With a mighty blast of its horn, the largest cruise ship to ever visit New Zealand Ovation of the Seas announced its arrival into the Port of Tauranga.

The USD $1 billion (NZD $1.4B) Royal Caribbean ship which is longer than three rugby fields (348m), has a gross tonnage of 168,666 and is bringing 4905 passengers and 1500 crew to the city pulled into port shortly after 6.15am and plans to depart tonight at 6pm.

To welcome the fourth largest cruise ship in the world to Tauranga this morning were helicopter pilots Sue Miller of Velcocity2Aviation Taupo and Ross Maule of Tauranga Helicopter Training.

'We'd planned on going out a few days ago when we learnt Ovation was coming in. Was a beautiful morning, as it normally is in the Bay, a lot of people on the base track, plenty of boats around,” says Ross.

'It was a special occasion, being the biggest liner to come into port yet, and was a spectacular sight seeing the ship back dropped by Mauao.”

Tauranga is one of only six ports in the country able to accommodate the Ovation, and today'sarrival was made possible by the dredging of Tauranga Harbour earlier this year.

To mark the maiden voyage, a ceremony will be held on board with the captain to present the Port of Tauranga with a plaque to commemorate the landmark event. This will be attended by Tauranga City Mayor Greg Brownless, Tourism Bay of Plenty chairman Des Hammond and Kristin Dunne.

Video: Bernie Roodt/YouTube

Kristin says the introduction of bigger vessels shows the confidence that cruise companies have in New Zealand as a destination.

'Tauranga rates time and time again as one of New Zealand's most popular New Zealand destinations. We look forward to sharing it with our global guests aboard the Ovation of the Seas.”

Following its stop in Tauranga, Ovation of the Seas will head to Auckland before returning to Tauranga on February 5, berthing alongside Emerald Princess for a double ship day, bringing an estimated combined 9500 visitors.

Ovation of the Seas' visit is part of the biggest cruise ship season on record for the Bay of Plenty, with 83 ship visits scheduled, carrying 153,000 passengers – including five ships berthing overnight in Tauranga.

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A small crowd gathered on the Mauao base track to watch Ovation of the Sea's arrival into the Port of Tauranga this morning. Photo: Caitlyn Ward.

Photo: Caitlyn Ward.

Photo: Tauranga Helicopter Training/Velocity2Aviation

Photo: Tauranga Helicopter Training/Velocity2Aviation

Photo: Bob Ricketts

Photo: Tauranga Moana Outrigger Canoe Club

Photo: Mitchell Lowe