Auckland Cruise Numbers Up

New Zealand’s economic hub is proving to be a popular destination for an increasing number of cruise companies with seven maiden callers since 2013.

Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) predicts an average of one to two cruise ship visits per week this season each carrying 2,360 passengers and 731 crew – a 10,000 person increase on the previous season.

The value added benefit to the Auckland economy is projected to be $1.8 million per cruise ship, supporting nearly 2,700 jobs.

The 2014/2015 summer period will see more cruise passengers to Auckland than ever before with the Voyager of the Seas bringing in 3,800 passengers. The vessel made its first visit on 13 December 2014 and returned to Princes Wharf this past week with the same number of visitors.

“Large passenger discharges such as these present a myriad of potential challenges, particularly in terms of getting passengers off the vessel and through terminal facilities under immense time pressure,” says POAL Manager Marine and Cruise Operations, Leigh Robins. 

“Our team creates easily navigated channels, which passengers can flow through and still meet the on-wharf passenger processing requirements. It involves extensive planning, initiative and flexibility to ensure operations run efficiently,” she said.

Unlike many other ports internationally, the vessels dock in the heart of the city’s revitalized waterfront at Princes and Queens Wharves, facilitating spend on local tourist attractions and in the city’s central business district retail hub.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says Auckland’s non-stop summer has had a good start with 35 cruise ships visiting Auckland in the 2014/2015 cruise season to date.

“Auckland receives significant GDP return from the provisioning and refuelling of cruise ships and money spent by passengers and crew during exchanges. More than 257,000 passengers and crew are expected to visit this season,” says O’Riley.

Auckland plays a key role in the tourism industry at a nationwide level as the primary exchange point for cruise ships. Ports of Auckland manage all cruise ship visits to Auckland and provide piloting and towage services as well as cruise terminal operations.

Quick Facts

This year the port celebrates 175 years of Auckland being a port city.
In 2013/14, the port hosted calls from 34 cruise ships making 88 visits.
Over 195,000 passengers and crew were processed in the last year.
2014/15 will see three maiden callers and one entirely new cruise line visiting Auckland.