Content Section

New Zealand Buoyed by Cruise Tourism As Emerald Princess Makes Maiden Visit

The leader intransTasman cruising, Princess Cruises has reinforced its commitment to NewZealand with the maiden Auckland visit of its spectacular Emerald Princess thismorning, heralding a busy summer season which will deliver economic benefitsthroughout the nation.

Stretching 290metres, Emerald Princess is the biggest Princess ship to visit New Zealand thissummer, headlining a record cruise season that will see an unprecedented 33 cruiseships sailing in local waters.

The impressivesuperliner's visit to Auckland follows her maiden calls to six New Zealanddestinations over the past week, including the quake-affected area of Pictonwhere Emerald Princess' 3000 guests spent the day sight-seeing, providing avaluable economic injection into the local community.

Princess Cruises VicePresident Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said it was business asusual for Princess, which visits more New Zealand ports than any other line andcarried two thirds of the 100,000 Australians who cruised NZ waters last year.

"As the leadingcruise line in New Zealand, we're proud to play a role in assistingquake-affected communities to get back on their feet by delivering a steadystream of tourists without the need for the same level of infrastructure asland-based holidays. Our guests are very pleased to be able to help NZcommunities at a time of need and we expect to see them out in full forceduring our visits to Picton and Wellington this summer," Mr Allison said.

Between now andApril, six Princess ships will make 202 calls to 11 New Zealand destinationsinjecting more than $75 million into communities around the country. Oversummer, Princess will make 24 visits to Wellington and will also call at Pictonfive times, injecting an estimated $10 million in valuable tourism dollars tothe quake-affected communities.

Meanwhile, Aucklandwill receive 29 visits from Princess ships this summer, contributing around $14million to the city's economy in passenger and crew spending, provedoring andport charges.

Mr Allison saidEmerald Princess' arrival was a highlight in a bumper cruise season.

"Emerald Princessheads up a parade of more than 30 cruise ships which will be cruising NewZealand waters this summer, including six spectacular Princess ships," MrAllison said.

"With more than100,000 Australians cruising across the ditch each year, cruising is booming inNew Zealand and Princess will continue to deliver tens of thousands of touriststhis summer. We'll also be doing our bit by stocking New Zealand produceonboard, including an estimated 9000 bottles of wine from the Marlboroughregion which are consumed across our locally-based ships each month."

Emerald Princess'debut takes Princess Cruises' Australasian capacity to a record 12,500 berthsacross six ships during the 2016-17 cruise season, with the region ranked asthe cruise line's biggest market outside the United States.

The 113,000-tonneEmerald Princess features a speciality restaurant SHARE by award-winning chefCurtis Stone, Princess' new Salty Dog pub serving up the Ernesto Burger – ratedthe best burger at sea – and gourmet small dishes developed with renowned USchef Ernesto Uchimura, combined with whisky flights. The ship's arrival willalso set the stage for the debut of the much-anticipated onboard musical Magicto Do from Oscar and Tony award-winning Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz.Guests can also enjoy the Voice of the Ocean competition, exclusive toPrincess, which brings the spectacle of TV's wildly popular internationalsinging competition to the high seas.

The superliner alsooffers more than 1500 guest rooms, including nearly 900 balcony staterooms,with every room featuring the Princess Luxury Bed designed to deliver theultimate night of sleep at sea.

Also on board areeight showrooms and lounges, two nightclubs and four swimming pools as well assignature Princess offerings such as the child-free Sanctuary, poolside MoviesUnder the Stars and the luxurious Lotus Spa. Guests can enjoy fantasticshopping, with options including a stunning EFFY jewellery outlet, a first inthe local market.

Emerald Princess willsail at 6pm this evening for the Bay of Islands.

Fares for an 11-nightcruise on Emerald Princess to New Caledonia and Vanuatu departing Sydney onMarch 07, 2017, start from NZ$1269* per person twin share with a $75 onboardcredit per person.

For more informationvisit www.princess.com, call 0800 451 133 or see a travel agent
*subject toavailability, conditions apply.


Kaleidoscope powered