Megaliner sails into Tauranga

Megaliner Explorer of the Seas sailed into Tauranga on its maiden voyage to the city at 6.30am this morning.

The ship, which has just had a $122 million refurbishment in Spain, a surf simulator, rock-climbing wall, three swimming pools, and nine-hole mini golf course.

It can carry almost 5200 passengers and crew, weighs 137,308 tonnes, is 38m wide, 312m long and has 15 decks.

If stood up vertically end to end, it would be almost as tall as the SkyTower and is about 5cm longer than sister ship Voyager of the Seas.

It has 10 pools and whirlpools and 15 bars and restaurants -- including a three-deck main dining room, which is the largest restaurant in Australasia, seating almost 2000 people at a time.

Explorer of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's newest and largest megaliner based in this region.

The megaliner, which has already called at Milford Sound, Picton and Wellington, is the largest of the 78 cruise ships visiting Tauranga between October 7 and May 18.

During the 2015/16 cruise ship season Explorer of the Seas will make nine visits to Tauranga, with the last being on March 1 next year.

Explorer of the Seas is not the biggest ship to venture into New Zealand waters, the Queen Mary 2 is 148,528 gross tonnes and 345m in length.