PACIFIC CRUSE SHIPS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 3

PACIFIC CRUSE SHIPS

Contribution To N.Z. Dollar Funds

(New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 7.

New Zealand should benefit by more than £30,000 from the visits of three big Pacific cruise ships carrying American tourists which are due here this month and next. The ships are the American liner Lurline, which is expected to arrive at Auckland on January 25, the Norwegian liner Bergensfjord, due on February 8, and the Swedish vessel Kungsholm, due on February 15. They will carry some 1500 passengers, most of them wealthy Americans. Mr A. G. Hill, Auckland manager of the Tourist Bureau, said today that passengers from each ship would spend up to £lO.OOO on shore excursions alone. What they would spend in addition on souvenirs and other things was anyone’s guess, he added. All this spending would be in dollars, which would be a valuable contribution to New Zealand’s dollar funds. Mr Hill said that in addition to extensive and varied tours in the North Island, parties of about 50 tourists from each ship would make scenic flights over the South Island in the new Viscount airliper due on Friday. These flights take in the Southern Alps, Milford Sound, and the Southern Lakes. A party of 50 from the Lurline was due to make the first of these Hights on January 26. It would be the first time that an air tour had been arranged in New Zealand on such a large scale. Three other special cruise ships due from Australia this month are expected to bring up to £5OOO each in travel revenue. They are the Orient liners Orion (due January 13) and Orcades (January 16), and the P. and O. liner Strathaird (January 24).