Princess Cruises plans to double its New Zealand port-call programme from the 2028/29 season, expanding its coverage to nine destinations across the country.
The planned network includes Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Napier, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Picton and Timaru, together with scenic cruising through Fiordland.
The expansion represents a significant long-term commitment to New Zealand at a time when the country's cruise sector is experiencing reduced ship and passenger volumes.
Princess Cruises commits to broader New Zealand coverage
The plan was disclosed as Crown Princess arrived in Auckland's Waitematā Harbour at the beginning of New Zealand's 2026/27 cruise season.
Princess intends to double the number of port calls it makes in New Zealand from 2028/29. Local reports said the expanded programme would position Princess as the country's largest cruise operator by port-call volume.
The announcement concerns Princess Cruises' overall seasonal deployment. It does not mean that every individual voyage will visit all nine destinations, and the cruise line has not yet published a complete 2028/29 New Zealand schedule showing ships, dates and call frequencies.
Passengers considering a future sailing should therefore consult the itinerary for their particular voyage once the programme becomes available for booking.
Nine New Zealand destinations
The announced coverage reaches destinations across both the North and South Islands:
- Auckland
- Wellington
- Tauranga
- Napier
- Lyttelton, the cruise gateway for Christchurch
- Dunedin, generally served through Port Chalmers
- Picton
- Timaru
- Fiordland scenic cruising
Fiordland differs from the other places in the programme because cruise ships normally sail through its sounds rather than making a conventional alongside port call. Princess promotes Fiordland National Park as one of the defining attractions of its New Zealand itineraries.
The inclusion of regional destinations such as Timaru, Picton and Napier could spread the economic benefits of cruise tourism beyond the country's principal gateways. Visiting passengers support tour operators, transport providers, attractions, restaurants and retailers during their time ashore.
Expansion follows a difficult period
Princess's decision provides a positive signal for a New Zealand cruise sector that has faced falling deployment levels and increased operating costs.
A December 2025 forecast published by New Zealand's Border Executive Board recorded a 28% reduction in cruise-passenger volume during the 2024/25 season and forecast a further 19% reduction in 2025/26. It projected only modest growth of approximately 5% from 2026/27.
The government report identified infrastructure challenges, including hull-cleaning facilities and shore-power infrastructure, alongside increased operating costs as important risks affecting the sector. It also cautioned that cruise volumes are volatile and difficult to forecast over longer periods because confirmed schedule information is limited.
Against that background, a deployment commitment for 2028/29 gives ports and tourism businesses advance notice of a potentially substantial increase in Princess activity.
New Zealand remains important to Princess
Princess Cruises continues to market New Zealand as a major part of its Australia and South Pacific programme. Its current destination information highlights departures from Auckland, calls on both islands and scenic cruising through Fiordland.
The cruise line also offers an onboard regional programme called Across the Ditch, incorporating New Zealand food, culture, music and enrichment activities into relevant voyages.
Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga provide access to the country's largest urban and cultural attractions, while Napier is known for its Art Deco heritage. Lyttelton serves Christchurch, Dunedin is associated with its Scottish heritage and wildlife experiences, and Picton provides a gateway to the Marlborough region.
Timaru is a less frequent inclusion on large international cruise programmes, making its place within the planned Princess network particularly notable.
Full 2028/29 itineraries still to come
Princess has announced the scale and geographical reach of its planned expansion, but detailed 2028/29 itineraries were not available when this article was prepared.
The ships assigned to the programme, the number of calls at each destination, sailing durations, embarkation ports and booking dates therefore remain to be confirmed.
Those details will determine the precise size of the expansion. For now, the commitment establishes that Princess intends to increase its New Zealand presence substantially and cover a wider range of destinations from the 2028/29 season.