'Perfect welcome' for Majestic Princess, first ship of Bay of Plenty cruise season

The sunny blue skies that greeted the Bay of Plenty's first cruise ship passengers of the season were a good omen, tour operators say.

Majestic Princess, Princess Cruises' new $700-million flagship vessel, arrived from Wellington at berth one at the Port of Tauranga before sunrise yesterday.

It was the 144 kilotonne liner's maiden visit to Tauranga.

The arrival marked the start of what was expected to be a record-breaking cruise season for the Bay, with 110 scheduled ships bringing more than 300,000 visitors - passengers and crew - to the region, injecting $91m into the local economy.

Among the 3626 passengers and 368 crew on board the Majestic Princess were Americans Monita and Hubert Steenbakkers, from Florida.

Majestic Princess passengers Monita and Hubert Steenbakkers, from Florida in the United States. Photo / John Borren

Like a predicted 40 per cent of this year's 200,000 cruise visitors, they were planning to spend the day in Rotorua.

Monita said she was looking forward to seeing sheep up-close at the Agridome - "I've only ever seen sheep from a distance before" - as well as visiting Wai-o-tapu.

"It's our first time to New Zealand but it won't be the last."

Australian cousins Vicki McLean and Chris Cartwright were planning to hit the shops to look for souvenirs.

Australian cousins Vicki McLean and Chris Cartwright planned to hit the shops. Photo / John Borren

McLean, from Kalgoolie in Western Australia, said it was her first cruise and first time in New Zealand.

She and Cartwright had "always wanted to come to New Zealand" and planned the cruise to spend some quality time together.

"We're going to go and have a look at the shops here in Mount Maunganui then go into the main city.

"We're having a lovely time. Everyone has been so friendly."

Waiting at Salisbury Wharf to meet his customers was Tauranga tour operator John Mathieson, who has been a guide in the city since the 1990s.

Tauranga tour operator John Mathieson has been a guide in the city since the 1990s. Photo / John Borren

"People always comment on the service they receive here, and the weather."

He said the city had turned on a good start to what he expected to be a busy season with 109 ships scheduled to visit.

Bethlehem Coachlines hop-on-hop-off bus greeter Karen Beaumont - unmissable in a pink cowboy hat and heart-shaped sunglasses - agreed.

Bethlehem Coachlines hop-on-hop-off bus greeter Karen Beaumont. Photo / John Borren

She said as well as the service to Rotorua, the company was trialling dual Tauranga routes for the first time.

One service would take people around the Mount then over to Tauranga, including the Historic Village. The other was down Mount Maunganui's famous beachfront and to Bayfair. The routes linked at Classic Flyers so passengers could do both.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said Tauranga had delivered "the perfect welcome" for the first cruise ship and maiden voyage of the Majestic Princess.

"She will visit another 13 times during this season bringing a total number of 63,765 visitors to our region."

Hundreds of people gathered at Pilot Bay to wave the Auckland-bound Majestic Princess off in the afternoon.

The Majestic Princess is on the first of 13 visits to Tauranga this cruise season. Photo / John Borren

Majestic Princess fun facts

- 2 swimming pools
- 20 ice sculptures produced each cruise
- 22 knot top speed
- 200 tonnes of marble
- 1000 sq m of shopping
- 4000 pieces of art
- 18,000 bottles of wine and champagne in the cellars
- 250,000 eggs consumed each week.