Media Release

18 June 2015

Biggest cruise ship to ever visit Auckland confirmed

Auckland has secured a place in the Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas 2016/17 itinerary to host what will be the biggest cruise ship to ever visit New Zealand.

Ovation of the Seas will stop in Auckland twice in the season, carrying between 4,200 and 5,000 passengers, and each visit is worth around $1.7 million to the local economy.

Auckland Toursim, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says, “This is great news for the tourism industry and for Auckland. The cruise industry was worth $159 million to the Auckland region in the 2013/14, and more than $350 million to the New Zealand economy,” he says.

“It’s fantastic to feature in Ovation’s schedule and the inclusion highlights Auckland’s appeal as a world-class cruising destination. ATEED and other council groups are working with Royal Carribean to accommodate a vessel of this size which at this point could mean mooring the vessel in the harbour.

“ATEED is part of the working group looking at ways to service the demands for larger cruise ships. Whatever the outcome we can assure that Ovation’s passengers will enjoy their experience of Auckland.”

Mr O’Riley says cruise ship visits are on track to hit a record number of around 110 in 2015-16 and are expected to grow further the following seasons.

“By 2030 the number of visits could be around 150 a year or as high as 180 if the growth we are seeing in China continues,” he says.

“With larger cruise ships this will take passenger numbers to nearly 400,000 or potentially as high as 450,000 by 2030. The fast growth of the cruise sector in Asia offers a fantastic opportunity for Auckland to receive more cruise ship visits from newer cruise ships and to be able to encourage Asian tourists to visit Auckland and take a cruise in New Zealand.”

The brand new $1 billion ship will depart from Sydney on 15 December 2016, headed to New Zealand shores. The first New Zealand port that it will visit is Dunedin, followed by Wellington, Picton, Tauranga, and Auckland on the 27 December 2016.

Ends

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