CentrePort announces fantastic Cruise Season

CentrePort announces fantastic Cruise Season

CentrePort is celebrating the end of a record cruise ship season where 230,000 visitors got a taste of unbeatable Wellington days.

Cruise New Zealand has estimated the bumper season will contribute $65.7 million to the local economy.

“We welcomed 15 percent more visitors on 76 ship visits during our warmest and most settled summer in years,” CentrePort chief executive Derek Nind says.

“Our biggest day was 15 January when the Solstice and Voyager of the Seas brought 9,082 passengers into the city on a perfect ‘you can’t beat Wellington’ Friday.”

Mr Nind said the mild summer meant all scheduled ships arrived in Wellington and feedback from both passengers and crew was exceptional.

The last ship of the season is the Explorer of the Seas, a 138,000 tonne luxury liner which features a rock climbing wall, an ice-skating rink and a mini golf course.

It will be in berth from 7am until 5pm Saturday (16 April) bringing more than 3,000 people into the city.

“Ships love coming to Wellington. Our city opens up right onto the port so they are amongst it in minutes,” Mr Nind said

“The warmth and honesty of Wellingtonians is always mentioned too. When passengers lose an item while exploring, it is invariably returned.”

Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) Chief Executive Chris Whelan says the cruise sector makes a valuable contribution to the region’s economy.

“Wellington’s compact, walkable CBD is ideally suited for catering to, and benefitting from cruise passengers. Our retail and hospitality sectors are easily accessible, as are our top visitor attractions like the Cable Car, Zealandia, Te Papa and Weta Workshop tours.”

Mr Whelan said that a cruise passenger’s stay is measured in hours, rather than days, therefore it is important Wellington delivers ‘value for time’.

“With the help of our volunteer Wellington City Ambassadors acting as guides, cruise visitors can see and do more of what Wellington has to offer. That’s good for them, and great for Wellington.”

Mr Nind said the trend to bigger ships would continue next year with the expected arrival of the 168,000-tonne Ovation of the Seas - the largest cruise ship ever to visit New Zealand. Fifteen years ago the largest ship was just 22,120 tonnes.

Cruise New Zealand Chair Kevin O’Sullivan says Wellington is one of New Zealand’s primary cruise ship destinations and very important to the country’s cruise industry.

“In August this year Cruise New Zealand will hold its annual conference in the city, which will showcase the region’s attractions to conference attendees and speakers from major cruise lines.”

First ship arrived: Saturday 3 October 2015
Last ship departs: 5pm, Saturday 16 April 2016
Total ship visits: 76
Double days (two ships in port): 12
Estimated passenger numbers: 171,300*
Combined crew and passenger numbers: 230,000
Estimated value added: $65.7 million*
*Source: Cruise New Zealand

ENDS

© Scoop Media