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Mt. Maunganui oversees your arrival into the Bay of Plenty, your gateway to visit the thermal wonderland and cultural stronghold of Rotorua. Visit iconic landmarks in Australia, strikingly diverse landscapes in New Zealand, and the palm-fringed islands of the South Pacific. Be awestruck by the beauty of Fiordland National Park / Piopiotahi, named one of the 7 Cruise Wonders of the World by Condé Nast Traveler. And sail through the glassy waters and towering cliffs of Milford Sound, which was formed a millennia ago by massive glacial flows. Satiate yourself on Bluff oysters, thought by many connoisseurs to be the world's best. Or try the country's British-inspired favorite, crisp-fried fish and chips with plenty of malt vinegar to cut through the richness.
Lifestyle & culture
Sail atop glassy waters and glide below the towering cliffs framing the Fiordland National Park. Pass through Milford, Doubtful and Dusky sounds taking in the stunning scenery that dwarfs your ship, and all your expectations. Coach to Cape Reinga, cruise to the Hole in the Rock, or take a scenic flight over this lovely archipelago. Familiarise yourself with the different itineraries and exclusive New Zealand offerings to determine which cruise is best for you.
Unique experiences on New Zealand / Aotearoa cruises
Top that off with savory whitebait fritters and green-lipped mussels in curry sauce with crusty bread. New Zealand's largest city, Auckland is home to two harbors, black and white sand beaches, hiking trails and the iconic Sky Tower. "Lord of the Rings" lovers, appreciators of the arts and culinary enthusiasts won't be disappointed.
WELLINGTON WOWS
Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess offers a fresh take on 'The Love Boat' line. All outside cabins have balconies so you can take full advantage of New Zealand's stunning scenery. This chart features a representative from the major lines, including Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Crystal, Silversea, P&O and Seabourn. Families on a budget might find the most 'bang for their buck' onboard Carnival Legend, while couples looking to splurge can pamper themselves with Crystal Symphony's lavish suites and all-inclusive fine dining. New Zealand is home to towering mountains, award-winning wineries, adrenaline-pumping activities and cultural experiences. With more than a dozen mainstream ships plying New Zealand's waters from October to April, passengers certainly have a lot of choice.
Onboard enrichment on New Zealand / Aotearoa cruises
One of New Zealand's biggest meat exports, roast lamb — seasoned with rosemary and served with seasonal vegetables — is served in many local restaurants. When you visit New Zealand, look for options that are locally raised and grass-fed for the best flavor. P&O Australia caters to Australian cruisers, with Pacific Aria, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Dawn venturing across the Tasman Sea to visit New Zealand on a regular basis. Other Carnival Corp. brands also make regular calls to New Zealand during the summer months, including Princess, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Cunard.
The average New Zealand temperature decreases as you travel south, with January and February the warmest months. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20 to 30 Celsius (70 to 90 Fahrenheit), depending on where you are. Always pack layers and rain gear, and remember that, like Australia, summer is also a standard holiday period for families, so expect more crowds around major attractions and tourist spots, including beach resorts. Norwegian Jewel offers 10 free and for-a-fee eateries, almost a dozen bars and lounges and a range of accommodation options -- from inside cabins to suites in The Haven, the line's signature 'gated community'. If you love singing, this 2,376-passenger ship does not disappoint with a karaoke lounge featuring mood lighting and three private karaoke rooms. The lively dance floor in the Spinnaker Lounge features everything from ballroom and line dancing to pulse-pounding dance music.
After what seems like a very long time, the Australian Government has announced that the ban on cruise vessels entering Australia will not be extended when it ends on April 17. Rolling green hills tumble into the sea and are crowned by the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ – Dunedin. Explore the city’s charming streets flanked by Victorian buildings, visit the botanic gardens, or simply soak in the view. Watch from the deck as you wind through the beautiful bays and inlets of Marlborough Sounds, before sampling the renowned wine of the region.
For more on these ports, see our Australia and New Zealand port profiles.
The most popular places for boarding a cruise to New Zealand are Australia and the South Pacific. Around-the-world cruises pass through here, as do adventure cruises bound for Antarctica. The first settlers arrived here by boat more than 1,000 years ago, and even up until the 1960s it was the only way to reach this country. Today, cruising to New Zealand is, happily, a much more comfortable and luxurious experience. Witness the majestic beauty of New Zealand on Fiordland National Park cruise excursions.
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North Island cruise destinations
(Outside of the summer months, it's cold.) That said, it remains on the itineraries of many visiting ships, most homeported in Australia. As a compact island nation, New Zealand is a wonderful cruising destination as each distinct region is within overnight sailing. New Zealand’s cruise ports are well set-up to welcome international visitors on cruise ships with a wide range of onshore activities and day trips available. New Zealand is best enjoyed during the peak summer months of December, January and February, although the cruise season officially kicks off in early October, with most of the major activity winding down toward the end of April. Between May and September, only a handful of ships visit, with no activity at all in July, the first month of winter.
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Before or after you set sail for the wonders of New Zealand, why not also discover some of Australia’s greatest attractions. Sailing from Sydney or Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau, you can pair your cruise with a land tour to the Australian Outback to famed Uluru (Ayers Rock) and visit the Great Barrier Reef. Wellington’s number-one attraction, the Te Papa National Museum, showcases Māori and Pacific cultural treasures, New Zealand’s extraordinary natural life and its most important works of art.
New Zealand’s vast, dramatic and diverse landscape is the unrivaled home of Tolkien’s mythical Middle Earth. Journey to the city of Edoras and walk in the footsteps of The Lord of the Rings in Wellington, and visit Peter Jackson’s Weta Studios. Savor the unique tastes of an authentic Māori hangi or sample award-winning wines from Picton. While you're "in the area," start in Australia and experience a sampler cruise from Sydney, or a cruise up the coast from Tasmania to Queensland. Follow in Frodo's footsteps and check out Hobbiton in Matamata — check out the recreation of the hobbit's houses nestled in the rolling green hills (watch your head!).
Or visit the Tongariro National Park outside of Napier / Ahuriri, which holds the title of first park in the world to receive UNESCO World Heritage status for both its natural and Māori spiritual and cultural value. And just outside Wellington, you’ll experience a world teeming with Māori myths, rugged coasts and adorable seals. From North to South, see city sights in Auckland, check out the art deco delights of Napier, and cruise through Milford Sound's majestic fjords.
Passengers range from young couples and singles to families and active retirees. You won't find any rock climbing walls or quirky pool games on Holland America's refurbished Noordam, which prides itself on dining and a relaxed, traditional cruising experience. Service and food quality in the complimentary main dining room are top notch, but for-a-fee restaurants such as Pinnacle Grill (which now features a Sel de Mer seafood pop-up venue once per week) are good for a romantic dinner. The ship tends to appeal to a more mature crowd, though you will see more families and multigenerational groups on New Zealand cruises, especially during school holidays.
Celebrity typically attracts sophisticated young adult and middle-aged couples, though you'll notice more families during school holidays. These cruises can take as long as 150 nights, with some liners spending two weeks or more travelling the length of New Zealand and others spending shorter periods visiting just one or two ports. Some shorter ‘round the world cruises’ visit just a few countries – the USA, Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia, for example. Round the world cruises are often sold in sections, for those passengers who don’t want to take the entire trip. Princess Cruises proudly presents Across the Ditch, an immersive program designed to bring guests the very best of New Zealand / Aotearoa. Our program brings authentic Maori experiences, culture and local flavors onboard and ashore to showcase what makes New Zealand so unique.
This includes Auckland and Wellington, as well as Tauranga's beaches, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds' fjords and the Bay of Islands. Don't forget Napier, with its distinctive art deco architecture like Miami Beach. Crystal, Oceania, Regent, Silversea and P&O Cruises have ships arriving between December and January for a short season on grand Pacific voyages or world cruises.
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