The dawn of Tauranga's bumper cruise season broke with the early-morning arrival of the majestic Sun Princess.
The 261m liner sailed into Tauranga Harbour with lights aglow at 5.30am yesterday, in the first of her several visits this season.
By April 17, 21 different cruise ships will have made 54 visits toTauranga, over a season widened by about a month at each end compared with 2009/10.
This opening visit comes after a concentrated effort this year by Tourism Bay of Plenty and Cruise New Zealand to lure more ships to the country's ports.
Tauranga's 54 cruise visits this season will be 29 per cent up on the 2009/10 figure of 42, but still down on the 58 visits in 2008/9.
'The outlook for the next few seasons is very positive, with some significant growth forecast in cruises to New Zealand and Tauranga," Tourism Bay of Plenty manager Tim Burgess said.
A new information centre has also opened at Port of Tauranga's Number One Berth to welcome the 83,000 cruise visitors to the city this season.
Manned by at least seven staff and two ambassadors each cruise day, the kiosk is expected to add about 30 minutes to each visitor's day, when they previously had to travel into the city for tourist information.
Those keen to get a look at the Sun Princess only had until 5.45pm yesterday, when she sailed out again. THE SUN PRINCESS Tonnage: 77,499 gross tons
Length: 261m
Decks: 10 passenger decks
Installed power: Diesel-electric 28,000 kW
Speed: 19 knots (35.19 km/h)
Capacity: 1950 passengers
Crew: 900
Base: Sydney
Features: Basketball and paddle tennis facilities, jogging tracks, state-of-the-art gyms, a gallery housing a world-class art collection and multiple swimming and spa pools.
