Ovation of the Seas may have to anchor in AucklandOvation of the Seas may have to anchor in Auckland

Itineraries for the 168,666gt vessel's inaugural Down Under season, just announced, also include a sailing from Sydney to Auckland on January 9, 2017.

As previously reported, at 348mtr Ovation is too long to berth at Auckland’s two current cruise ship terminals, Princes and Queens Wharves, which can only take ships up to around 320mtr.

RCI has been negotiating with Ports of Auckland, owned by Auckland Council, to find an alternative berth since the council announced it had suspended plans for a B3 extension on one side of its Bledisloe container wharf for cruise ships.

‘At this stage, Royal Caribbean International anticipates that the ship’s almost 5,000 guests will be disembarked by tender when the ship arrives in Auckland,’ RCI regional vp Asia Pacific, Gavin Smith, said.

‘Disembarkation by tender is not the cruise line’s preferred option for that number of guests, however Royal Caribbean was determined to include Auckland in the ship’s Australasian itineraries,’ Smith said.

‘Auckland has always been a key destination for our guests on New Zealand itineraries and we look forward to allowing our guests to experience all that the beautiful harbour city has to offer.’

Smith said Royal Caribbean ‘remains hopeful’ that another berthing option may become available by the time the ship arrives in December next year.

He said Ovation of the Seas, which will be the biggest cruise ship to visit New Zealand, will use tenders at Bay of Islands, while it will berth alongside wharves in Dunedin, Wellington, Picton, Napier and Tauranga.