Tauranga to host Ovation of the Seas during maiden New Zealand voyage

The Port of Tauranga is to host Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas during her maiden voyage to New Zealand in summer 2016-2017.

Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany, Royal Caribbean’s third Quantum-class ship is due to launch in April 2016.

Tauranga Harbour will be dredged between summer 2015 and August 2016 to ensure that it can easily accommodate the 348m ship and its 5,000 passengers and 1,500 crew.

“We’re delighted to be able to accommodate larger ships, such as the Ovation of the Seas, and the introduction of bigger vessels shows the confidence that cruise companies have in New Zealand as a destination,” said Mark Cairns, chief executive at the Port of Tauranga. “The cruise industry brings a lot of economic benefit to the wider Bay of Plenty economy.”

Ovation of the Seas will be one of five Royal Caribbean ships to sail in Australasia in summer 2016-2017. Other ships will include Explorer of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas, which has regularly visited the Port of Tauranga over the past few seasons.

“Confirming Tauranga as a port of call for the region’s very first newbuild cruise ship demonstrates our commitment to, and belief in, the New Zealand cruising market,” said Gavin Smith, vice president of Asia Pacific at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Each time the ship calls in Tauranga, she will deliver an injection of around NZ$780,000 into the local economy. Tauranga rates time and time again as one of our most popular New Zealand destinations and we look forward to sharing this beautiful destination with our guests from around the world.”