Heritage Adventurer to Test Wellington’s Inner-Harbour Cruise Berth
Heritage Adventurer, carrying up to 140 passengers, is due to become the first vessel to use CentrePort’s trial inner-harbour berth on November 15, 2026.
Wellington opened its 2026–27 cruise season with Celebrity Solstice on October 25, beginning a 54-call programme with capacity for more than 76,500 passengers if ships sail full. CentrePort’s forward bookings indicate a recovery in calls over the following two seasons.
The current schedule is 17 calls below the 71 scheduled for 2025–26. CentrePort said Wellington’s decline in ship numbers follows a similar pattern at other New Zealand ports, despite growth in advance bookings.
Forward bookings point to higher volumes
Current reservations show 68 calls in 2027–28, with maximum passenger capacity of 122,000. For 2028–29, bookings rise to 72 calls and capacity for 154,000 passengers. Both passenger figures assume full ships.
For comparison, CentrePort recorded 73 calls and 125,863 passengers in 2024–25.
“The recovery journey for cruise has been challenging,” said Mark Oldershaw, chief executive of WellingtonNZ, the region’s economic development agency. He added that the rising bookings showed “a growing confidence from cruise lines in Wellington as a destination.”
He described cruise as an important contributor to the local visitor economy. Cruise arrivals bring concentrated demand for Wellington’s attractions, shops, hospitality businesses and transport operators, particularly when large vessels are alongside. CentrePort has also handled days with two cruise ships in port.
Inner-harbour berth trial to test direct city access
CentrePort will trial a berth beside the Bluebridge ferry berth for selected expedition-sized vessels during the season. The location will allow passengers and crew to walk directly between their ships, the waterfront and the city.
CentrePort chief executive Anthony Delaney said the trial would help guide future cruise development and Wellington’s long-term cruise strategy. He also cited joint efforts to promote New Zealand and Wellington to cruise operators.
Shore-excursion buses and cruise shuttles serve the port’s cruise operation, with the 2026–27 city shuttle stop planned for Wakefield Street, opposite the Amora Hotel. The established cruise arrival area provides shelter, seating, toilets, free Wi-Fi and visitor information.
The first vessel scheduled to use the trial berth is the 140-passenger Heritage Adventurer, due on November 15, 2026. CentrePort’s full-season calendar extends to April 2, 2027.
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