The tally for the 2008-09 season is 66 cruise ships with a capacity for 92,000 passengers.
This season, 42 cruise ships arrived, up from 39 the year before.
Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said the increase reflected the popularity of the cruise ship market and Dunedin as a destination.
‘‘It is a growing part of our business. It is good for people at the port and it is great for the community.
‘‘But we have to make sure we can grow with it. We have to work hard as a tourist destination to make sure we deliver a good product.''
Tourism Dunedin chief executive Jan Hindson said cruise ship visits this season would contribute more than $13 million to the local economy.
The growth was especially welcome because of an expected decline in North American visitors, she said.
Dunedin Visitor Centre team leader Louise van de Vlierd said the new information centre at the port had ‘‘made a big difference'.
Dunedin attractions, such as the Taieri Gorge Railway, peninsula tours, Larnach Castle, Olveston, Speight's Heritage Tours and Cadbury World, continued to appeal to passengers.
Speight's Brewery Heritage Centre manager Chris Snow said the cruise ship passenger market was ‘‘incredibly important'' to the local industry.
Because of the forecast growth, Tourism Dunedin has initiated a Dunedin Cruise Marketing Network beginning early next month.
‘‘We have to ensure we can manage the growth of this market,'' Mrs Hindson said.
A report released by Cruise NZ last year on the economic impact of the 2006-07 season revealed Dunedin was the third highest-earning New Zealand destination after Auckland and Christchurch.
Next season will begin with the scheduled arrival of Dawn Princess on October 22, 2008, and end six months later with the departure of the same vessel on April 22.
Among the vessels expected next season are Millennium (12 visits), Volendam (10) and Dawn Princess and Diamond Princess (six) and Oceanic Discoverer (twice).
The last cruise ship to visit this season is Sapphire Princess on April 22.
