Celebrating 50 Years of Cruise Ship Visits to Dunedin

A Viking longship on Otago Harbour

It's not only cruise ships that you see in Dunedin! Couldn't resist this photo! 

   On December 23, 1961, 'ms Seven Seas' arrived in Dunedin after a long voyage from England. Since this first visit by a cruise ship, more than 600 have visited the city over the last 50 years. Today it is the turn of  'Sun Princess', calling at Port Chalmers on her round New Zealand itinerary . 

   This year's southern hemisphere cruising season will see the most cruise ship visits ever to the city. There will even be two ships in port on Christmas Day.

  It was reported in the local newspaper at the time that when the 'Seven Seas' arrived, the ship's band played, the passengers went on bus tours and spent up large on souvenirs. Not a lot has changed, has it?

  I wish you all   a very Merry Christmas and smooth seas  on every sailing. Thanks for 'cruising along' with me this year. See you in 2012!