New Zealand Cruise Comparison
186 upcoming sailings from 16 cruise lines
New Zealand cruise port photos
Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise. Published · Last updated · About this page
At a glance: New Zealand cruises on Waterways Cruise: 186 upcoming sailings from 16 cruise lines (16 ocean). Lowest starting fares run from $588 per person (Princess Cruises) to $30,171 (Aurora Expeditions). Princess Cruises lists the most sailings (55). 64 sailings start and 68 end in New Zealand.
Which cruise lines sail to New Zealand, and how do they compare? This guide sorts the 16 lines with upcoming New Zealand sailings by kind of cruise, then into ultra-luxury, luxury, premium and contemporary, and shows what each costs to start, how long their sailings run and which ships you would sail on. Every figure comes from the sailings we list today, so it moves as sailings are added and sold.
What counts as a New Zealand cruise?
A sailing counts as a New Zealand cruise if it will call at least once at a New Zealand ship port. That covers ocean and expedition sailings, whether New Zealand is where the cruise begins, where it ends, or one stop on a longer route.
Of 186 upcoming sailings, 64 start in New Zealand, 68 end in New Zealand and 9 begin and end there. The other 63 (34%) visit New Zealand as a port of call on a longer route, often alongside Australia, United States, French Polynesia and other countries. Ocean and expedition sailings call at Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin, Wellington and Napier.
- New Zealand cruise
- A sailing that will call at least once at a New Zealand ship port.
- Starts in New Zealand
- The first stop is a New Zealand ship port: 64 sailings.
- Ends in New Zealand
- The last stop is a New Zealand ship port: 68 sailings, 9 of which also start there.
- Visits only
- New Zealand is a port of call on a longer route: 63 sailings.
Ocean cruise lines in New Zealand (16)
16 ocean and expedition cruise lines have upcoming sailings that call at New Zealand: 186 in all. These sailings often call elsewhere too, most commonly Australia, United States and French Polynesia. The busiest ship ports are Auckland, Tauranga, Dunedin, Wellington and Napier.
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Ultra-luxury ocean cruise lines (3)
Ultra-luxury lines sit at the top of the market. Three ultra-luxury ocean lines sail to New Zealand, with 32 upcoming sailings between them. Regent Seven Seas Cruises has the most (16). Starting fares begin at $7,810 per person with Seabourn Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | 16 | $27,998 | 13–132 nights (typically 14) | 3 · Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Splendor |
| Silversea Cruises | 10 | $10,000 | 14–26 nights (typically 14) | 2 · Silver Moon and Silver Whisper |
| Seabourn Cruises | 6 | $7,810 | 15–145 nights (typically 13) | 1 · Seabourn Quest |
Luxury ocean cruise lines (4)
Luxury lines sit just below ultra-luxury. Four luxury ocean lines sail to New Zealand, with 22 upcoming sailings between them. Oceania Cruises has the most (13). Starting fares begin at $2,090 per person with Ponant Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oceania Cruises | 13 | $5,199 | 14–43 nights (typically 14) | 3 · Oceania Marina, Oceania Riviera and Oceania Vista |
| Scenic Cruises | 4 | $14,496 | 13–20 nights (typically 13) | 1 · Scenic Eclipse 2 |
| Ponant Cruises | 4 | $2,090 | 7–21 nights (typically 7) | 1 · Le Soleal |
| Aurora Expeditions | 1 | $30,171 | 25 nights | 1 · Greg Mortimer |
Premium ocean cruise lines (4)
Premium lines sit in the middle of the market. Four premium ocean lines sail to New Zealand, with 46 upcoming sailings between them. Azamara Cruises has the most (19). Starting fares begin at $3,039 per person with Azamara Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azamara Cruises | 19 | $3,039 | 14–55 nights (typically 16) | 3 · Azamara Onward, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Quest |
| Viking Cruises | 13 | $8,999 | 12–92 nights (typically 12) | 2 · Viking Orion and Viking Venus |
| Hapag-Lloyd Cruises | 7 | $10,902 | 17–23 nights (typically 17) | 2 · Hanseatic Spirit and ms Europa 2 |
| Crystal Cruises | 7 | $7,400 | 15–38 nights (typically 10) | 2 · Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony |
Contemporary ocean cruise lines (5)
Contemporary lines are the most accessible tier. Five contemporary ocean lines sail to New Zealand, with 86 upcoming sailings between them. Princess Cruises has the most (55). Starting fares begin at $588 per person with Princess Cruises.
| Cruise line | Upcoming sailings | Lowest starting fare | Typical length | Ships |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Cruises | 55 | $588 | 13–79 nights (typically 14) | 5 · Coral Princess, Crown Princess, Grand Princess, Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess |
| Holland America | 13 | $1,989 | 14–48 nights (typically 14) | 2 · ms Noordam and ms Westerdam |
| Celebrity Cruises | 9 | $1,761 | 10–15 nights (typically 10) | 2 · Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Solstice |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | 6 | $1,659 | 11–18 nights (typically 11) | 1 · Norwegian Spirit |
| Royal Caribbean | 3 | $1,713 | 11–18 nights (typically 11) | 1 · Anthem of the Seas |
New Zealand cruise ports
Every New Zealand ship port with upcoming sailings has its own guide. The number beside each port is how many upcoming sailings call there (sailings, not individual port visits).
Coastal and island ports (26)
- Auckland 174
- Tauranga 127
- Dunedin 119
- Wellington 98
- Napier 96
- Lyttelton 88
- Fiordland National Park 81
- Bay of Islands 71
- Picton 55
- Gisborne 36
- Timaru 32
- Oban NZ 21
- Akaroa 19
- Kaikoura 10
- Nelson 6
- Whangarei 6
- Invercargill 5
- New Plymouth 5
- Enderby Island NZ 3
- Kaiteriteri NZ 3
- Auckland Island NZ 2
- Campbell Island NZ 2
- Snares Islands NZ 2
- Waiheke Island 2
- Ulva Island NZ 1
- White Island NZ 1
See them all in the New Zealand cruise port guide, or browse every sailing on the New Zealand cruises page.
How to choose a New Zealand cruise line
- Most listed sailings: Princess Cruises lists the most upcoming New Zealand sailings (55).
- Lowest starting fare: Princess Cruises, from $588 per person.
- Style: sort by category first. Ultra-luxury lines: 3 lines, 32 sailings, from $7,810. Luxury lines: 4 lines, 22 sailings, from $2,090. Premium lines: 4 lines, 46 sailings, from $3,039. Contemporary lines: 5 lines, 86 sailings, from $588.
- Kind of cruise: New Zealand sailings here are ocean and expedition cruises.
- Where you start: if you want New Zealand as your first or last port, filter the sailings by Starting in or Ending in New Zealand on the New Zealand cruises page.
How we calculated these figures
- Upcoming sailing: an itinerary with at least one departure date from today onward, counted once however many departure dates it has. Sailings that have passed drop out each day.
- New Zealand cruise: a sailing that calls at least once at a New Zealand ship port. A sailing "starts" or "ends" in New Zealand when its first or last stop is a New Zealand ship port.
- Lowest starting fare: the lowest "from" price among that line's upcoming New Zealand sailings, per person based on double occupancy, in US dollars. Under our Cruise Disclosure, prices include all applicable taxes and fees. Fares still depend on cabin category and date, so treat them as a starting point for comparison, not a quote.
- Typical length: the range covers the middle 80% of that line's sailings (the shortest and longest tenth are left out), and "typically" is the most common length.
- Kinds of cruise: A sailing is in exactly one kind, so the totals by kind add up to the 186 sailings above. Ocean: sailings on ocean-going ships, including expedition ships and ferries. River: sailings on rivers, canals and lakes. A river itinerary that also includes a coastal leg counts as river. A line that sails more than one kind appears in each list, with its sailings split by kind. Totals by kind count each sailing once.
- Style categories: Ultra-luxury, Luxury, Premium and Contemporary are Waterways Cruise's own groupings of cruise lines, not an industry standard.
- Freshness: the sailing data is refreshed daily from the sailings we list; figures here were calculated on .
Frequently asked questions about New Zealand cruises
Which cruise lines sail to New Zealand?
16 cruise lines have upcoming New Zealand sailings on Waterways Cruise: 16 sail ocean or expedition itineraries. Princess Cruises lists the most sailings (55).
How much does a New Zealand cruise cost?
Starting fares begin at $588 per person, double occupancy, with Princess Cruises. Fares depend on the line, the cabin and the sailing date, so the best way to see current rates is to request exclusive rates for the dates you want.
Which cruise lines are ultra-luxury and luxury in New Zealand?
Ultra-luxury ocean lines: Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruises. Luxury ocean lines: Oceania Cruises, Scenic Cruises, Ponant Cruises and Aurora Expeditions.
Can you start or end a cruise in New Zealand?
Yes. 64 of 186 upcoming sailings start in New Zealand and 68 end there; 9 do both. The other 63 (34%) visit New Zealand as a port of call on a longer route.
Want help choosing?
Our advisors compare sailings, cabins and fares across all of these lines.
Request exclusive ratesPlan your New Zealand cruise
New Zealand cruise port guide
Cruise ports, what to see, history and practical advice.
New Zealand cruise port guide →Created by the Waterways Cruise content team and reviewed and fact-checked by J. Richard, Sr. Cruise Travel Agent and Founder of Waterways Cruise.
Published September 9, 2026 · Last updated October 29, 2026
Fares, availability and itineraries change often. Confirm current details with your cruise line or a Waterways Cruise agent before you book.
Cruise Disclosure
Good to know: Prices are quoted per person based on double occupancy and include all applicable taxes and fees. Availability and prices can change quickly, so please continue through the booking process to confirm the latest availability and pricing before you pay.
We work hard to make sure everything on this website is accurate and up to date. However, some information may be incomplete or inaccurate, including details supplied by third parties or otherwise outside our control, and we cannot be held responsible for such errors. We work with 41 cruise line operators, that are providing cruises on 585 ships visiting 1,731 ports across 7,194 unique cruises, creating 13,822 itineraries. This is a great deal of data to continually update daily from our suppliers. If a pricing error, misrepresentation, or omission occurs, we reserve the right to adjust the pricing, correct the information, or cancel or decline any booking made in error, with notice to you. Thank you for your understanding!