Cloudy skies but bright end to cruise season

The cool and cloudy weather did not deter the warmth-kitted Noordam visitors from the vintage car tours.

For the final cruise ship arrival of the season on Monday, sunny Napier overlooked the "sunny" part but that did not hinder or bother the hundreds of passengers who poured into the city from the liner Noordam.

"Weather can never spoil a really nice place," an American passenger who gave his name as George "from the west" said as he and his wife admired the bronze statue of the waving lady in Emerson St.

It was more a case of jackets and windbreakers, and the occasional scarf was spotted, for the visitors as the temperature struggled to make it to 16C by noon.

Cloudy skies and brisk southwesterly winds welcomed the last coach loads of passengers to town.

The Noordam, with 1924 passengers and 800 crew aboard, arrived in Napier Port from Wellington about 6am and was scheduled to depart at 2pm for Tauranga.

It was the last of the 72 cruise liners which made up the 2018/19 season of visitors to Hawke's Bay, although there had been two cancellations.

But the weather failed to deter the visitors who lined up for Art Deco tours, vintage car outings and scenic tours.

And while the outdoor tables were largely clear at many cafes the inside tables and chairs were well taken.

The season was the biggest yet in terms of arrivals but the growth of the cruise ship industry is well underlined by the fact that the 2019/20 season will see a new record set — with 87 visits scheduled.

It will kick off on October 12 with the giant Ovation of the Seas, which carries 4905 passengers and 1300 crew.

Weatherwise, for that occasion, it is a case of time will tell.

On October 12 last year the region was served up with patchy rain and some heavy falls, along with strong southwesterlies and a temperature of 17C.