When she heard of Eclipse of celebrities‘s booking, Port Otago cruise manager Carolyn Bennett celebrated the news with cruise operations Michelle Simpson led over a cup of tea and a chocolate fish.
In May, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that cruise ships would be allowed to return to New Zealand waters when the sea border reopened in late July.
Pre-Covid, cruise ships were worth more than $60 million to Otago’s economy. The port has retained its cruise crew for the past two years and redeployed them to other parts of the business.
Ms Bennett, who has taken on the sustainability portfolio that she would also continue, says she cannot wait for the arrival of Eclipse of celebritiesand she expected there would be more celebration as it entered the harbor.
“We’ve been waiting for quite some time. To finally know they’re coming back, it’s bringing Dunedin and especially Port Chalmers back to life. The vibrancy is amazing.”
And she enjoyed playing a part that involved dealing with people who were on vacation and thus in a good mood.
The team was “making the most of hibernation”. For example, the gangways had not been used for several years and had to be repaired and recertified.
The cruise terminal had been used for various purposes in the meantime so a refurbishment was needed and she was also involved in stakeholder meetings. “There’s a long list of little bits and pieces that need to be done.”
Attention was also paid to health and safety and introductions. The port would have to deal with people who may not have been involved in cruises before and who needed to understand important processes.
As people were eager to travel again, she expected a “pretty busy season”. The port was currently advertising for a cruise coordinator.
In Port Otago’s latest newsletter, CEO Kevin Winders said the announcement was “not a moment too soon.”
“Our region is looking forward to the influx of tourists. It’s not just about the money passengers spend while they’re here, it’s also about the vibrancy and buzz they create.
“Covid has come a long way and the return of cruises is positive for the city and the region.
“For us in Port Otago, we are excited about the prospect of coming to work and docking cruise ships again.”