Cruise

Cruise vessel bookings at Napier Port are recovering well, according to first-quarter 2023 trade volumes published last week.

Nominations are open for the 20th Cruise Industry Awards, held by Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.

Avis and Princess Cruises have won top accolades at the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards 2023.

The single domestic cruise ship visit to Napier in the year to September 2022 was worth $12,000, according to Napier Port’s 2022 annual report.

Cruise lines are preparing for an industry-wide switch to shoreside electricity as part of a commitment by Cruise Lines International Association ocean-going members to pursue net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The Bus and Coach Association wants to see more communication between the inbound tour sector and transport operators as the cruise season puts pressure on capacity.

The cruise industry has learnt much from the pandemic but more can be done to protect those at sea and on land, say researchers.

A lack of transport in Dunedin for cruise passengers is tipping “money down the drain”, according to one prominent operator in the city.

More than 180,000 passenger arrivals are expected to flow through Auckland over the next year as cruise makes a triumphant return.

The New Zealand Cruise Association will hold next year’s Cruise Conference at the Christchurch Town Hall.

Taitokerau Northland businesses are preparing to welcome the first cruise ship back to the Bay of Islands on Monday.

Regional operators are hoping for a strong summer but it may to take a while to reach pre-pandemic levels of activity.

The Department of Conservation says it can work with the operators of ships at sea to prevent light from affecting the behaviour of birds.

Tourism Bay of Plenty is expecting more than 170,000 visitors to the region this season thanks to cruise’s return.

With questions around cruise ships’ environmental and health impacts and their relatively small contribution to the economy, lavish welcomes may not be justifiable, writes Timothy Welch.

It’s been a long three years but the future of cruise looks strong, she tells the industry’s annual conference.

“The value of passengers who come through the distribution channel should not be underestimated,” says GTNZ’s Anna Black.

The French operator’s APAC chair urges the govt to take a practical approach and criticises proposals to cap visits to Fiordland.

Around 220 industry professionals are converging on Auckland for the first NZ Cruise conference since 2019.

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer berths in Auckland, marking the restart of cruise in NZ.

The arrival of P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer in Auckland marks the restart of cruise in New Zealand.

Passengers on cruise ships and recreational vessels are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and must comply with all domestic health measures including isolation.

Fitzgerald will join cruise industry leaders at the Cruise360 Australasia 2022’s State of the Industry panel.

P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer will be the first cruise ship with international passengers to visit NZ.

Napier Port has opened its 350-metre Te Whiti wharf, which is long and deep enough to accommodate large vessels.

Business leader and cruise company founder Sarina Bratton has been announced as the keynote speaker for the New Zealand Cruise Association Conference 2022.

The first four cruise ships arriving from October could bring more than 13k passengers to the regions.

Travel agents will have an opportunity to virtually explore top cruise destinations around the world in a week-long webinar programme from Cruise Lines International Association Australasia.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says New Zealand’s full border reopening on 31 July is great news for the city’s tourism and hospitality operators.

How cruise managed the pandemic will be studied for years, says the tourism minister.

After two years of hardship, hundreds of Kiwi ship suppliers and tourism operators can start rebuilding their businesses, says NZCA.

Pre-departure testing is also expected to be scrapped before the end of July.

The number of cruise ships scheduled to stop at the Akaroa port near Christchurch for the 2022/23 season is down to just 19 ships, a 79% drop compared to the 90 ships that visited during 2019/20.

The government is yet to announce a date for cruise visits to start again despite the air border to Australia re-opening last week.

The New Zealand Cruise Association is calling on the government to say when the industry can restart after P&O Cruises Australia cancelled its 2022 Auckland season.

Cruising in NZ waters has been well supported over summer but there are clouds on the horizon, say operators.

The association’s chair on the efforts to get cruise going again in NZ and why Q4 2022 remains the target, despite Omicron.

Demand for cruises continues to be strong globally, including for passengers planning to cruise in New Zealand waters, according to the New Zealand Cruise Association.

The New Zealand Cruise Association will hold next year’s Cruise Conference at Auckland’s Aotea Centre.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says a New Zealand Customs’ investigation has confirmed that the Ruby Princess and its local port agents made appropriate health declarations when the ship visited New Zealand in March 2020.

The new experience aims to capitalise on the domestic-only market this summer but also become a ‘must-do’ attraction longer term.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) says the number of passengers who have sailed worldwide since ocean cruise operations resumed last year has now passed three million.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says the industry may not restart again for another year.

CentrePort posted an underlying net profit after tax of $7.2m for the year to June 2021, down 51% compared to the $14.7m recorded in FY20.

Princess Cruises is cancelling the summer seasons for three vessels initially scheduled to sail routes in Australia and New Zealand due to uncertainty around the return of cruising in the region.

The newly-elected chair of New Zealand Cruise Association says the future of the industry remains strong.

The resumption of cruises from Australia in summer appears remote even if border restrictions are eased in early 2022.

Line-up of country stars as well as country-themed dance and activities on offer for three day cruise.

The New Zealand Cruise Association wants rapid testing in place and safe bubble cruising for larger ships with reduced guest numbers in 2022.

Maritime New Zealand is calling for feedback on draft Marine Protection Rules as part of plans for New Zealand to join an international convention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from ships.