Cruise company P&O is withdrawing its ship Pacific Pearl from its base in Auckland next year.
The vessel, which brings thousands of tourists a year to New Zealand, will relocate to Sydney from February until at least April 2013.
A spokesperson P&O, Rebecca Lloyd, says the ship has been taken out of the Auckland schedule because of high Australian demand for other trips.
She says the intention is to reinstate the Auckland service during 2013.
The owner of Auckland's Waterfront Cafe and Bar, Nish Grupta, says his revenue will fall because of the move away from the city.