New Zealand’s cruise sector is characterised by four different types of voyages:

1. Trans-Tasman
2. Round the World
3. Expedition
4. Winter outbound

Trans-Tasman cruises are the most common type of cruises to New Zealand, and involve crossing the Tasman sea to visit both Australia and New Zealand on a voyage. Cruise lines sailing the trans-Tasman voyages include Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess, Sun Princess, and Diamond Princess; Holland America’s Volendam; and Royal Caribbean International's Rhapsody of the Seas.

Round the World cruises means ships call into New Zealand as part of their world cruise, and include many ships on whirlwind visits. Round the World cruises include Cunard Line’s Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth; Fred Olsen's Balmoral; Hapag Lloyd’s Europa; Phoenix Reisen's Amadea; Yachts of Seabourn’s Seabourn Sojourn; P&O Cruises’ Aurora, Arcadia and Oriana; Regent Seven Seas' Seven Seas Navigator and Seven Seas Voyager; Saga Shipping’s Saga Ruby; Silversea's Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit; and Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Serenity, amongst others.

Expedition cruises tend to spend more time in areas that large ships are unable to access, such as New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands, as well as the smaller inlets and coves around Fiordland National Park and Marlborough Sounds. Ships in this category include Orion Expeditions’ Orion.

During New Zealand’s colder winter months, Carnival Australia operates many cruises out of Auckland, to the Polynesian Islands. The Pacific Sun runs many such voyages this 2009/10 season, and will be taken over by the Pacific Pearl in 2011.

Find out more about the ships visiting New Zealand this season by using the menu on the left-hand column.