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Discovery Princess has made her maiden call to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, arriving into the Waitematā Harbour on Monday, December 15, where she was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute marking her first visit to the region. The ship also performed a full 360-degree turn in the harbour to mark the occasion.
The visit formed part of Discovery Princess’s inaugural voyage to Aotearoa New Zealand and coincided with Princess Cruises’ 50th year of cruising to New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.
Launched in 2022, Discovery Princess is the youngest and newest Princess Cruises ship to visit New Zealand. She is the sixth Royal-Class ship and the third-newest vessel in the Princess fleet.
Measuring 330 metres in length — two metres longer than Auckland’s Sky Tower is tall — Discovery Princess has capacity for 3,660 guests and 1,346 crew. On board are 1,830 staterooms, more than 20 eateries and bars, 19 decks, four pools, and a 922-seat theatre.
Princess Cruises vice president Asia Pacific Matthew Rutherford says the ship’s arrival marks an exciting chapter for cruising in the region.
“Deploying a Princess ship of this size and calibre to New Zealand and Australia for the 2025–26 summer season is a strong signal of our commitment to this part of the world.
“For 50 years, we’ve proudly shared the wonder of cruising with Kiwis who love to explore their own backyard and beyond,” Matthew says.
“Discovery Princess combines modern elegance with all the hallmarks of the Princess experience our guests know and love.
“The ship offers world-class dining at signature restaurants including Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria and The Catch by Rudi. For something truly special, there’s 360: An Extraordinary Experience, a first-of-its-kind immersive culinary journey that engages all the senses, exclusive to Discovery Princess and Enchanted Princess,” he says.
Discovery Princess is scheduled to visit Auckland six times during the 2025–26 summer season, bringing more than 20,000 guests to the region. Sister ships Crown Princess, Island Princess and Coral Princess will also call at Auckland.
“Auckland is an incredibly popular port with our guests,” Matthew says. “From exceptional food and wine to stunning natural scenery and cultural experiences, there’s something here for every traveller. We’re proud to support the local economy and tourism sector and look forward to another successful cruise season.”
Discovery Princess departed Auckland on the evening of December 15, sailing overnight to the Bay of Islands for her maiden call there on December 16.
