The 2018-2019 cruise ship season begins next week, with the arrival of the Majestic Princess on her maiden voyage.

The 330m long vessel will dock at the Port of Tauranga on Friday 5 October at 5.15am and will depart at 5.30pm.

As is customary for significant cruise ships on their first journey, Tourism Bay of Plenty is inviting people to give the vessel and her passengers and crew a warm send-off in sunny Bay of Plenty fashion.

Tourism Bay of Plenty Chief Executive Officer Kristin Dunne encourages residents to come down to Pilot Bay from 5pm to farewell the Majestic Princess as she embarks on the next part of her voyage.

'I'd love to see locals bring a picnic, maybe some fish and chips, watch the sunset, wave off our first cruise passengers for the season, and enjoy the start of summer. Daylight savings will have started the Sunday prior, as well as the first week of the school holidays, so what a fantastic way to kick off those long summer evenings.

'The Bay of Plenty is renowned for its manaakitanga and we want our cruise passengers to feel that welcoming spirit.”

Tourism Bay of Plenty has collaborated with Tauranga Intermediate School to farewell the passengers on the Port of Tauranga with a student kapa haka group.

The Mount Hot Pools will also be running a promotional event the evening of the Majestic Princess' departure, enticing locals to head to the Hot Pools for a soak after waving her off.

'Ship then Dip” entitles locals to a 20 per cent discount on Hot Pools entry within one hour of the Majestic Princess' departure.

The temporary Satellite Mount Maunganui i-SITE Visitor Information Centre established in Phoenix carpark last cruise season will also be erected in time for the Majestic Princess' arrival.

This year the Satellite i-SITE will be located next to the Port of Tauranga entrance to service both cruise passengers in between their disembarkment and embarkment, and other visitors in Mount Maunganui.

The Satellite i-SITE will be open from 10.30am-4pm seven days a week, excluding Christmas Day, from October 5 until late summer.

Cruise ship activity brings significant benefits to the Bay of Plenty including the $66m boost the economy received during the 2017-2018 season.

The Majestic Princess brings 3560 passengers and 1346 crew. She was built in 2017, weighs 143,700 tonnes, and measures 330 metres in length.