Mighty Aurora arrives in Auckland

3:00 PM By SCOTT MacLEOD

The biggest cruise ship ever to dock in New Zealand takes less effort to drive than a family car.

Not only can the 76,000-ton Aurora spin around in her own length, it takes just a few flicks of a joystick to accomplish the feat.

"It's just like pacman," says her skipper, Steve Burgoine. "I've had this new toy since April, and all the technical aspects make her a joy to drive."

And she should be, because the British P&O vessel is brand-spanking new, making her maiden around-the-world cruise with all the latest nautical gadgets.

Aucklanders driving along their waterfront today could easily mistake the ship for a massive hotel that has suddenly sprung up overnight.

Aurora's mighty bulk casts a shadow over Princes Wharf, and those allowed onto the sprawling bridge could find themselves looking down on some of Quay Street's biggest buildings. In fact, the ship's bridge-mounted webcam allows people around the world to catch a glimpse of Quay Street too - at least until the ship sails.

The visit to Auckland is fleeting. Aurora slipped in at 7am and will be gone by 8pm, steaming for Sydney and eventually to Tokyo.

Aurora is 23.5 metres shorter than her Cunard Line rival Queen Elizabeth 2, but she displaces 7,000 tons more.

The 450 people who boarded at Auckland were greeted by 3600 works of art, 12 bars, 10 lifts, five lounges, four jacuzzis, three shops, two restaurants, a concert hall, cinema, library, health spa, gym, three pools for adults and another for children.

Not to mention the golf simulator and virtual reality centre - although the latter may be a little too cool and funky for some of the clientele. Aurora's youth director, Jo Teasdale, says the average age of the passengers is about 65.

If the facilities are swanky, the technical specifications are equally impressive.

Longer than two and a half football fields, at 270m, the P&O Cruises vessel is also 10m taller than Niagara Falls, which means she cannot pass under Auckland Harbour Bridge. Between those 62m-tall walls are 850 crew and 1850 passengers (73 more passengers than aboard the QE2) in 939 cabins spread over 10 decks.

Her diesel-electric engines produce as much power as 1330 Ford Escorts, pushing her along at 70 km/h.

Captain Burgoine reckons she sways only slightly in heavy seas - although "the ocean is an incredible force and you have to respect it."

Aurora is just one of 22 liners visiting Auckland this summer - the busiest season in years. Between them, they are expected to pump 32,000 tourists into the city.

Aboard Aurora:

Virtual tour

Continuously updated view from the bridge

Aurora home page

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