Bargains pull people to big boats

Bay residents wanting to escape the onset of winter are turning to cruises  to make their holiday dollar stretch further.
Tauranga travel agents spoken to the by the Bay of Plenty Times said cruising was growing in popularity as a winter getaway. The Cook Islands and Gold Coast were also hot tickets,  people beginning to book holidays as temperatures dropped.
Tim Jensen, owner of Mondo Travel Tauranga, said cruising was "a growth area".
"Cruising has been building over several years. We are seeing that continue to grow as a market for travellers.
"The cruises out of Auckland have been extremely popular, and [appeal to] people wanting to get away, but who don't want to fly."
Mr Jensen said cruises were available  from $799 for an eight-night P&O cruise around New Caledonia, sharing a four-berth cabin.
"That's $100 per night, and when you consider you've got your entertainment, travel and food included, it's really, really good value."
Shane Kennedy, owner-operator of Tauranga House of Travel, said holidaymakers couldn't go past cruises for value for money.
"There are a lot of really good deals. When people look at the cost, and they see that they cruise to the South Pacific anyway [it makes sense]."
David Cull, owner of Harvey World Travel in Tauranga, said  some "amazing" cruise deals were available.
A cruise around Asia had been reduced by 80 per cent, he said.
"There are some massive savings to be made."
Other popular destinations included the Pacific Islands, in particular the Cook Islands.
Mr Jensen said holidaymakers were returning to Samoa and were not put off by last year's  tsunami there.
"I think in one sense they are conscious that, where possible, they want to help the local economy in Samoa."
Australian destinations such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns remained popular with families, Mr Jensen said.
But Thailand and Fiji had dropped in popularity due to political problems.
Falling New Zealand temperatures had prompted people to start thinking about escaping to sunnier climes.
People were booking now for holidays in July, August and September, Mr Jensen said.
"There's no doubt that the cold motivates people. They want to get a bit of sun and feel the sand under their feet."
And people wanting a holiday package bargain were in luck this year. The  mix of a strong New Zealand dollar and low airfares and accommodation prices meant there had never been a better time to travel, Mr Cull said.
"If you've got the money, there are some great deals to be had. The airfares have been fantastic and they can't afford to maintain at that level.
"People are going to have to realise that the prices in the market we've had in the last year or 18 months will go up."