With a record number of cruisers booked to visit port of Napier this summer, Hawke's Bay expects an influx of visitors that is equivalent to the entire population of the region.
Napier Port confirmed it will handle a total of 72 cruise ships during summer 2018, bringing in as many as 175,000 visitors (up to 125,000 passengers and another 50,000 crew).
According to Napier port services manager Bruce Lochhead, not only was that a record number of vessels but it also meant a record number of cruise passengers.
Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, carrying nearly 5000 cruise passengers at a time, is booked in for 6 visits to Napier.
Majestic Princess is booked for a maiden visit as the first ship of the season over Labour Day weekend.
Port staff have been training at simulator in Holland as part of preparations for the first of 5 calls.