Cloudy conditions were no barrier for people farewelling the first of the season's cruise ships on Saturday.
The unofficial Pilot Bay fish'n'chip season launched with the arrival at the Port of Tauranga of the Sea Princess, two weeks after a planned visit on October 4 was postponed.
The Sea Princess sailed in at 4.45am to a cloudy day in Tauranga before departing again at 4.30pm just as the rain began to set in.
A number of groups huddled along Pilot Bay, braving the weather as the ship set off.
Rebecca Beale took her sons Archie and Max and their friend Emily to watch the ship leave.
"It's the first one so we thought we'd come down. It's always fun to watch and it's a good time of the day."
Despite the weather, people were taking the ship's presence as a sign of summer.
Mrs Beale agreed the sight of a cruise ship was a signal for summer heading back to the Bay. "Seeing a cruise ship is a big sign of summer. It's great."
Crowds were lined up along the jetty as the ship pushed off from its dock, some even eating the iconic summer treat of ice cream as the drizzle began.
This month, Mount Mainstreet manager Peter Melgren said it was vital the cruise passengers and crew visiting during the 2014-2015 season were made to feel welcome.
New figures showed about 40 per cent of cruise ship passengers would return to a place they liked while on the cruise, he said.
It is estimated more than $45 million will be injected into the Western Bay economy over the season.
Three of the 84 cruise ships visiting Tauranga this season will be making their maiden voyages to the Bay - the MV Deutschland, MS Albatross and L'Austral.
The next cruise ship, Dawn Princess, is set to dock in Tauranga on Friday.
Cruise season
• More than 218,000 passengers
• 84 cruise ship visits
• $200 average spend per passenger
• $45 million into the Western Bay economy