Ports & destinations
Cruise ships docked at Port Chalmers, a suburb district of Dunedin.
Between that and the country’s other triumphs, you can probably forgive the official in the New Zealand port of Tauranga who expected a “jam- packed” 2020 – just weeks before coronavirus reached his shores.
Tentative restart In April last year, as coronavirus challenged hospitals from New York to Bergamo, the government of New Zealand had yet another problem on its agenda. A month earlier, the Ruby Princess, a Carnival Cruises ship, visited five New Zealand ports before returning to Australia – only for 16 cases of coronavirus in the North Island town of Hawke’s Bay to be linked back to the vessel. Led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand government even threatened to sue Carnival for the fiasco, though in the end it apparently left the job to private lawyers.
“There is huge potential to start cruising again in our region, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Debbie Summers, New Zealand Cruise Association
Though New Zealand has kept coronavirus deaths remarkably low, with limited itineraries and copious safety regulations, it will be a cautious reopening from the land of the long white cloud. Nonetheless, the experts seem confident that slow and steady can ultimately win the race. “We went hard and fast early,” says Summers. “This must now give us a great opportunity to restart soon.” That’s especially true, she adds, when Australia rejoins the party. “There is huge potential to start cruising again in our region, as soon as it is safe to do so. We have no community transmission here in New Zealand and Australia is getting closer and closer.” Happily, there are signs that the Trans-Tasman route that brought New Zealand such joy before 2020 may soon be active once more. Calls for a safe return to Trans-Tasman cruising have been growing louder since a two-way air bubble was agreed between the nations, enabling fliers to
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move quarantine-free between both countries. Joel Katz, managing director for Australasia at Cruise Lines International Association called the agreement a “positive step forward for tourism in Australia and New Zealand, particularly for the many thousands of travel agents and other businesses that have been devastated by border restrictions over the past year”. However, Katz also highlighted what he felt was a “lack of progress” being made towards a responsible resumption of local cruise operations between the two nations. Others consider the resumption of air travel between the countries a sign that cruising can follow suit, although how soon remains the million- dollar question. Australian-based Coral Expeditions has confirmed that it is seeking approval for a winter voyage in New Zealand and an early January departure.
Meanwhile, Kevin O’Sullivan, CEO of New Zealand Cruise Association, told Radio New Zealand that the 2021–22 season could be viable, with New Zealanders accounting for 10% of passengers and Australians 50%.
So, does that mean New Zealand can reclaim its spot as one of the hottest cruise destinations around? Summers certainly thinks so – even if coronavirus rears its head once again. “I believe that cruise success [relies] partly on its ability to be nimble,” she explains. “If we have to go into further regional lockdowns, then cruises can shift to another port fairly easily.” Not that New Zealand’s cruising reprisal is without its challenges. Some insiders have grumbled about the lack of proper infrastructure in the country, particularly around getting passengers from remote ports to city centres. Ship capacity is another challenge. The New Zealand Cruise Association tried to build a dolphin structure in Auckland, for example, but was rejected by the local council. Yet promises to come up with a decent alternative, and a shiny new cruise berth near Christchurch, suggest that New Zealand’s cruise industry will only keep growing. If Cook’s visit back in the 18th century heralded one transformation of this land alone, you wouldn’t bet against another soon enough.●
World Cruise Industry Review /
www.worldcruiseindustryreview.com
Ramunas Bruzas/
Shutterstock.com
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