Anchor weighed on record season
A CRUISE ship season that brought a record number of passengers to the city ended early yesterday, after the expected final visit next week was cancelled.
Sun Princess and Noordam
delivered close to 4000 passengers to the city yesterday, on what was to have been the penultimate visits of the season.
But Radiance of the Seas,
which can carry 2146 passengers and 854 crew, announced yesterday its April cruise from Australia, which was to have stopped in Dunedin on April 13, had been cancelled.
Royal Caribbean International said yesterday repairs were required on the ship’s propulsion system.
Dunedin iSite visitor centre manager Louise van de Vlierd said despite the ship not coming, the season had fewer cancellations than in the past, when bad weather kept vessels away.
There were 91 visits booked for the season.
Two ships had cancelled and another two had arrived but could not enter the harbour due to fog.
‘‘It’s been a much better season as far as ships making it here,’’ Ms van de Vlierd said.
As well, Ovation of the Seas
and its more than 4000 passengers had an unplanned overnight stay in Dunedin in January.
The season was the busiest Dunedin had had in terms of passenger numbers, with close to 190,000 arriving.
The 201819 season has 119 ships carrying more than 250,000 passengers pencilled in.
‘‘I think the city handled it really well,’’ Ms van de Vlierd said of the season just ended. ‘‘I feel each year things get tweaked and polished up that little bit better.’’
The good weather over summer helped.
Feedback from passengers was that they ‘‘love Dunedin’’.
Visitors from different countries chose different tourism operations.
‘‘If you’re
from
Europe, you’re not always going to do the [Larnach] castle, but if you’re from Australia or the States even, you’re more likely to.’’
People from other countries were less likely to be interested in wildlife.
‘‘You can never predict a ship. It really does depend on the origin of the passenger.’’
There were no particular problems this season. Cruise ship bus parking in the Octagon and Moray Pl worked well and problems with a lack of bus drivers that led to long waits for passengers in Moray Pl were a oneoff.
The annual debriefing on the season would be held in May.
Royal Caribbean Inter national said yesterday in a press release its 11night cruise from Sydney had been cancelled so repairs could be carried out to the ship’s Azipod propulsion system, which affected the ship’s speed.
‘‘The ship’s guest services are currently fully operational, and there is no impact on the manoeuvrability of the ship or on the safety of our guests and crew as it returns to Sydney from its current Queensland coastal cruise.’’
The company was informing all affected passengers and their travel agents.
‘‘All guests will be provided with a full refund as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit.’’