The largest cruise ship to ever visit the Bay of Plenty will be returning to Tauranga Harbour this week.
The Ovation of the Seas is expected to return to the Port of Tauranga on Friday at 9am.
The massive cruise ship made waves when it arrived in Tauranga on Boxing Day morning.
Read more: A look inside Ovation of the Seas
Thousands of people gathered at dawn to welcome the ship and its passengers to the region, with crowds lining Mauao, Pilot Bay, and Sulphur Point.
Ovation of the Seas is longer than three rugby fields, weighs 168,660 gross registered tonnes and carries 4762 passengers, 1600 crew, and is the fourth-largest cruise ship in the world.
When it left Tauranga later that day, hoards of people gathered again to say goodbye to the ship and passengers.
The farewell from thousands in their boats and on shore made such an impression, one cruise ship passenger wrote in to the Bay of Plenty Times to relay their appreciation. Read the letter to the editor here: 'Thank you Tauranga' - cruise ship passenger's message