CRUISE
Cruise i-site
The 2025 – 2026 cruise season is anticipated to welcome 90 ship visits (subject to change) between Oct 2025 – May 2026. Tourism Bay of Plenty manages a temporary i-site at the Tauranga Port to welcome ships passengers and crew during the season. You an view the cruise schedule here.
Cruise Shore Excursion Licence RFP
Tourism Bay of Plenty (TBOP) is seeking proposals from appropriately licensed tour operators to supply shore excursion services to cruise passengers via the Cruise i-PORT operation, located on arrival into the Port of Tauranga. TBOP may award up to five contracts to successful Respondents at its discretion.
RFP Timelines:
- RFP released: 1 August 2025
- Notification of Intent to Respond: 15 August 2025
- Deadline for Proposals: 25 August 2025
- Contracts issued: 1 September 2025
- Anticipated start date: 16 October 2025
All queries refer to the contacts below:
Nicole Ellis
Visitor Services Manager
E: nicole@bayofplentynz.com
Mary Tolley
Head of Destination Management
M: mary@bayofplentynz.com
DOWNLOADS
Request For Proposals Cruise Shore Excursion Desk licence 25-26
RESOURCES FOR OPERATORS
If you're thinking about selling to cruise ship visitors next season, visit the New Zealand Cruise Association website for some great resources to get you started:
Starting a cruise business in Tauranga
How to create a Shore Excursion
Myths and Facts about cruising