ID New Zealand

26/03/2026

We farewell Peter, a much respected figure on the Wellington waterfront, as he wraps up an incredible 47 years leading the team in Wellington.

Fittingly, his final day coincided with Riviera, marking his last ship call, along with a well earned lunch on board.

Thank you Peter, for everything you’ve given over the years. You will be truly missed, and we wish you all the very best for the next chapter.

Smooth sailing into retirement ⚓️ Peter McGhie

13/03/2026

The 2025–26 cruise season in Timaru came to a close yesterday with the arrival of MS Zaandam.

Guests had the opportunity to experience a variety of local tours and excursions, including the Timaru Discovery Walk, Māori Rock Art, the High Country Inland Explorer, and Harlau House Southern Hospitality. Others ventured further afield to Oamaru and the famous Moeraki Boulders with Hasslefree Tours.

Over the course of the season, Timaru welcomed a range of cruise ships carrying thousands of guests eager to experience the region’s scenery, culture and hospitality.

Zaandam’s visit marked a fitting close to another successful cruise season for the port and is a reminder of the growing role regional ports play in New Zealand’s cruise itinerary.

Holland America Line Hassle-free Tours We Love Timaru

08/03/2026

February has been a condensed and busy month for New Zealand’s cruise sector with ships moving steadily between ports up and down the country.

We’ve seen a number of double-ship days, including two Princess ships side by side as Discovery Princess and Crown Princess met in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time 💙🛳️

Another iconic highlight was welcoming Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 back to the Bay of Islands, Auckland and Tauranga during her world voyage.

Norwegian Spirit, Noordam, Volendam, Arcadia, Carnival Splendor, Regent and Seabourn ships have all featured in recent port schedules, carrying thousands of guests through New Zealand waters.

A huge thank you to our incredible teams on the ground for managing busy schedules and working hard to deliver a smooth operational experience for visiting guests.

Behind every arrival is a large network of local businesses helping bring these visits to life. Tour operators, transport providers, guides and hospitality teams across the country continue to play a vital role in ensuring guests leave with a memorable impression of New Zealand.



Princess Cruises Seabourn Carnival Cruise Line Cunard Norwegian Cruise Line Holland America Line

26/02/2026

A stunning start to the day in Northland as the iconic Cunard Queen Mary II arrived into the Bay of Islands at sunrise, gliding in under purple and pink skies 💜

Officially on her world voyage schedule, Queen Mary II is making this special Bay of Islands stop today, tomorrow she’ll be alongside in Tāmaki Makaurau then continuing on to Tauranga on Saturday 🛳️

Cunard

22/02/2026

A busy day for Auckland welcoming over 9,000 guests and crew

09/02/2026

A strong day for Wellington and for the local tour operators and businesses hosting thousands of visitors ashore.

07/02/2026

Double ship day for Tauranga today 🛳️
Carnival Splendor and Crown Princess alongside throughout the day bringing visitors ashore across the region.

Days like today highlight the value of cruise tourism to the Bay of Plenty, particularly for small and medium operators who form the backbone of the shore excursion sector.

Our tour operators and partners play a central role in cruise operations, providing the services that connect guests with the region in a practical and meaningful way.

Princess Cruises Carnival Cruise Line

06/02/2026

A standout Waitangi Day for Auckland’s waterfront 🇳🇿

With both the Crown Princess and the Regent Seven Seas Navigator alongside today, the port is alive with energy, delivering a strong boost for local businesses, tourism operators, and the wider Auckland communities. Paired with incredible summer weather, it’s the perfect showcase of what makes Tāmaki Makaurau such a world-class destination.

Proud to see our city shining on the global stage and welcoming more and more visitors to Aotearoa. 🌿

02/02/2026

World Cruise guests on Nicko cruises’ Vasco de Gama were treated to a day on New Zealand’s southernmost Island over the weekend.

Guests enjoyed a short highlights tour of the Island, seabird and wildlife cruises and guided walks on the incredible predator free Ulva/Te Wharawhara Island amongst the native flora and fauna.

One group being guided by Ange Karaitiana and Carley Anderson from Beaks and Feathers were fortunate to see a Stewart Island brown kiwi (tokoeka) in broad daylight at their feet.
Other groups enjoyed close encounters and birdsong from Stewart Island Weka, Kaka, Morepork, Kaka, Tui and more.

Huge thanks to our Stewart Island port manager Skyla and her team Lachie, Molly and Les.

And special thanks to all IDNZ’s loyal Stewart Island suppliers and partners that make all of this possible 🫶🏼

Thanks to Ulva Island for the amazing photos!

Beaks & Feathers Rakiura Charters & Water Taxi - Stewart Island Te Anau Helicopter Services South Sea Hotel Stewart Island / Rakiura RealNZ Stewart Island Kai Kart

nicko cruises Schiffsreisen

02/02/2026

TIMARU ❤️

Welcome to the 2 cruise ships visiting Timaru this week 🛳️

Norwegian Spirit is arriving Monday 2, at 9:30am with 2000 passengers, leaving at 5pm now not 6:30pm.

Noordam is back again for the second time this season on Thursday 5, at 11am, with 1900 passengers, departing at 7pm.

29/01/2026

Global cruise demand continues to grow, with strong forward bookings reported across multiple source markets.

For New Zealand, the focus remains on rebuilding deployment confidence and ensuring we are competitive, coordinated and easy to operate in — so we can fully benefit from this global momentum.

source: CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association