Boutique Orion follows the giant Noordam in fourth cruise ship visit this season

It has been four from four so far when it comes to successful cruise ship visits to Gisborne. The latest visit was by the National Geographic Orion (pictured), which came and went yesterday, mooring at Eastland Port. Pictures by Liam Clayton

The fourth cruise ship visit to Gisborne this season went off without a hitch yesterday when the National Geographic Orion came calling again.

Orion nosed alongside the new Wharf 7 at Eastland Port at around 6am yesterday and stayed until about 6pm.

The 70-plus passengers on board the smaller boutique ship spent the day on tours to a local farm, Eastwoodhill Arboretum and a winery.

Orion will call here again on December 6, the next scheduled cruise ship to call.

It was a more leisurely day for the cruise organisers after the visit by the much bigger Noordam on Tuesday.

About 1600 of the Holland America Line Noordam’s passengers and some crew came ashore for the afternoon and evening.

The tendering zone in the inner harbour was a hectic place as the six tenders from the ship ferried the visitors in and out during the 10-to-11 hours the ship was anchored in Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay.

“The tendering process functioned very well,” a ship agents’ spokesman said.

“It was a smooth operation, with the final tender away shortly after 10pm. The passengers who came ashore certainly went away happy.” They took part in a range of tours.

There were initial concerns about debris in the Bay from the storm at the weekend affecting the tendering process, but the Herald was told there were no issues.

Noordam’s captain indicated he was happy for the tenders to operate in the dark.

Passengers spoken to by The Herald during the visit commented on how much they enjoyed the “small town” atmosphere.

“It’s a lovely little city,” said a passenger from Australia. “We’ve really enjoyed the atmosphere here,” said another from the UK. Everyone’s so friendly.”

There was comment from some about the number of closed shops in the city centre.

A passenger from the Noordam had his cruise interrupted when he had a fall on the ship, and sustained a hip injury.

The Canadian man, in his 80s, was transported to Gisborne Hospital by St John ambulance for treatment.

He was admitted and was reported to be in a stable condition.

The Noordam sailed for Napier at around 11pm on Tuesday night. The cruise liner will be back on February 17, then March 21 and 25.

The visit on March 25 will be the last cruise ship to call into Gisborne this 2023/24 season.