Floating luxury hotel biggest cruise visitor (+ video)

The Explorer of the Seas leaves Port Chalmers yesterday evening. Photos by Linda Robertson and...
The Explorer of the Seas leaves Port Chalmers yesterday evening. Photos by Linda Robertson and Peter McIntosh.
The ''main street'' of the Explorer of the Seas, with shops, food outlets and cabins that...
The ''main street'' of the Explorer of the Seas, with shops, food outlets and cabins that overlook the area.
The entrance to the 1800-seat Palace theatre.
The entrance to the 1800-seat Palace theatre.
A crew member on the surf simulator, added to the ship during a recent refurbishment.
A crew member on the surf simulator, added to the ship during a recent refurbishment.
A view towards the bow of the vessel, showing heated pools used by passengers.
A view towards the bow of the vessel, showing heated pools used by passengers.

The biggest cruise ship visiting New Zealand this season made its inaugural visit to Dunedin yesterday, discharging more than 2600 passengers into the city.

The recently refurbished vessel Explorer of the Seas boasts 15 decks, an 1800-seat theatre, an ice rink and a surf simulator, alongside a dizzying array of bars, restaurants and health, fitness and recreation facilities.

The ship has the capacity for 4029 guests, and its operators say it is ''just bigger'' by weight than its sister ship, Voyager of the Seas, which has visited Dunedin and is due to return this season.

Royal Caribbean Cruises New Zealand manager Mark Kinchley showed the Otago Daily Times around the vessel yesterday.

In addition to the surf simulator, which allows users to body-board or surf on water streaming at 50kmh, the sports area at the aft of the vessel includes a mini golf course, table tennis, and archery, among other activities.

A spa offers teeth whitening and even botox injections by the medi-spa doctor, as well as facials, acupuncture and manicures.

Mr Kinchley said the ship would have cost close to $750million to $900million when it was built in 2000.

Its refurbishment had cost more than $80million.

By about 1pm yesterday, 2760 passengers had left the ship, while about 700 had stayed on board.

Royal Caribbean International commercial director Adam Armstrong said the cruise industry estimated passengers on average spent about $100-$150 each per day on shore.

The ship would spend summer running cruises from Sydney, before sailing for Seattle for cruises to Alaska.

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