Radiance of the Seas is set to dock in Tauranga in November next year as it journeys around New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Kiwis are still "desperate to head away on a ship again" despite the global pandemic with one travel agent revealing all of its 2022 cruises were "booked out".
Another had pre-booked more than $1 million in cruises with some passengers choosing ''once-in-a-lifetime journeys that they have always wanted to take''.
That scenario was happening across the globe ''as the rest of the world marched on'' with their cruising plans which meant popular destinations were near ''impossible to get ''.
Royal Caribbean says six cruise ships were scheduled to visit Tauranga as part of its 2022/2023 season with Radiance of the Seas set to dock on November 6.
The move has been welcomed by business leaders. Prior to Covid, the cruising industry was worth nearly $75 million to the Bay of Plenty economy and $545m nationally with high expectations for strong growth before border closures put the sector in a tailspin.
Tourism Bay of Plenty said many operators reliant on that income had pivoted or gone into hibernation and it was ''tough navigating'' a way forward.
However, a Ministry of Health spokeswoman said it would not be making any changes to the current maritime border settings in relation to cruise ships.
''Given the uncertainty around this area, we would advise people to closely review their cancellation and refund conditions before they make a booking. The 2022/2023 cruise season is some way off and any changes to the Maritime Border Order, including whether cruises can recommence, will be considered closer to the time.''
Royal Caribbean International vice president and managing director Gavin Smith said it had seen a surge in bookings for New Zealand bound ships.
''The most popular itineraries at the moment are sailings to New Zealand, the trans-Pacific and across Christmas and the New Year.''
Royal Caribbean had completed several sailings globally, recording a successful return to cruising, he said.
''While federal governments in Australia and New Zealand are yet to announce the required health protocols to safely return to cruising, Royal Caribbean will work closely with required parties to ensure their health and safety priorities meet the standards required.''
The ships have robust ventilation systems, enhanced cleaning and sanitisation, and reduced occupancy.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean would also take mask-wearing and vaccination mandates into close consideration, to ensure each sailing is safe and enjoyable for all passengers.
Joanna Corbett from Galaxy Travel Rotorua said all its 2022 cruises were booked out.
''All those holding credits are rebooking in anticipation.''
She said the company had constant inquiries for cruising in all destinations and a lot to and from New Zealand, to the islands and other cruises out of Australia.
But far-flung places like Alaska, the Caribbean, Galapagos and Panama Canal also sold out quickly.
''I am trying to secure a Cape Town to Dubai but we are on our third attempt. We have received cruise itineraries right through Covid.''
New ships were also being built.
''There is still the future of travel for a majority of travellers. Not all. But a huge majority.''
House of Travel Papamoa, Mt Maunganui and The Crossing owner/operator Tanya Aitken said she had pre-booked more than $1m in future cruises.
''They are desperate to head away again on a ship and feeling somewhat more comfortable about staying in a controlled environment whilst exploring the world. Some of the work that cruise lines are doing to protect people exceeds the wildest imagination of many, and their management of health risk is outstanding.''
She said people were looking to travel on smaller ships like river cruising in Europe, and also on world cruises.
''It's those once-in-a-lifetime journeys that they have always wanted to take, and now think 'when it's safe to, why not?''
Demand for travel closer to home on board the most popular lines, and themed cruises had also been particularly popular.
''Many cruises have sold out in less than three hours, and people don't want to miss out on a much-needed holiday when it is safe to cruise again.''
YOU Travel Bethlehem managing director Kay Rogers would welcome back cruise ships due to the new safety enhancements and protocols the ships had adopted.
''Many of the cruise lines loved by Kiwis cruisers are ships carrying less than 1000 passengers which means that these vessels are safer than small cities. They can control who boards the ship (both crew and passenger) and the environment on board in terms of state-of-the-art air filters, food preparation and passenger capacity.
''There does not seem to be any reasonable reason why the Government could not approve cruise lines within strict health boundaries, and could not safely cruise NZ waters, and venture further afield to include Australia once the situation there has been resolved and has improved to a satisfactory standard.''
Many overseas countries were already cruising within their own home markets.
House of Travel Rotorua director Pam Turner said the Government needed to be more open-minded to cruise ships coming back to New Zealand waters in a safe manner.
''The Government missed an opportunity to have ships based in New Zealand, travelling with safe crews that had been through MIQ.''
Those visitors spent money in local communities, she said.
Travel Agents' Association of New Zealand president Brent Thomas said the ''rest of the world has got on with travelling and marched on''.
''There are significant numbers of European, Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises that are already at full or approaching full levels. So if New Zealanders are contemplating cruising in 2022 they need to give it some quick consideration as the Americans are travelling and filling up those ships.
''Many agents are already noticing sometimes the first choice of a cruise someone wants to go on is not available.''
The industry was excited to see the return of cruise ships to New Zealand waters as it would provide a ''real boom for our local economies''.
The value of travel agents moving forward could not be underestimated in getting people to cruises and back home safely, Thomas said.
Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Oscar Nathan said it had been tough navigating the ongoing challenge that is living with Covid.
"Even though cruise is unlikely to return this coming summer season 2021-22 it is now even more imperative we, as a country, get on top of this latest outbreak to have some semblance of confidence to plan for the future.''
Since the Government announced the closure of cruise visitation in 2020, many of its operators had taken the opportunity to reassess their businesses.
''They are focussing in on alternative sources of customer demand [such as group and school transfers] for the likes of shuttle tour operators.''
Nathan said Tourism Bay of Plenty was working with a contingent of others ''to explore how we can collectively provide a better, more engaged, and responsible cruise ship visitor experience'' when they returned.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said cruise ships were the primary source of international tourists into our region.
''While most tourism businesses are set up for both domestic and international tourists, there are a range of businesses who specifically cater to cruise tourists. It will also be a morale boost for the community to see cruise ships back in town.''
If New Zealand can prove that we're a safe and reliable tourism option after Covid lockdowns, then I suspect we'll gain a lot of repeat tourism over the next decade, he said.
A Port of Tauranga spokeswoman said the port was not budgeting for any cruise ship visits in the 2021/2022 season.
''We have some tentative bookings beyond that but shipping schedules are always subject to change.''
Royal Caribbean 2022/23 ships to visit Tauranga and NZ
* Radiance of the Seas, 10 nights in Tauranga Nov 6
* Ovation of the Seas, 11 nights in Tauranga Dec 1
* Ovation of the Seas, 12 nights in Tauranga Dec 30
* Radiance of the Seas, 13 nights in Feb 8, 2023 in Tauranga Feb 16
* Ovation of the Seas, 12 nights in March 2023 in Tauranga March 18
* Quantum of the Seas, 13 nights in March 2023 in Tauranga March 21 - Source Royal Caribbean
Cruise ship value to Bay of Plenty
* In 2019/20 the value of cruise peaked at more than $545m nationally and just under $75m for the Bay of Plenty.
* Nationally, this represents a 3.2% decrease on the previous season- a direct result of the early onset of COVID-19 that commenced in March and effectively cut the season short.
* The cruise economy to Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty economy is hugely significant, with passenger numbers (not including crew) at around 183,000 in 2019/20 and predicted to have grown to over 200,000 in 2020/21. - Source Tourism Bay of Plenty
The aspiring new owners say they have 30 years' experience in hospitality.