Cruise industry celebrates first visit to Auckland

Cruise industry celebrates first visit to Auckland

August 12, 2022 - New Zealand's cruise industry has set a course for recovery, celebrating the arrival of the first international ship to sail into Auckland's Waitematā Harbour in more than two years.

P&O Cruises' Pacific Explorer is in Auckland today as part of a South Pacific cruise from Sydney, becoming the first international vessel to carry passengers to New Zealand since the start of the pandemic. It follows the New Zealand Government's decision to open the international maritime border after July 31.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said the New Zealand cruise community could now begin rebuilding an industry that was previously worth almost NZ$570 million a year to the New Zealand economy.

"New Zealand has now joined the rest of the world in a careful resumption of cruise operations," Mr Katz said. "We now have an opportunity to revive a sector that previously supported many thousands of jobs in communities right around the New Zealand coast."

Cruise lines have extensive health and safety protocols in place in response to the global pandemic and have worked closely with New Zealand health authorities to confirm requirements for local operations.

"While no setting is immune from Covid-19, the cruise industry's health measures have been shown to be effective in more than 100 other countries where cruising has already resumed," Mr Katz said. "The experience on cruise ships overseas has shown significantly lower levels of serious illness and hospitalisation than on land," he said. Pacific Explorer is the first ship to visit as part of a gradual resumption of operations in New Zealand that will continue with visits by other vessels in the spring and summer.

"The sight of Pacific Explorer in Waitematā Harbour will be cause for celebration for the many New Zealanders who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihoods, and for the wider tourism industry as New Zealand approaches the summer cruise season ahead," Mr Katz said.

About the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

CLIA Australasia is the regional office of Cruise Lines International Association, the world's largest cruise industry trade association. CLIA provides a unified voice and is the leading authority of the global cruise community. On behalf of its members, affiliates and partners, the organization supports policies and practices that foster a secure, healthy, and sustainable cruise ship environment, promoting positive travel experiences for the more than 30 million passengers who have cruised annually. The CLIA community includes the world's most prestigious ocean, river, and specialty cruise lines; a highly trained and certified travel agent community; and a widespread network of stakeholders, including ports & destinations, ship development, suppliers, and business services. CLIA represents 95% of the world's ocean-going cruise capacity, as well as 54,000 travel agents, and 15,000 of the largest travel agencies in the world. The organization's global headquarters are in Washington, DC, with regional offices located in North and South America, Europe, and Australasia. For more information, please visit cruising.org.au or follow @CLIAAustralasia on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.