The oil slick disaster in the Bay
of Plenty has had minimal
impact on New Zealand cruising
itineraries.
THE cancellation of a media cruise aboard
Radiance of the Seas appears to be the only
alteration to voyages following the heavy fuel
oil spill near Tauranga Harbour in New
Zealand’s North Island.
A massive clean-up effort is underway after
the container ship Rena ran aground on a reef
last week, creating a slick in the Bay of Plenty.
Meanwhile, cruise lines are monitoring the
situation and reviewing potential itinerary
changes for the coming week.
Radiance arrived in Auckland today (11
October) after sailing from Tahiti to commence
its first season based in Sydney this summer.
Last Friday, Royal Caribbean cancelled a press
trip on the ship as it was uncertain where it
would be able to dock.
Princess Cruises’ Sea Princess, which is also
heading to Sydney to start its first season in
Australia, docked in Auckland on Monday as
scheduled.
P&O’s Pacific Dawn docked in the city on
Sunday and is expected to arrive in the port of
Tauranga on Thursday.
Holland America Line’s Volendam is also on
track to visit Tauranga, Auckland, Picton and
Bay of Islands within the next 10 days.
Adam Armstrong, commercial manager,
Royal Caribbean Australia, said: “At the
moment, no itinerary changes have been
made but we are closely monitoring the
situation.
“Potential itinerary changes are still being
reviewed and we continue to work with local
authorities and operators to mitigate any
impact to our guests.”
Carnival Australia, which operates P&O and
Princess ships, confirmed that all ship visits
would proceed as scheduled.
“New Zealand’s maritime authority has not
advised of any impact on cruise ship navigation
in the region,” a spokesperson said.
