Kiwis taking ocean cruises at record numbers

"Ovation of the Seas" the largest cruise ship to ever visit New Zealand comes into port at Otago Harbour. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
"Ovation of the Seas" the largest cruise ship to ever visit New Zealand comes into port at Otago Harbour. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

A record 90,184 New Zealanders sailed on ocean cruises last year, a 36% leap on the previous 12 months, after fears of instability in Europe kept them closer to home.

Figures released this morning show New Zealand was one of only four international markets to record a double-digit increase last year, beaten only by emerging hot-spot China.

There's been a surge in the number of Kiwis cruising around our coasts as the lure of Europe dwindled last year, because of terrorist fears and political uncertainty, said Cruise Lines International Association.

Its 2016 Source Market Report showed that numbers of New Zealanders taking ocean cruises (anywhere in the world) has doubled since 2012.

New Zealand itineraries, driven by P&O Cruises' longer season and more short coastal options, led the strong domestic growth (up 177%) followed by the South Pacific (up almost 50%) and Asia (up 27%).

The association's Australasia managing director, Joel Katz, said New Zealand outperformed other established key markets as more ships came to this region.

The market was well on track to reach the target of 100,000 passengers by 2020, with just 3% growth a year needed to reach that number.

Long-haul fly cruise to Europe fell in 2016 by 10% largely reflecting the impact of geopolitical events. The number of Kiwis cruising the Mediterranean fell by 13% to 8553.

''Although it [Europe] remains a strong destination it has fallen and that is driven by geopolitical events. The benefit of that is that the local market has increased,'' said Mr Katz.

Around the world 25 million people took a cruise last year.

While New Zealand was one of the smallest cruise markets in passenger numbers, with less than half a percent of the world's cruisers, it is ''certainly punching above its weight in terms of growth and market penetration''.

The most popular destinations for Kiwis are the South Pacific, followed by New Zealand.

Together the destinations account for almost 57% of New Zealand's cruise passengers - a growth of 80% year-on-year.

Mr Katz said the Government and other authorities needed to ensure that there was adequate infrastructure planning to sustain the growth.

In Auckland during summer the biggest cruise ship to ever visit, the Ovation of the Seas, had to anchor in the harbour because the cruise berth was not long enough.

"With many of these local cruises calling at the regional ports around the New Zealand coastline, local communities benefit from the injection of valuable tourist dollars into the local economies.''

New Zealand and Australian visitors spent $85 million here last year.

Cruise ship companies have attracted flak for not investing in infrastructure themselves.

Mr Katz said that in other places the industry does.

''It is happy to put its money where its mouth is - the important thing is that the infrastructure is incorporated into the overall strategy and that allows the conversations to be had.''

The annual source market report is based on data received from CLIA's cruise line members, which account for more than 95% of the world's cruise passengers.

Add a Comment