The New Zealand Cruise Association has just released the schedule for the forthcoming season and nationally it is down by about 3%.
The North Island has lost 41 visits from last year, while the South Island is up, with an additional 23 visits this coming summer.
Dunedin will have 85 visits, an increase on the 72 which actually landed this past summer, impacted with seven cancellations.
Bluff will get the same number of visits as last year (11), while Stewart Island had a significant rise with 18 ships expected, up from 13 from last year.
Fiordland will have 75 visits this coming season, up from 61 last season. Four ships are scheduled to be in Milford Sound on Christmas Day.
New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd said it was a case of ‘‘swings and roundabouts’’ when it came to cruise visits.
It had more to do with the fact there were 35 ships in the New Zealand area and how each company worked out their schedule.
Ships left and returned to docks at Sydney and they were given a slot when to be back.
Ms Lloyd said though 3% was a drop it had plateaued and she felt numbers would be on the rise from 2028-29 — cruise lines set their itinerary two to three years ahead.
Milford Sound was an important attraction in the South Island and passengers liked being able to get on and off at a wharf in Dunedin
as well as all the city’s attractions and being able to walk round Port Chalmers.
Port Otago did a good job for the region, Ms Lloyd said.
‘‘They are a very pro-active with cruise lines and really promote the region.’’
