Port of Tauranga will host the giant cruise ship Ovation of the Seas in its maiden voyage to New Zealand in the summer of 2016/2017.
The Royal Caribbean vessel is 348 metres long, more than 50 metres high and can host nearly 5,000 passengers and 1,500 crew.
With a price tag of USD$1 billion, it boasts onboard entertainment such as a skydiving simulator, an aerial observatory and a bar staffed by robots.
Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Mark Cairns, says the cruise ship visit will be made possible by the dredging project about to commence in Tauranga Harbour.
The work, for which tenders close in June, will be completed by August next year, in plenty of time for the arrival of the Ovation of the Seas.
“We’re 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,” says Mark.
“The cruise industry brings a lot of economic benefit to the wider Bay of Plenty economy.”
Royal Caribbean Cruises Vice President Asia Pacific, Gavin Smith, says Ovation of the Seas will change the face of the cruising industry in New Zealand.
“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.”
“Each time the ship calls in Tauranga, she will deliver an injection of around NZD$780,000 into the local economy,” says Gavin.
“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”, Gavin says.
The ship will be the third in the ground-breaking Quantum Class and the fifth in the Royal Caribbean Australasian fleet for summer 2016/17, joining four other superliners -Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas. Voyager of the Seas is the largest ship to currently frequent these waters, at 317 metres long. It has regularly visited Port of Tauranga over the past few seasons.
Bookings for Ovation of the Seas’ maiden season are not yet open however guests are encouraged to register their interest at www.royalcaribbean.com.au/Ovation.
Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest port by volume of cargo and New Zealand’s international freight gateway. It operates wharves at Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Timaru, as well as inland freight hubs in Auckland and Rolleston, near Christchurch. Port of Tauranga hosted 83 cruise ship visits in the 2014/2015 season.
Royal Caribbean Cruises New Zealand commenced operation in April 2010 as the New Zealand arm of global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. In New Zealand the company operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises. The global company has a combined total of 41 ships in service and four under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Dubai, Europe and South America.
