- The New Zealand Cruise Association just held a conference called “This is not a drill”.
- The New Zealand cruise industry is seeing a steep decline in cruise visitors, of up to 40% over just two years.
- This will have grave consequences for the industry, putting at risk the 10,000 jobs that the New Zealand cruise industry created in the 2023/24 season.
New Zealand is in the process of reckoning with, and attempting to reverse, an undeniable crisis for the cruise industry.
The New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) just held their annual conference and even themed it, “This is not a drill”, attempting to emphasise not only the severity but the urgency of the situation.
Passenger numbers have dropped 20% since last year and are projected to fall another 20% by next season.
This season is expected to see 215,000 passengers, compared to 330,000 just one year before.
Jacquie Lloyd, chief executive of the NZCA said RNZ: “It is a little [like] crisis talks, but there is also a lot of positivity.
“[We’re talking about] how we all need to work together, and make sure that the messaging is going out around central and local government on how important cruise is for regional economies, particularly our tourism and hospitality operators.”
Lloyd noted that she was even told by cruise lines that the number of searches for New Zealand cruises is dropping.
“[It was] interesting talking to Princess Cruises today, who spoke at the conference, and talked about the fact that the searches for New Zealand and Australia for Princess are down quite considerably on what they have been previously
“We will need to do a lot of work, as a nation, to promote passengers to come back to our shores.”
This makes sense, given that more and more cruise passengers seem to be accepting that they won’t be able to make it out to New Zealand, as the number of available cruises continues to diminish.
It was also conceded by Lloyd that the job losses would be inevitable as the cruise numbers continued to drop.
“There will be [job losses], and that will predominantly be through hospitality and tourism providers, drivers for coaches, likely within ports for teams that usually will look after cruise vessels.
“There are 10,000 jobs created by [the cruise industry] in the 2023/24 season and we do have concerns that we’ll see a reduction for this season coming.”
Other issues discussed at the conference included continuing biofouling concerns, and the possibility of installing a port cleaning station at Auckland to help with this.
Overall, the message was clear – New Zealand cruise is in trouble and if the situation is going to be resurrected, action is required right now.
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We have considered cruising to New Zealand in the near future but we find that as elite passengers of Princess cruises The cruise prices now are beyond reasonable and don’t encourage older people to cruise especially ourselves. Over the past couple of years, I have noticed that prices of cruising have gone out of all control and a bit over the top especially since they brought in the extras to ticket prices such as drinks packages etc. As an older person I find the larger ships too big Not from the point of view of passengers Distances to walk to move around the ship. In the earlier days before covid 19 came on the Scene the cruise ships like the Sea Princess the Dawn Princess and the Sun Princess were very comfortable ships to move around on and they could get into much better locations and closer to islands which are not used anymore.
Very disappointed that we in our golden years (over 80, but still in reasonable good health) are not able to go on a cruise departing /arriving from/to a home port, e.g. Melbourne. Find it to much to have to go to e.g. Sydney or Brisbane to embark and do the same to return home. My husband and i and friends have cruised many times. We feel this is the best holidays we can have, enjoying good company, food, entertainment and not having to go on transport around cities all the time, thus enjoy the time one is on holiday without getting tired,
The port charges should be looked at so as not to increase the fares but also the shipping lines not too look into making too much profit.
This goes for both Australia and New Zealand.
I saw this coming. New Zealand seems to have an ambivalent attitude to visitors. The money is welcome but the people are not.
My wife and I live in Lara,Victoria. Several of our friends and relatives used to prefer sailing on Princess Cruises from Melbourne. We are of an age now that we don’t want to travel up to Sydney for a cruise. We are not millionaires. Bring the ships back into Melbourne and I’m sure your numbers will increase.
I was always happy to cruise from Melbourne to NZ, and spend $$s there, did about 12 from memory but now there are so many obstacles in the way. Bad enough Princess pulling out of Melbourne (with 96% load factor) now our Kiwi friends are making it very difficult with extra charges. Careful there they might price themselves out of the market. I’m now spending my travel $$s elsewhere.
Successive New Zealand governments have driven the cruise industry away. I feel no pity for New Zealand as they destroyed their cruise industry.
I am angry that their actions have contributed to the decline in the Australian cruise industry.
I see a day when cruise ships are rarely seen in Australia and New Zealand
Disgusting, once again, idiot Politicians destroying people’s freedoms