Cruise ship bonus for businesses

Running a day ahead of schedule due to a one-port cancellation meant an added bonus for Napier businesses with the arrival of the P&O; cruise liner Oriana on Thursday.

Hawke's Bay had not been on the original schedule for the 69,000-tonne liner, which is on the Australiasian leg of a 97-day world voyage.

One couple from the ship, from Queensland and who were checking out the "remarkable" Art Deco buildings in the CBD, said the ship had originally been due to call at Christchurch on February 29 but had bypassed it.

"Maybe it was because of the earthquake they had - we weren't told."

The Oriana had been visiting Milford Sound and instead went straight through to Wellington. Then, to re-fit the schedule, the ship made the call to Napier.

"It's in the fine print - they can change destinations, and in this case we're glad they did - it's great to come here."

The Oriana, the second P&O; liner to bear the name, left Southampton on January 5 and was due to tie up there again on April 10.

It was built in 1995 and is the longest-serving liner in the P&O; fleet.

It underwent a multi-million dollar refit last year and is described on the company's website as an "adults-only" liner, "designed for British tastes".

The Oriana arrived at 7.45am and departed at 6pm.