The 2013/14 cruise-ship season got off to a hiss and a roar in Napier yesterday - which is all the 1950 passengers of the Sea Princess were able to experience during their visit to the Art Deco capital of the world. The hissing and roaring of a strong northwesterly wind which in the end proved too strong for the pilots to consider trying to ease the 77,500-tonne liner into the port just after 11.30am.
"For safety reasons we have standing orders and the wind was just too much," Napier Port operations manager Chris Bain said. "It was the pilot's decision - they assess it as they see it."
The sea was whipped into whitecaps by the wind which at the time was averaging 56km/h, with some gusts reaching 74km/h.
MetService meteorologist John Law said Hawke's Bay could expect gusty winds until this morning before the northwesterly front moved through.
"It is going to be quite blustery in the morning but it will get better and brighter as the day goes on," Mr Law said.