The first cruise ship to dock may be a modest one but it will signal the start of a record season for arrivals and a windfall for the Hawke's Bay economy.
Last season was a relatively busy one, with 48 arrivals, but between October 4 and April 5 next year 74 cruise ships are set to tie up at the Port of Napier - bringing ashore a potential 114,000 passengers and 49,000 crew.
The Orion, a small 141-passenger liner, is due to arrive at 7am on October 4, and after that the nautical floodgates open.
In dollar terms, a New Zealand Regional Cruise Industry Study puts the total 2011/12 season cash benefits for the Bay at $25.9 million. Last season the figure was $15.2 million.
The anticipated figure is made up of $16.7 million passenger spending, $4.2 million crew spending and $5 million vessel-related spending.
The report also predicts the season will support about 350 jobs - the majority related to passenger demand for retail, excursions and transport, and about 16 per cent tied in with ship services (security, providoring and bunkering.)
Port of Napier chief operating officer Chris Bain said the expanded schedule was "reward" for both port and regional investments made into catering for the growing cruise ship industry over the past five to seven years.
"It has been a cumulative process."
Mr Bain said the port had invested heavily on behalf of the region in what had become the fastest-growing holidaying sector. "There has been a strong and co-ordinated regional effort right across the spectrum of the cruise industry."
Survey of passengers from previous seasons resulted in Hawke's Bay being declared the second-most popular stopover spot in New Zealand - just behind Milford Sound.
"We have had excellent feedback from passengers - the one thing that has repeatedly come through is the friendliness of people here."
The Bay's approach had resulted in more ships being steered this way, Mr Bain said.
The increase had also been a result of more cruise companies basing their embarkation ports in Australia, as the European and American economies had weakened.
A decade ago the arrival of a cruise ship was seen as a novelty and there was little or no economic consequences, Mr Bain said. Now it was a full-blown industry, although he believed this season's record arrivals would be "near the crest of the wave".
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce chief executive Murray Douglas said there was no longer any doubt that the cruise season provided a vital boost for the Napier CBD, and he believed there was merit in widening the area of free shuttles to "move them out a bit" so other areas could benefit.
He said the area around the Sound Shell also had the potential to be further developed into a tourism hub of cafes, exhibition spaces and galleries which would appeal to visitors. He said the region needed to capitalise on the liners, but also create a springboard for "something bigger and sustainable for 12 months".
THE FIGURES
74 arrivals - 19 different liners.
Total passenger potential - 114,000.
Anticipated direct expenditure in the Bay - $25.9 million.
October - eight arrivals, November - 10, December - 13, January - 19, February - 17, March - 6, April - one.
Largest visitor - Radiance of the Seas at 90,090 tonnes and 293m length.
Smallest visitor - Oceanic Discoverer at 1838 tonnes and 63m length.
Most frequent caller - Volendam' - 10 visits.