New Zealand sets new growth record

THE number of New Zealanders hopping on board an ocean cruise in 2018 was a record 112,000 passengers, marking a 14.6% increase on the previous year according to figures in Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2018 Ocean Source Market report for New Zealand.

The result places New Zealand on a faster growth rate than the established cruise markets of the United States (9.4%) and Europe (3.3%), with growth driven primarily by a 20.6% increase in the number of Kiwis cruising the South Pacific, Australia and domestically.

The figures are a timely vindication for Auckland Council’s recent approval of plans to improve berthing facilities at the city’s Queens Wharf said CLIA Australasia MD Joel Katz.

“Boosting capacity in Auckland will ensure increasing demand among both New Zealanders and international visitors can be met in the future,” he said.

“This, together with the development of a new cruise berth at Lyttelton to serve Christchurch, gives us confidence New Zealand’s cruise sector will continue to grow well into the future,” Katz added.

The report also revealed the most popular cruise length for Kiwis was eight to 13 days, the average age of passengers dropped from 52 to 51, and the most popular long-haul destination was Europe/ Mediterranean (12.1%), followed by North America/Caribbean/ Hawaii (10.6%) and Asia (4.7%).

Pictured: CLIA Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz with the Chair of the New Zealand Cruise Association Debbie Summers in Auckland this morning.