The biggest cruise ship to sail New Zealand waters arrived in Wellington from Australia this morning.
The cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. Photo: royalcaribbean.com
The 18-deck high Ovation of the Seas can carry almost 5000 passengers and 1500 crew.
At 348m long, and weighing in at about 170,000 tonnes, Ovation of the Seas is the fourth largest cruise ship in the world, according to owner Royal Caribbean.
The 18-deck high Ovation of the Seas towers over Wellington port buildings. Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan
"It dwarfs the warehouses around it - it's at least twice the size of anything around it" - RNZ reporter Emile Donovan
There are 18 restaurants on board - complete with robotic bartenders that can mix two cocktails a minute. Passengers can go skydiving, rock climbing, surfing or take lessons at an on-board circus school.
Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan
The mega ship had been due to dock at Dunedin's Port Chalmers on Thursday and tourist operators had been gearing up for the visit for weeks.
But because of forecast high winds on the south east coast the ship's captain decided to sail from Milford Sound straight to Wellington instead.
After Wellington, it's due to stop in Tauranga and Auckland before the New Year.
Photo: RNZ / Emile Donovan