The only cruise ship passengers who might be sorry they are visiting Dunedin this weekend are shopaholics, Dunedin Visitor Centre manager Louise van de Vlierd says.
Easter trading regulations meant most shops, cafes and bars would not be open when Regatta berthed tomorrow, Good Friday, and Sun Princess on Easter Sunday. But many tourist attractions and some tourist shops would be open, she said.
"There is still a good variety of things to do. I think they will have a good experience and a good day."
Regatta, a smaller cruise ship with capacity for 824 passengers and 386 crew, was originally due to arrive on Saturday, but the date was changed some time ago to tomorrow. Miss van de Vlierd said she understood there would be about 700 passengers aboard. Sun Princess has capacity for 1950 passengers and 900 crew.
Speight's Brewery was unable to run tours tomorrow or on Sunday because of the trading regulations, she said. However, most other tourist attractions, including bus tours, harbour cruises, Otago Museum, the Taiaroa Head albatross colony, Larnach Castle, Taieri Gorge Railway and the Dunedin Public Art Gallery, would be open.
Cadbury was closed for scheduled maintenance tomorrow and on Saturday, but shortened tours would be available on Sunday.
Easter was one of the busiest weekends of the year for Taieri Gorge Railway, chief executive Murray Bond said. He expected at least 1500 passengers would be carried over four days from tomorrow, with Sunday by far the busiest day.
"Easter is the last big fling for us before the quieter winter season and the huge downturn in tourism numbers."
The last of the 85 cruise ships which will have visited Port Chalmers and Dunedin over the 2011-12 season arrives on April 19 and the new season will not begin until October.
