Port Taranaki is looking forward to welcoming the first cruise ship to the region in more than two years when the Seabourn Odyssey docks on Thursday, 24 November.
The 198m vessel will visit a number of New Zealand ports before arriving at Port Taranaki from Nelson. She will slip into port at 8am and her 450 passengers will spend the day discovering Taranaki before she departs for Tasmania at 6pm.
The Seabourn Odyssey’s visit will be the first by a cruise ship to Taranaki since the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel in 2020. The last cruise vessel to visit was the Azamara Journey in February 2020.
“This is very exciting and something we’ve been looking forward to since the international borders were reopened,” Port Taranaki head of commercial Ross Dingle said.
“It’s been a tough period for the cruise industry and the wider tourism sector, so this is a positive step forward and we believe it signals a great summer ahead for the region’s tourism, hospitality and retail businesses.
“We hope plenty of local people come out and grab a vantage point along the Lee Breakwater or Ngāmotu Beach and give our visitors a great Taranaki welcome,” Mr Dingle said.
“Taranaki is a fantastic destination with wonderful natural and historical places to explore, and a great arts, retail, café and restaurant scene to experience.
“We wish the passengers a memorable day in Taranaki, and hope it whets the appetite for a longer stay on a return visit in the future.”
Mr Dingle said that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taranaki’s role in the cruise sector was gaining momentum, with an increasing number of cruise lines and vessels including the port and region on their schedules.
“We’re looking to build that momentum again, and are working with Venture Taranaki, the New Plymouth District Council, Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, tour operators and the New Zealand Cruise Association to promote the port and region and ensure Taranaki is highlighted as a ‘must-visit’ within the cruise industry,” he said.
The Seabourn Odyssey’s arrival will be the first of four visits by cruise ships this season, including a second visit by Seabourn Odyssey in March.
The Europa2, with approximately 500 passengers onboard, will visit on 26 January.
The largest cruise ship to ever visit Port Taranaki, the Island Princess, will arrive on 15 February. The vessel is 294m long and has capacity for more than 2200 passengers.
“Island Princess will certainly look magnificent coming into Port Taranaki,” Mr Dingle said.
“Blyde Wharf and our deep-water harbour can comfortably accommodate vessels of this size. And we have skilled marine pilots and wharfside staff who are experienced in handling a range of vessels – big and small.”
