Star launches New Zealand cruise season

The cruise ship Star Princess will launch New Zealand’s 2009/2010 cruise season when she calls at Ports of Auckland early on Friday morning (16 October).

The 2,600 guest capacity ship will be the first of 25 ships to make 57 calls to Auckland during the full summer and winter cruise season, which runs through until August next year.

Managing Director Jens Madsen said that while the economic situation had impacted some international cruise operators, the New Zealand market had shown resilience.

“Despite a slight drop in the number of cruise ship calls this season, we are hearing positive reports from around the industry and are expecting a speedy recovery.”

“Bookings for the next 2010/2011 season are currently sitting at 69 calls,” said Mr Madsen.

“We are hosting 25% more cruise ship calls this season than we did just three years ago, and have also seen an increase in winter cruise calls over the last two years.”

Auckland will host nine calls by the Pacific Sun during the 2010 winter season.

Ports of Auckland will also welcome four maiden calling ships during the season, the Arcadia, a 2,300 passenger vessel, the boutique Seabourne Odyssey, P&O Australia’s new Pacific Jewel and the Saga Ruby.

Other highlights include a call by Cunard’s Queen Victoria on 13 February, and her much bigger sister, the Queen Mary 2 on 4 March.

“We will also host three ships on one day again this year, when the Europa, Clipper Odyssey and Dawn Princess call Auckland in earlier February,” said Mr Madsen.

The Europa will call at the primary cruise ship terminal at Princes Wharf, while the other two ships will berth at Queens Wharf.

Mr Madsen said that Queens Wharf would takeover the role of being Auckland’s primary cruise terminal, from Princes Wharf, once a new cruise facility was developed at Queens Wharf.

ENDS

The Ports of Auckland is New Zealand’s largest container port by volume, handling around 840,000 TEU (20ft-equivalent units), more than 1,600 ship calls and 2.7 million tonnes of break-bulk (non-containerised) cargo per annum. It is New Zealand’s major import port and a key partner to export industries. The Ports of Auckland is 100%-owned by Auckland Regional Holdings.