The arrival of Radiance of the Seas in Wellington has heralded the start of a very healthy cruise ship season for New Zealand.
An economic report released by Cruise New Zealand last week shows cruise ships are expected to make 124 voyages around New Zealand in 2014-15, spending 712 days at ports throughout the country.
This is great news for New Zealand’s cruise ship season, which officially started today with Radiance of the Seas’ arrival in Wellington.
“The cruise sector has been forecast to contribute NZ $373.4 million to the New Zealand economy in 2014-15 and support almost 7000 jobs,” Cruise New Zealand General Manager Raewyn Tan said.
Pictured: Radiance of the Seas docked at Sydney.
Ms Tan says it is vital New Zealand ensures the sustainability of cruise ship tourism, including infrastructure that can safely accommodate and efficiently process the larger, next generation of ships, as well as sensible regulations that not only protect the wellbeing of New Zealanders but also ensure New Zealand’s economic wealth is enduring.
“The economy also benefits from ships reprovisioning when they start and end a voyage in Auckland,” she said.
“Overland excursions to places like Queenstown and overnight stays in select ports also generate wealth into regional economies.”
It is estimated that half of the voyages this season will take place between January and February. Regions such as Auckland, Tauranga, Akaroa and Fiordland will have a number of three-ship days to manage. Others, main cruise ports and emerging cruise destinations like Nelson, Kaikoura and Stewart Island, are all expected to reap the cruise sector’s spread of wealth throughout New Zealand.
Pictured; Queen Elizabeth cruising through Auckland.
The summer cruise season will be bookended by Oceania Cruises Insignia, which sails into Auckland on 25 May 2015. Winter cruises out of Auckland to the Pacific Islands will extend the season into early June, before round-the-world voyages sail back to Australia in late August.