Detailed Information for Cruise tour operators in Dunedin
From Queenstown.net.nz
[edit] Information about the system on the wharf
Background
Cruise ships have been calling at Port Chalmers since the 1960s but, in the last 10 years, their number and importance to the tourism economy of Dunedin has increased dramatically.
In the last two years, the number of Private Tour Providers (PTP - tour operators not affiliated to the cruise lines in any way) has proliferated. There were up to 47 PTPs accessing the (Port Chalmers) wharf each cruise ship day during the 2012-2013 season. This is an exciting and positive development for passengers and the City alike and the local industry has encouraged PTPs to become established.
The increased use of on-line searches and booking services by passengers has also assisted in the growth of PTPs, who can provide a greater range of (personalised) tour experiences than those provided by the ships themselves and their contracted land-side tour providers.
The New Procedure
1. Port Otago has placed PTPs under the direct management of Dunedin’s i-Site staff, located on the wharf on cruise ship days.
2. i-Site staff will book passengers on to PTP tours and receive the standard 12.5% commission for doing so (in line with all other tour operators utilizing i-Site services in Dunedin).
3. PTPs will be required to register with the i-Site prior to the start of the cruise ship season, identifying their tour itineraries, staffing, minimum party size and vehicles used. They will need to comply with any operating guidelines set down by the i-Site, and this will include a familiarization meeting with i-Site staff.
4. PTPs will wait outside the Port gate (on Beach Street or elsewhere) until their tour is sold. Access to the wharf will only be permitted to pick up paid passengers at the designated pick-up area. PTPs will be “called” on to the wharf at the appropriate time via cellphone contact from the i-Site staff. There will be no parking area provided on the wharf for PTPs to operate directly from.
5. The i-Site will be housed inside the Port Otago Marquee on-wharf, and all passengers not already booked on the train or ship’s tours will be channeled through the Marquee prior to exiting the wharf.
6. PTPs will be able to advertise within the i-Site Marquee on-wharf
7. Taxi operators will also be located outside the wharf area, in a dedicated taxi stand on the Beach Street side of A Shed. Ship passengers will be able to hire a taxi from there or have a taxi called on to the wharf. Passenger drop-off can be made on-wharf (at the gangway) if permitted by the ship’s Master.
FAQ
1. What about operators who have customers who have pre-booked via the internet?
There will be no change for operators who already utilize pre-bookings via the internet. They will be allowed on to the wharf 15 minutes before the tour start time advised to booked passengers. As is the case now, operators with pre-booked tours will have already advised Port Otago Security of their booking, the passengers’ names and the time of the tour, on the day before the tour.
2. What about operators offering a “vehicle hire” for a freedom tour?
These operators will also be managed by the i-Site in the same way as other tour operators.
3. What access will taxi operators have?
Taxis will also have to operate outside the wharf area. A dedicated Taxi Stand will be established outside A Shed (Beach Street side) and on-wharf signage will direct passengers to the Taxi Stand. Passengers can hire a taxi from the Stand, or request that a taxi come to the collection point on-wharf to pick up passengers. Drop-off of passengers will be allowed on-wharf, subject to the Ship’s Master permitting this and drivers being on the Port’s Access List.
4. What access will passenger shuttles have?
Shuttles provided and organized by ground handlers will retain the right to access the wharf as usual. Ground handlers will be encouraged to have ticket sellers at the shuttles rather than at the gangway or on the walk-way to the Marquee or shuttle area. There will be signage at the gang-way that advises passengers of the availability of private tours being sold in the Marquee.
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