Bad weather scuppers Dunedin visit of mega-cruise ship

The Ovation of the Seas has cancelled a planned visit to Dunedin due to 'adverse weather conditions'.

A bad weather forecast has scuppered the historic Dunedin visit of mega-cruise ship the Ovation of the Seas on Thursday.

Dunedin was to be the first New Zealand port visited by the $1.4 billion Ovation, the biggest cruise ship to come to New Zealand with 4905 passengers.

Dunedin i-Site visitor centre manager Louise van de Vlierd said the cancellation was "very disappointing."

Royal Caribbean Cruises ship Ovation of the Seas picture in Rotterdam in May 2016.

"A lot of work has gone into preparing for it but the weather is something you can't control."

The ship's owners cited "adverse weather conditions forecast in the SW area of New Zealand" as the reason for the cancellation.

The Ovation of the Seas will still visit Milford Sound tomorrow as planned but then spend a day at sea before heading to Wellington.

Thursday will still be a cruise ship day, however, as Radiance of the Seas, which is approaching the city from the north, is still expected to visit Dunedin.