New Zealand destinations put to the test
SYDNEY – The visit next week of Star Princess to Auckland will mark the opening of a busy New Zealand cruise season, with a record 52,000 passengers sailing on ships operated by Carnival New Zealand.
Over the next six months, 11 ships from the Carnival New Zealand fleet will make a total 158 port visits around the country. The figure is up 50 percent on last year’s season.
With each visit contributing around $500,000 through port fees, stores and passenger spending, Kiwi businesses are set to reap around $80 million in direct expenditure between October 2009 and March 2010.
Season highlights include visits from two of the largest and most famous ocean liners in the world, Cunard’s 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, and the first visits to New Zealand of the world’s newest luxury cruise ships, the Seabourn Odyssey, and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia as part of their world cruise voyages.
Akaroa and Gisborne are back on the schedule this season, having not had visits since the 2003/04 and 2005/06 seasons respectively.
Carnival Australia and New Zealand CEO Ann Sherry said, “Each port visit is a chance for businesses to generate some excitement amongst their local communities, expose their products to new audiences, sell themselves as destinations in their own right and entice passengers back for a longer and closer look.
“The challenge for New Zealand destinations is to ensure they put in place the infrastructure, and provide the experience, that will make our passengers want to return.”
Ian Jarrett
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