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The first cruise ship returned to New Zealand last week following a hiatus due to COVID restrictions with the arrival signalling a long-sought return to normalcy for the nation's tourism industry.

The end of restrictions allowed Carnival Australia's Pacific Explorer cruise ship to dock in Auckland with about 2,000 passengers and crew Friday morning as part of a 12-day return trip to Fiji that left from Sydney.

New Zealand closed its borders in early 2020 as it sought at first to eliminate COVID-19 entirely and then later to control its spread. Although the country reopened its borders to most tourists arriving by plane in May, it was not until two weeks ago that it lifted all remaining restrictions, including those on maritime arrivals.

The Pacific Explorer docked in Waitemata Harbor as part of a 12-night roundtrip cruise from Sydney to New Zealand and Fiji. After arriving at Queen's Wharf, guests and staff were met with a traditional Māori welcome, according to P&O Cruises.

Marguerite Fitzgerald, president, Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia advised that the arrival of Pacific Explorer in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland signalled that “cruise tourism is poised to make a significant contribution to the restoration of the tourism economy. Looking further afield to the reopening of maritime borders in other parts of the Pacific, it is entirely appropriate that Pacific Explorer is on an itinerary that includes calls in Fiji. We are looking forward to our ships also being able to return to beautiful destinations in New Caledonia and Vanuatu and to the progressive return to New Zealand ports of ships from our other cruise lines as the tourism sector continues to rebuild.”

New Zealand Tourism Minister Stuart Nash noted "It's another step in the reopening of our borders and a step closer to resuming business as usual."

Nash said it would take some time for international tourist numbers and revenues to return to their pre-pandemic levels, when the industry accounted for about 20% of New Zealand's foreign income and more than 5% of GDP.

Minister Nash added "I think there's been many people in the tourism sector who have done it hard over the last two years.

“But we have always taken an approach where we need to ensure that we get the health response right. Because if we do not, we know the consequences are dire."

Local business owners from a variety of industries, including hotels, tours, and transportation, were among those that welcomed the Pacific Explorer, hailing its arrival and the boost cruise travel provides to the local economy.

Image courtesy Auckland Unlimited 

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