Cruise Ship Travel

Cruise companies are increasingly drawn to Auckland and Wellington's superb harbors, as well as to the gorgeous scenery in places such as the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Marlborough Sounds, Akaroa, Dunedin, Fiordland, and Stewart Island. World-cruise itineraries with Crystal Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises now include New Zealand. But some of the best cruising programs are those that concentrate entirely on the South Pacific and combine New Zealand with destinations such as Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, and Samoa. Generally, such cruises start and finish in Auckland and visit South Pacific islands in between.

P&O Cruises runs a couple of cruises out of Auckland to the South Pacific. Another choice is the Holland America Line vessel Volendam with its cruises around New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.

Cruise Lines

Crystal Cruises. 888/722–0021; www.crystalcruises.com.

Holland America Line. 877/932–4259; www.hollandamerica.com.

P&O Cruises. 0800/780–716; www.pocruises.co.nz.

Princess Cruises. 0800/951–200; www.princess.com.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 954/776–6123; www.rssc.com.