Cruise ship Princess Sapphire's claim to being the largest liner to visit New Zealand's ports is about to be one-upped, with the Queen Mary 2 due to visit Auckland in 2007.
Dubbed by owners Cunard "the world's largest, longest, tallest, widest, greatest ocean liner ever", the 150,000-tonne Queen Mary 2 will call in February 2007.
At 345m, it is said to be as long as 41 double-decker London buses.
The Queen Mary 2 has a 45m beam and is 72m high. It can carry about 2600 passengers and 1253 crew.
The QM 2 will be the latest mega-liner to travel to New Zealand.
Ports of Auckland spokeswoman Karen Bradshaw said the cruise ship season ends early next month after 31 visits by 19 ships. There will be 49 cruise ship visits from November this year through to August next year - the most Auckland has hosted in a season.
"It is a bit of a coup for Auckland. It's partly because we've got winter cruises now and that is growing.
"There are also more boutique vessels, which carry around 100 passengers rather than thousands, but have their own butlers.
"And there are return callers who come in on arrival, then travel round New Zealand and call in again before leaving."
The winter season business from May to August is up from four last year to six this year, with eight planned for next year.
The last cruise ship to visit this season will be the Pacific Sky, due in Auckland on August 9.
Ports of Auckland general manager port services Will Harvey said each passenger was estimated to spend $150 for each day in port on top of shore excursions and hotels.
Numbers for the 2004-05 season
* 31 visits to Auckland.
* 19 cruise ships.
* 55,000 passengers.
* $150 spent per day in port by each passenger.
* 49 visits expected for 2005-06 season.
World's largest ocean liner plans Auckland call
The QM II is as long as 41 double-decker London buses.
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