New Zealand’s ports are facing a sharp decline in cruise ship arrivals for the 2025/26 summer season, with booking data pointing to a substantial drop in scheduled visits. The downturn comes amid mounting operational pressures that are driving cruise operators to reduce itineraries or bypass the region entirely.
Port Calls Plummet Across the Country
According to data from the New Zealand Cruise Association, the number of cruise ship port calls is expected to drop 40%—from 1,123 visits in the record-setting 2023/24 season to just 663 in 2025/26. Passenger numbers are forecast to fall below levels last seen in 2017/18.
Of the 21 ports that typically host cruise ships, 20 are facing reductions. Timaru is the only exception, bucking the national trend with an expected increase in calls.
Jacqui Lloyd, CEO of the New Zealand Cruise Association, called the situation “deeply concerning,” noting that the drop “means fewer tourism dollars for regional communities, less investment in NZ by global cruise operators, and the potential loss of our reputation as a world-class cruise destination.”
Regional Economies in the Firing Line
The cruise sector injected $648 million into New Zealand’s economy in 2023/24 and supported nearly 12,000 jobs. The downturn will hit hardest in smaller regional towns like Akaroa, Napier, and Picton, which rely heavily on cruise passengers to sustain local tourism businesses.
“In each region there would be tourism businesses for which the cruise passengers would be their bedrock,” said David Perks from Regional Tourism NZ.
Lloyd added that “many of these towns are also off the main international touring route, so cruise plays a major role in bringing international visitors and spend to their communities.”
Auckland faces a potential drop in visitor nights due to fewer cruise departures, and Wellington could lose foot traffic during the quiet January tourism period.
High Costs and Red Tape Driving the Decline
The industry’s challenges stem not from a lack of demand, but from the rising costs and complexity of operating in New Zealand.
“This is not a consumer demand issue, it is a supply problem,” Lloyd said. “The cost and complexity for cruise lines means they are shifting their focus to other more welcoming destinations.”
New Zealand has become “the most expensive cruise destination in the world,” burdened by government fees, port levies, fuel price increases, and unfavourable currency fluctuations. Uncertain regulations have made planning more difficult. One major concern is the proposed ban on cruise ships entering Milford Sound’s inner sound under the Milford Opportunities Project.
Biosecurity requirements add further challenges. Cleaning protocols mean ships must often be cleaned by divers outside the 12-nautical-mile limit—a weather-dependent process. “This method can be a difficult and complex task often dictated by the weather,” said Mike Inglis of Biosecurity NZ.
Efforts are under way to make operations smoother. Lloyd said trials for in-port cleaning are being conducted at the Port of Auckland to give cruise lines “the confidence and certainty they need to plan deployments without fear of denial.”
New Zealand’s cruise sector is sounding the alarm after government data revealed a broader regional decline in activity. Industry groups say targeted support is urgently needed to protect economic benefits and prevent lasting damage in cruise-dependent areas.