Akaroa handles first cruise ship well

media release 14 October 2011

Akaroa handled its first cruise ship visit of the season extremely well, and according to leading Bank Peninsula Tourism operator Black Cat Cruises, it bodes well for the rest of summer and will provide a much needed boast for the town.

Akaroa will be the main port of call for cruise ships visiting Canterbury this season and the local community is committed to making sure disembarking passengers get a warm welcome and are well catered for.

The Sea Princess visited on Wednesday and Black Cat Cruises Akaroa General Manager Pip Journeaux said the town was busy and handled visitors off the cruise ship well.

“All the restaurants, cafes, shops and operators were busy; it was great to see and we are looking forward to more of the same over summer.”

Journeaux said visitors from the cruise ship meant Black Cat Cruises experienced “loads of foot traffic,” and the company sold lots of New Zealand memorabilia and its trips were busy.

“They were buying small things they could take with them, and T shirts were popular. It was a good retail day and we were busy with our cruises and dolphin swimming trips too. It really will give Akaroa a much needed boost over summer, things went very smoothly and the town handled it well.”

Black Cat Cruises put on an extra morning cruise and had extra staff working to deal with the cruise ship passengers.

A portable cabin has been set up on the town’s main wharf as a make-shift visitor centre and extra copies of the Akaroa Visitor Guide and the Akaroa Town Map have been printed for summer. Akaroa’s Town Crier will also greet all arriving cruise ships this summer and roving ambassadors will be on the streets to help visitors find their way.

Extra signage has been erected in the town and street entertainers will perform on the days cruise ships are in town and a free shuttle will take passengers from the Akaroa bakery to the Akaroa Information Centre.

ends

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