Traffic was bumper to bumper down the port road to Aramoana this afternoon, to watch the giant cruise ship arrive.
It was spending an unplanned night in Dunedin tonight, after forecast bad weather changed its schedule.
Ovation of the Seas is the largest cruise ship to come to New Zealand. It arrived in Dunedin about 3.30pm, rather than tomorrow morning, meaning the city would host close to 5000 passengers this evening.
Tomorrow was set to be Dunedin's biggest cruise ship day yet with Ovation of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice in port, bringing more than 7000 passengers.
Port Otago commercial general manager Peter Brown said Seven Seas Voyager, with 708 passengers, was also arriving a day early, docking tomorrow evening after Ovation of the Seas left.
Mr Brown said Celebrity Solstice had been in contact and indicated it would arrive in Dunedin at 8.30am tomorrow despite the forecast.
MetService meteorologist Sarah Sparks said rain was forecast across Dunedin, Central Otago and the Lakes District today, worsening tomorrow.
Dunedin should expect heavy rain and cold southwesterly winds, with a chance of severe gales tomorrow in exposed places. Central Otago should expect hail and a change to cold southerly winds, briefly rising to gale in exposed places.
Dunedin i-Site visitor centre manager Louise van de Vlierd said shuttle buses would run to and from the city today, meaning ''big numbers of passengers around town during the late afternoon/early evening and potentially well into the evening''.
I-Site would open at the port from 4pm to 9pm to promote and book excursions.
Yesterday, she asked tourism operators and others who catered for tourists to advise the organisation, to ''allow us to be prepared to welcome the passengers as though this is what we do every day here in Dunedin''.
''The weather has worked in Dunedin's favour this time.''
Ms van de Vlierd said the news gave the hospitality industry a heads-up they might need extra staff.
Port Chalmers hospitality businesses said it was hard to predict how much business might come from the extra overnight stays.
Carey's Bay Hotel managing director Jo Kidston said that at different times the hotel had been flat out or not as busy as expected.
The Galley Cafe and Bar owner Robyne Saunders said during former overnight visits, passengers had stayed on board, and crew members were hosted.
When a cruise ship was in town during the day, the business was ''extremely busy'', particularly selling coffee.
The visit by Ovation of the Seas early this month had meant a busy time.
