Sunday, October 15, marks the official beginning of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s 2023 season of cruise ship arrivals, set to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region.
This cruise season sees more than 50 different ships calling at Auckland through 135 port visits and lasts until the end of June 2024. These ships will result in an estimated 250,000 visitors arriving in Tāmaki Makaurau, up 50 per cent on last season.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited head of Visitor Economy, Annie Dundas says cruise ships play an important role in the visitor economy of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
“We know previous cruise seasons delivered positive impacts which were felt throughout the region. The 2022 season brought 38 ships and 165,000 passengers to Auckland, with each cruise passenger estimated to spend more than $700 while in the region, usually for one day. This season looks to build on those numbers and will result in significant on-ground spending with spillover effects for the wider economy. The arrival of these international visitors to Tāmaki Makaurau, many of whom haven’t been here before, will deliver a vibrancy to central Auckland, as well as a boost to the economy.” says Annie.
After welcoming the Pacific Explorer over the winter, the 2023 cruise season begins with regular visitor Celebrity Solstice docking at Queens Wharf on Sunday around 10am, and this year for the first time, Auckland welcomes three new cruises – Disney Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages and Celebrity Edge.
