Cruise season gets underway as operator plans to double NZ port visits
The cruise sector is expecting more than $200 million in local economic activity this season as operator Princess Cruises plans to double the number of New Zealand visits.
The commencement of the 2026/27 cruise season in New Zealand was heralded by the arrival of the Princess Cruises ship, the Crown Princess, in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour on Saturday morning. This marks the start of an anticipated surge in tourism as the operator plans to more than double its visits to New Zealand ports from 2028.
According to Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston, over 200,000 cruise passengers are expected to visit New Zealand before the end of June. The agency representing Auckland, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, forecast the cruise sector to inject more than $200 million into the local economy during the season.
However, the agency's director, Annie Dundas, noted that passenger numbers are currently lagging compared to previous years. Nevertheless, Dundas expressed optimism about the future, citing Princess Cruises' intentions to double the number of its port calls in the country from the 2028/29 season.
Under this plan, Princess Cruises would visit a total of nine New Zealand ports, including Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Picton, Napier, and Timaru. Additionally, the company has announced plans to offer scenic cruising experiences through Fiordland. The expanded schedule is set to make Princess Cruises the largest cruise operator in New Zealand, with the Crown Princess, accommodating approximately 3,080 guests, currently on a 114-day world cruise.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
