State-of-the-art cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II is scheduled to arrive in Port Taranaki on Friday, providing a dazzling start to the region’s six-visit cruise season.

The futuristic-looking vessel, which has capacity for 228 guests, arrives at 8am from Wellington and departs for Norfolk Island at 2pm.

Scenic Eclipse II is a six-star ultra-luxury vessel that has an almost 1:1 passenger to crew ratio. She boasts eight bars, 10 restaurants, spas and pools, yoga and pilates studios, two helicopters, and a submersible, among other things.

"We’re really excited about the season getting underway, and Scenic Eclipse II is a truly stunning vessel to kick it off - her exterior design is like a work of art, while no detail or expense has been spared inside," Port Taranaki General Manager Commercial Ross Dingle said.

This season marks the second year of the five-year Taranaki Cruise Strategy, which aims to sustainably increase cruise visits with the aim of having 28 cruise ship visits in 2028.

To ensure the 2024-25 season gets off on a successful footing, a Taranaki-wide cruise operational team, which brings together representatives from Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, Port Taranaki, New Plymouth District Council, iwi and hapū, retail and hospitality, and tourism operators, has been busy making sure the region is ‘cruise ready’ to provide visitors with an exceptional experience.

"The Scenic Eclipse II is a smaller vessel, and attraction of these smaller, luxury, expedition-type vessels is a key part of our strategy, as we look to grow tourism in a high value, sustainable way for the region," said Brylee Flutey, GM Destination, Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki.

"And regardless of size, we will continue to put into practise our one team approach across the many partners and stakeholders it takes to manaaki a vessel."

Ms Flutey said that with about 5,000 passengers set to visit the region this season, the ‘Team Taranaki’ approach was crucial to ensuring there was coordination across all aspects of a vessel’s visit, and that "we really showcase our region’s attributes and maximise our ongoing tourism potential".

"We want our visitors to have an exceptional experience, one that leaves them wanting to return, and to bring their friends and family too. These positive passenger experiences also help to encourage cruise lines to retain Taranaki on future schedules, with passenger feedback playing a key role in future destination decisions."

On Friday, Scenic Eclipse II passengers will step off the vessel and be greeted by a warm welcome from Ngāti Te Whiti hapū.

The New Plymouth isite Visitor Information Centre team will be wharfside to help book tours, provide information, and hand out an updated self-led shore excursion guide, which contains maps and useful regional visitor information.

Passengers who have pre-arranged tours around the region will then be whisked away to discover Taranaki, while others who wish to explore the city and its galleries, museum, cafes, retail shops, coastal walkway, and Pukekura Park will be transferred by shuttle to the city centre.

The popular Seaside Market will be operating from the Tasman Prospect, across from the windwand carpark, and a fantastic group of volunteer city ambassadors will be on-hand to provide directions, knowledge of retailers and eateries, and general assistance to the visitors.

"Last season, the city ambassadors proved invaluable in helping visitors navigate the city and providing some real nuggets of information that only comes with having local knowledge," Ms Flutey said.

Mr Dingle encouraged the community to give the visitors onboard Scenic Eclipse II, and all the vessels arriving throughout the season, a friendly Taranaki welcome.

"We’d love to see lots of people down at the Lee Breakwater or on Ngāmotu Beach on Friday to either welcome or farewell the vessel. We believe our region has so much to offer visitors, and a warm welcome or farewell really adds to the positive atmosphere of a day out in our great region," he said.

The second cruise ship of the season, Silver Nova, is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, 15 December. It is the first of two visits for Silver Nova this season, with the other on Tuesday, 28 January 2025.