Voyage is one the highlights of ship's record five-month season of cruises from Auckland
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Pacific Pearl embarked on P&O Cruises’ first-ever circumnavigation of New Zealand on 2 March.
Featuring a maiden call at Stewart Island, Pacific Pearl’s ten-night cruise will take 1,800 guests to destinations in Fiordland, including Napier, Wellington, Christchurch (Akaroa) and Picton. The voyage is expected to inject more than NZ$3 million into the local economy.
Pacific Pearl’s voyage around New Zealand is one of the highlights of her record five-month season of cruises from Auckland, which commenced early February and will run through to June.
“Not only will guests and crew be busy spending money in each port, but P&O is buying fresh produce from local suppliers throughout Pacific Pearl’s New Zealand season, injecting more money into the local community,” said Sture Myrmell, P&O Cruises president. “Each cruise requires significant quantities of food – for example on a ten-day cruise for guests and crew the ship will take on about 300kgs of fresh local fish, 3000 dozen eggs and around 30,000kg of fruits and vegetables.”
In total, Pacific Pearl will sail 20 cruises, including eight roundtrips from Auckland and two voyages between Sydney and Auckland. In total, the ship will take guests to 11 different New Zealand ports.
Every turnaround cruise ship visit in Auckland is estimated to deliver close to NZ$1 million to the local economy in passenger accommodation, dining, transport and shopping as well as crew expenditure, supplies and port charges. Meanwhile visits to regional cities could contribute up to NZ$500,000 in passenger and crew spending.