The cruise ship, which can carry up to 4905 passengers, was supposed to berth at Port Chalmers about 9am and depart about 5pm.
MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said winds gusted to over 100kmh in exposed parts of coastal Otago and Southland yesterday.
Southwesterly winds around Dunedin averaged about 93kmh until 3am yesterday morning.
They then dropped to an average of 60kmh before increasing again and gusting to 77kmh in the city and 102kmh on Swampy Summit at 3pm.
Winds at Nugget Point were similarly strong, gusting to 80kmh early yesterday morning, and gradually increased in strength until 3pm yesterday, when gusts reached 100kmh.
Mr Marsters said the winds would die down this morning, making for calm and dry weather conditions for this evening’s Queen concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"It does ease. You’ll still get the cooler southwesterly flow, but it won’t be as strong."
Temperatures were forecast to reach 20degC in Dunedin later this afternoon.
Temperatures were expected to reach the early 20s for much of this week, and no rain was forecast until Thursday.
