Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas sailed into Otago Harbour yesterday morning. Photo / Gerard O'Brien
Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas sailed into Otago Harbour yesterday morning. Photo / Gerard O'Brien
Passengers on the largest cruise ship to visit Dunedin this season sailed into the city bright and early yesterday, ready to see the sights.
Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas sailed into Otago Harbour and berthed at Beach St wharf about 9am.
Many aboard decided to disembark and venture into the heart of the city.
Tourism operators, hospitality providers and retailers across the city were preparing for the 4180 passengers and 1300 crew members, along with two other cruise ships — Seabourn Odyssey and Le Soléal — to descend on Dunedin and visit their businesses.
Passengers from Ovation of the Seas told the Otago Daily Times what they decided to spend their time doing while in the city.
Mark and Kim Holden, of Queanbeyan (New South Wales), were on a family trip with their two children Ambrose and Ruby over the holiday period, and had begun their day with a large breakfast aboard the ship before heading into the city.
The family was “keeping it light” before walking to Speight’s Brewery to take a tour.
“I’ll be happy if they have a brown beer or dark beer - just any beer, really,” Holden said.
They had spent the morning walking through the historic parts of the University of Otago campus.
“It’s really beautiful over there, and we got to walk down the main street before going to the brewery,” Mrs Holden said.
The Holden children were pleased they had managed to take advantage of some of the sales at local retail stores.
Alan Armstrong, of Melbourne, was enjoying a mid-afternoon rest in the Octagon while his family members were browsing in a nearby shop.
Some of the passengers from the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas rose early to take in the views as the ship passed Taiaroa Head yesterday morning.
He had taken an early morning ride on the Experience Dunedin Tours V8 three-wheeler motorcycle in order to see the city’s sights.
“It was a beautiful ride, well and truly worth the money,” Armstrong said.
His family had just finished having a cup of coffee in Stuart St and were making the most of extended Boxing Day sales in the city.
“The girls have been in the cathedral and said it was stunning, really nice.”
John King and Janet Lodge, of Narooma (New South Wales), were pleased with the array of older architecture and buildings they could visit.
They had spent the day walking around the central city, and had gone on the Dunedin Street Art Trail hoping to see some of the artwork painted by local and international artists.
