Merepeka: Making first impressions count

Cruise is the fastest growing sector in tourism, but it's not just about where you disembark.

Who wouldn't want to go on a cruise? And by the number that are being advertised they are becoming increasingly popular.

I saw a cruise advertised last week for a world trip, leaving from Auckland in 2018, visiting four ports in New Zealand, then off on a 110-day cruise to the other side of the world. Disembarking right beside Tower Bridge in London.

What a way to travel. You have your travel and accommodation all wrapped in one. Sit back and let someone else take the wheel. You might think that travel by cruise ship is new. It is trendy now but 50 years ago many people travelled to various parts of the world by ship. We had a number of shipping companies represented in New Zealand. I remember the P&O, Cunard, Shaw Savill and Sitmar liners making regular trips with passengers disembarking and embarking. I presume many of these people thought as I did.

If you are going to live overseas you might as well have a ship-based holiday while travelling to your future home. Even though flying was quicker, possibly cheaper too by the time you tallied up what you spent on shore excursions and activities, it was very appealing, days and nights at sea.

My first trip to Europe was by freighter, the Dutch Ned Lloyd Rotterdam. It carried New Zealand produce to European markets. We docked at cargo ports only. Here you saw what the various countries imported and exported. These ports were busy, lively places. Countries today that are experiencing and taking advantage of the cruise ship tourism sector want to make a good "first impression".

They lay it all on and have their visitors and tourists disembarking at wharves that are in tip top condition, often situated right in a city's main harbour. But to see a cargo port in full swing is a once in a lifetime experience. Dangerous now, what with cranes lifting and manoeuvring containers about overhead and into position, but back then I was fascinated by what I saw. My journey went via the Panama Canal, on to Genoa, Barcelona, Brussels, and Munich finally disembarking at Rotterdam.

Although a freighter, the ship took 12 paying passengers. They were all elderly and retired, but certainly not retiring. Even so, when we came to spend time on shore I went off with the crew.

Whenever I hear "red light district" I am transported back to my first overseas trip. My 21st year I'll never forget.

My only real cruise, because that first journey to Europe wasn't exactly a cruise, as we know them today, was from Vancouver through the inside passage to Alaska. The ship carried 2500 passengers but I don't think I ever saw more than 80 people at any one time. The ship catered for your every wish. There were so many on-ship and on-shore activities arranged it was hard to choose. And eat.

There was always food being served in one of the many cafes, restaurants and bars. I can see the attraction of a cruise. What I didn't realise, until I read Cruise New Zealand's recent report is that cruise is the fastest growing sector in tourism. The 2014-2015 cruise sector is worth $436 million in added value to the New Zealand economy and is forecast to grow to $543 million this season. The sector has grown to become the equivalent of New Zealand's third largest country of holiday arrivals, behind Australia and China.

What an exciting opportunity to increase visitor numbers to our stunning country this presents. Other countries are seeing the economic benefits too. And I know we will want "first impressions" to count.

So when our port companies are planning to tidy, dolly up and expand their wharves for the expected influx of cruise ships, I hope these don't become pristine and clinical. It's not where you disembark that really counts, it's the experience you have when you get out and about and meet the locals. And New Zealanders do make visitors feel very welcome. That's the "lasting impression" we want visitors to take home.