First cruise ship returns to Napier after Cyclone Gabrielle, retailers thrilled

The MSC Magnifica in Napier Port this morning. Photo / Gary Hamilton-Irvine

The first cruise ship to visit Napier Port since Cyclone Gabrielle hit the region provided a much-needed boost for retailers on Friday.

A Napier shop owner said business had been extremely slow post-cyclone, and it was great to see cruise ship passengers back through the city, weeks on from the floods.

The MSC Magnifica, which has capacity for more than 3000 passengers, arrived in Napier Port about 9am on Friday before buses shuttled passengers into the city.

It was the first cruise ship in the region since the Viking Mars visited a month ago, just days before the deadly cyclone.

Jill Harper, owner of Napier CBD shop Creationz, said it was great to see cruise ships returning.

Passengers from the cruise ship enjoy the sights in Napier on Friday. Photo / Paul Taylor

“Usually, at this time of year cruise ships, tour buses, conferences and music festivals are really important for us,” she said.

“But it has been really slow since the cyclone - it feels like winter.”

She said the return of cruise ships was “massive” for shop owners and brought a lot more foot traffic into the city.

The MSC Magnifica was scheduled to depart Napier on Friday evening.

Another seven cruise ships are scheduled to visit Napier before the end of the month including the gigantic Quantum Of The Seas, which can carry almost 5000 passengers, due to dock on Monday, March 20.

Wet weather held off for most of Friday - as tourists strolled through the city and enjoyed the sites and architecture - but a thunderstorm and heavy deluge hit in the afternoon.