed yesterday. Picture/ Martin Sykes

A record 100,000 people visited Auckland on cruise ships this year - 61 per cent more than last season.

Ports of Auckland said the season also set a record for the number of ship visits, which at 48 was 50 per cent up on last season's.

"Auckland is the only city in New Zealand to host a winter cruise season and it is proving increasingly popular," said general manager port services Will Harvey.

He said the season ended with the Pacific Star berthing yesterday and would resume on October 25 with the arrival of The World, which has been described as a floating luxury apartment building.

The vessel was last here during the America's Cup regatta in 2003.

It will spend three days in Auckland to give passengers time to take in the tourist attractions of the upper North Island.

He said the big excitement of the new season was the expected arrival of the Queen Mary 2 on February 17.

Dubbed by owners Cunard as the "world's largest, longest, tallest, widest, greatest ocean liner ever", the 150,000-tonne ship will carry 2800 passengers on its maiden call to Auckland.

At 345m, the Queen Mary 2 is over 50m longer than the older Queen Elizabeth 2, which will call on February 11.

Mr Harvey said 47 visits by 22 ships were expected in the new season.

Each passenger was estimated to spend $150 a day in port on top of shore excursions.

A 2005 report on the significance of the cruise industry to Auckland estimated the direct spend by the industry in the 2005-06 season would be $51 million, generating $104 million of economic benefit in the region and supporting 752 full-time jobs.