Explorer of the Seas docks in Auckland

Explorer of the Seas cruised into port at 5.30am after visiting Milford Sound, Dunedin, Picton and Wellington. Photo / Greg Bowker

A super-sized cruise ship, 311 metres long, with a 1350 seat theatre, surfing simulators, on board ice skating and rock climbing arrived in Auckland this morning.

Explorer of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest and largest megaliner based in this region, cruised into port at 5.30am after visiting Milford Sound, Dunedin, Picton and Wellington.

The boat can carry almost 5200 passengers and crew, weighs 137,308 tonnes and is 38m wide.

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 15 decks, 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.

The ship this year had a $122 million overhaul in Spain and Royal Caribbean estimates that in its five month stint in New Zealand it will inject an estimated $23.5 million into the economy in passenger spend.

Explorer will begin a 13-day coast cruise from Auckland after its visit today, and the company says this season will see the company's local capacity increase by 49 per cent.

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.

But Royal Caribbean is bringing what will be an even bigger vessel, Ovation of the Seas, here next summer.