Napier Port welcomes 1000th cruise ship with record number of visitors

Monday, February 26, 2024

Napier Port celebrated a historic moment today as it welcomed its 1000th cruise ship, the Silver Muse, marking a significant milestone in the port’s history. This event underscores the port’s growth and importance as a cruise destination over the past 30 years.

Napier Port CEO Todd Dawson commemorated this occasion by presenting a gift to the ship’s captain, symbolizing the strong partnership between the cruise industry and the port.

The current season is heralded as the busiest ever for Napier Port, with a record number of 72 cruise visits so far and an additional 17 expected by early April. This increase in cruise traffic, including multiple double and triple ship stays and maiden calls from new cruise lines, has brought over 130,000 visitors to Hawke’s Bay. Such a surge in tourism is a boon for the local economy, especially in aiding the region’s recovery from recent cyclone impacts.

Enhancements at the port, including the addition of the multi-purpose Te Whiti (6 Wharf), have expanded its capacity and flexibility. This development ensures that Napier Port can accommodate some of the world’s largest cruise vessels, like the Oasis-class liners, and is poised for further growth in the coming seasons.

The sustained interest in cruise bookings over the next few years highlights Napier and Hawke’s Bay’s allure as a premier cruise destination. Tony des Landes, a former port employee and local maritime historian, reflected on the evolution of cruise tourism to Napier. His efforts in documenting the port’s shipping movements since the 1880s have preserved a crucial part of its maritime history, capturing the exponential growth of cruise visits and the increasing size of these vessels.

The arrival of ships like the Ovation of the Seas, the largest to dock at Napier Port, carrying nearly 5000 passengers, illustrates the significant economic and cultural impact the cruise industry has on the region. Napier Port’s milestone and ongoing developments signal a bright future for cruise tourism in Hawke’s Bay, fostering economic growth and cultural exchange.

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