Cruise

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.

Australian and New Zealand cruise agents are to be honoured with a presentation from Cruise Lines International Association recognising the difficult circumstances they have been operating in.

Environment Southland has signed an updated Cruise Ship Deed of Agreement with Cruise Lines International Association to boost revenue from visiting cruise ships in the future.

Cruise industry touts strong new health protocols, watches with envy as businesses ready for air corridor with Australia.

Cruise Lines International Association will bring back its CLIA LIVE education series for 2021.

With the industry yet to revive, one BOP excursion company aims to expand as far as the South Island with a new product.

Port of Tauranga saw ship visits decline by 15.3% to 661 for the six months to December 2020.

NZCA chair Debbie Summers said the decision was made because of the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 on the industry.

The Government has “kneecapped” the tourism sector by causing the Le Lapérouse cruise ship to cancel its season, says the National Party.

Cruise lines are reconsidering future deployments to “unreliable” NZ, says Wild Earth Travel’s Aaron Russ.

The cruise industry says it has been abandoned by the Government.

The denial of visas to 61 crew tarnishes NZ’s cruise friendly reputation, says NZCA.

The New Zealand cruise industry is at a standstill and the country is $601m out of pocket because of it, says NZ Cruise Association chair and ID Tours executive director Debbie Summers.

It is New Zealand’s first purpose-built cruise ship facility.

The global cruise industry is expected to lose US$19.6bn in revenue amid the coronavirus outbreak, a 71% plunge year-over-year, according to StockApps.com.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce president, Jo Healey, is asking what the city council will do to assist economic growth.

All 22 Russian crew aboard Heritage Expeditions’ flagship Spirit of Enderby/Professor Khromov have returned negative Covid tests.

Heritage Expeditions’ flagship Spirit of Enderby has christened Port of Lyttelton’s new $67m cruise ship berth, 10 days ahead of its official opening.

New Zealand had a long window to learn how overseas markets were resuming cruising.

Wellington knocked Auckland off the top spot that it held last year.

Lyttelton Port’s $67m purpose-built cruise ship berth will officially be opened in about two weeks but port executives are looking at alternative uses until cruising resumes.

NZ’s cruise sector has lost around US$600m, says CLIA chair Adam Goldstein.

Donations made by cruise ship passengers visiting the Bay of Plenty during the 2019/2020 season have funded the hatching and raising of a kiwi chick.

Cruise Lines International Association Australasia will hold its first Cruise Port & Destination Virtual Showcase between 1-10 December.

Cruise Lines International Association is offering its Australasian travel agent members bonus commissions and rewards.

Celebrity Cruises has launched its Celebrity Commitment, a formal recognition of its commitment to the travel agent community in Australia and New Zealand.

The Christchurch-based operator will be the first to bring a ship back to NZ.

Christchurch-based travel agency Heritage Expeditions has secured permission to begin domestic cruises in New Zealand, says the New Zealand Crusie Association.

A booming pre-Covid cruise market saw cruise ship expenditure drop by just 3.2% in the year ending June 2020, despite the season being cut short by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Ports of Auckland said it was unlikely that there would be any cruise ship visits in the 2020-21 financial year.

There is a “clear lack of empathy, concern or understanding” for the travel industry, says Helloworld’s former cruise marketing manager.

More cancellations are expected but there is also hope for a domestic-only season, says NZ Cruise.

Port of Tauranga says it is not budgeting for any cruise ship visits in the 2020-21 season.

Loss of cruise ship visits contributed to a decline in FY20 earnings, says Port Napier.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says progress on a domestic-only cruise season has been pushed back by the latest Covid-19 outbreak and delayed election.

NZ Customs is reviewing the New South Wales Special Commission of Inquiry into the Ruby Princess.

The special inquiry into the cruise ship Ruby Princess found that mistakes were “inexcusable”.

A Celebrity Cruises survey of travel partners across Australasia showed 92% of respondents believed New Zealand-only cruises would be popular once restrictions lifted.

Cruise Lines International Association has welcomed European Maritime Safety Agency guidance on the resumption of cruise ship operations.

There are some real and perceived obstacles to overcome, says NZ Cruise.

The Government’s ban on cruise ships in New Zealand waters is “purely political” and a bid to calm “nervous communities”, the New Zealand Cruise Association told it members Wednesday. 

Celebrity Cruises will extend its suspension of global operations for all sailings, citing the ongoing ramifications of the Covid-19 crisis.

New Zealand’s cruise standstill due to Covid-19 will leave “a big hole” for some operators in the Gisborne region, says general manager tourism at Activate Tairāwhiti Adam Hughes.

Without a start date, operators could deploy their vessels elsewhere, says the NZ Cruise Association.

New Zealand will miss out on more than quarter-of-a-billion dollars if the current ban on cruise ship visits is extended to the end of this year, says the New Zealand Cruise Association.