One of New Zealand's largest visiting cruise ships Voyager of the Seas, pictured here at Salisbury Wharf, is set to be dwarfed when big brother ship Ovation of the Seas arrives in Tauranga. Photo/file
One of New Zealand's largest visiting cruise ships Voyager of the Seas, pictured here at Salisbury Wharf, is set to be dwarfed when big brother ship Ovation of the Seas arrives in Tauranga. Photo/file
A mega cruise ship worth $1.25 billion that can accommodate almost 5000 passengers and 1500 crew is scheduled to visit Tauranga on its maiden voyage to New Zealand during the summer of 2016-17.
Ovation of the Seas will be the biggest cruise ship to ever visit New Zealand and thenewest and largest in Royal Caribbean's fleet of cruise liners.
The ship, being built in Germany, will be 348m long and more than 50m high.
It also boasts a skydiving simulator, an observatory and a bar staffed by robots.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia Pacific vice-president Gavin Smith said Ovation of the Seas would inject about $780,000 into the local economy every time it berthed in Tauranga.
"Confirming Tauranga as a port of call for the region's very first new-build cruise ship demonstrates our commitment to and belief in the New Zealand cruising market," he said.
"Tauranga rates time and time again as one of our most popular New Zealand destinations. We look forward to sharing this beautiful destination with our guests from around the world."
The ship's visit will be made possible by the Port of Tauranga's dredging of the harbour, which is about to start.
Tenders for the project close next month and work will be completed by August next year.
Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns said he was "delighted to be able to accommodate larger ships such as the Ovation of the Seas".
"The introduction of bigger vessels shows the confidence that cruise companies have in New Zealand as a destination," Mr Cairns said.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Asia Pacific vice-president Gavin Smith
"The cruise industry brings a lot of economic benefit to the wider Bay of Plenty economy."
Ovation of the Seas will be based in Shanghai during the northern summer and come down in December next year.
The ship's arrival is a coup for the cruise market in New Zealand - one of the fastest growing in the world - and the tourism sector which has targeted the industry as a source of a large number of wealthy visitors.
Latest cruise industry figures show 23 per cent projected growth for the New Zealand market to 246,000 passengers next summer.
Smith said passengers paid a premium aboard the new Quantum class ships with lead-in fares starting at about $200 a day per person and $250 a day for balcony rooms.
Royal Caribbean has been cruising Australasian waters since 2007 and its ships started calling in New Zealand from April 2010.
The Miami-headquartered company operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises and has a combined total of 41 ships in service - including the two biggest cruise ships in the world - and four under construction, including Ovation.
