That is down on previous seasons at Napier, which had 55 visits in 2025/26, 78 in 2024/25, and a record 89 in 2023/24.
Napier City Business general manager Pip Thompson said it was disappointing the Carnival Splendor was unable to visit.
“The weather plays a really important part, an uncontrollable part, of any event that we organise, and we treat cruise as an event because when you bring 3000-odd people into the city it is an event.
“To know that they have cancelled it is bitterly disappointing but outside of our control.”
She said tens of thousands of passengers were still coming through the city this season, which would provide a “real boost” to businesses.
“We will welcome them with open arms when they manage to get here.”
Napier Port’s cruise ship guide for the 2026/27 season. Photo / NZME
Thompson said the start of the cruise season felt, in many respects, like the start of summer, as tourism and sales begin to pick up.
“The activity in town always brings joy.”
Napier Port chief executive Todd Dawson said the port was looking forward to the season.
“Every cruise ship visit is an important occasion for Napier Port and the wider region, bringing visitors to experience what Hawke’s Bay has to offer and supporting local businesses and tourism operators.”
Only eight cruise visits are scheduled before Christmas, with the bulk of cruises to Napier coming after the festive season.
The biggest cruise ship of the season is the Anthem of the Seas, which has capacity for about 5000 passengers.
It is visiting Napier three times, with the first stop on Monday, December 7.
Dawson said, while the number of cruises was down on previous years, a “significant number of visitors [are] coming through the port and into the region”.
“While we would always welcome more cruise ships to Napier, the reduction in visits reflects wider challenges facing the cruise industry in New Zealand and Australia, rather than anything specific to Napier or Hawke’s Bay.”
He said bookings for the 2028/29 cruise season, from cruise companies, showed an encouraging increase.
He said a lot of work was also happening in the background, across the industry, to attract more cruises to New Zealand.
He said the current season also translated to more jobs, with an additional team of 12 casual employees to support cruise operations.