Three of the 84 cruise ships visiting Tauranga this season will be making their maiden voyages to the Bay for the first time - The MV Deutshland, MS Albatros and L'Austral.
Mr Melgren said Mainstreet ambassadors, retailers, tour operators and Tourism Bay of Plenty were all gearing up the start of the season.
It was vital the rest of the community also played their part in helping to make this summer's cruise ship a bumper success, he said.
"These people land on our doorstep, a place they love to come and it's important we show them the welcoming mat. We are all ambassadors and we all need to promote this place."
Downtown Tauranga is also preparing to welcome cruise ship passengers and they will be invited to hop on board the City Centre Express shuttle.
Tauranga Cruiseabout manager Nicola Edgecombe said this year would definitely the biggest cruise ship season on record, with a huge increase in the number of ships that had Sydney and Brisbane as their home ports.
The Sea Princess will berth in Tauranga at 4.45am on Saturday and sail for Napier at 4.30pm the same day.
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