Tauranga named in top 5 cruise destinations in Australasia

Silver Whisper leaves Tauranga, with Mauao in the background. Photo/file

Tauranga has been named among the top five cruise destinations in Australasia.

Tauranga came in fifth, behind Wellington (4) and Akaroa (3) in the 2018 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards this week.

The awards are based on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on Cruise Critic.

Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said the team was delighted that Tauranga had been recognised as such a desirable cruise destination.

Dunne said it reflected the "hard work of our Tauranga Cruise i-SITE staff, cruise ambassadors and our Cruise Manager".

The upcoming 2018-2019 cruise season is expected to see a record-breaking 320,166 passengers and crew and 110 ships berth in the Port of Tauranga – up 35 per cent on last season's 81 ships.

The Coastal Bay of Plenty will welcome 24 double ship days, two triple ship days, 9 overnight visits, and seven visits from the world's fourth-largest ship 'Ovation of the Seas'. The first ship is just around the corner, on October 5.

Destinations awarded in this year's awards received the highest ratings among cruisers who cruised to the destination in the past year and shared their experiences on Cruise Critic.

Colleen McDaniel, senior executive editor of Cruise Critic, said: "Our data regularly shows that whether you're a first-time cruiser or you've sailed dozens of times, the destination is a top consideration when shopping for a cruise."

"By awarding top destinations and now the best lines that visit them, we're even better able to connect travellers with standout experiences available in the incredible places they're looking to explore."