P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer Becomes First International Cruise Ship to Visit New Zealand in More Than 2 Years

(11:15 p.m. AEST) -- New Zealand celebrated the arrival of the first international cruise ship to call in at Auckland since pre-pandemic.

P&O Cruises' Pacific Explorer is on a South Pacific cruise from Sydney, and marks the start of a gradual resumption of cruise operations in New Zealand that will continue with visits by other vessels in the spring and summer.

It follows the New Zealand Government's decision to open the international maritime border after July 31.

The ship was welcomed by, amongst others, Carnival Corporation President Marguerite Fitzgerald, who said:

"This is an exciting day for P&O and an exciting day for cruising and we thank New Zealand for today's warm welcome."

Pacific Explore will homeport in Auckland next year for the first time in three years.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said the New Zealand cruise community could now begin rebuilding an industry that was previously worth almost $570 million a year to the New Zealand economy. 

"New Zealand has now joined the rest of the world in a careful resumption of cruise operations," Mr Katz said. "We now have an opportunity to revive a sector that previously supported many thousands of jobs in communities right around the New Zealand coast."

Cruise lines have worked closely with New Zealand health authorities to confirm strict health and safety requirements for local operations.

"While no setting is immune from Covid-19, the cruise industry's health measures have been shown to be effective in more than 100 other countries where cruising has already resumed," Mr Katz said. "The experience on cruise ships overseas has shown significantly lower levels of serious illness and hospitalisation than on land," he said.

He added: "The sight of Pacific Explorerin Waitematā Harbour will be cause for celebration for the many New Zealanders who rely on cruise tourism for their livelihoods, and for the wider tourism industry as New Zealand approaches the summer cruise season ahead."