Crown Princess opens Auckland’s 2026/27 cruise season
New Zealand expects 200,000 cruise passengers through the end of June, with Auckland forecasting a local economic contribution above $200 million.
Crown Princess has arrived in Auckland, marking the start of the city’s 2026/27 cruise season and a new period of ship calls across New Zealand.
Louise Upston said 200,000 cruise passengers were expected to visit New Zealand between the beginning of the season and the end of June. In Auckland, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited estimated that cruise activity would contribute more than $200 million to the local economy during the season.
New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Jacqui Lloyd said the benefits of cruise tourism extend beyond the country’s main arrival points. She said cruise ships bring international visitor spending to smaller regional destinations that may not otherwise receive high levels of overseas tourism, including Tauranga, Napier, Picton and Dunedin.