Noordam makes successful visit, with nearly all 1800 passengers coming ashore

Shades of blue. . . the cruise ship Noordam was a majestic sight as she sat at anchor in Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay on Saturday. Picture by Paul Rickard

The cruise ship Noordam made a successful visit to Gisborne on Saturday and was a majestic sight as she sat at anchor in Turanganui-a-Kiwa/Poverty Bay.

Almost all of the 1800 passengers on board came ashore for the day in the ship’s tenders. Wa165 ran a steam train trip down to Muriwai and back, and there were a range of other tours. Many of the passengers shopped in the city centre and explored the riverbank and beachfront walkways. “It was one of our better visits,” a ship agents spokesman said.

“The passengers were thrilled to come ashore, and many of them talked about how green and beautiful the city is,” he said.

The visit of smaller cruise ship Regatta, due yesterday, was cancelled because of the impending southerly change and potential impact on sea conditions. “It’s disappointing but the weather is the governing factor.”