The Bay of Plenty's biggest cruise ship season ever continues with vessel Silver Whisper in Tauranga today.

Operated by Silversea Cruises, the vessel carrying 432 passengers and 295 crew members arrived at the Port of Tauranga from Auckland shortly before 7.30am and will depart for Gisborne at 5pm.

The cruise ship measures 186 metre long and 24.9 metres wide, has a gross tonnage of 28,258 and a top speed of 18.5 knots. It features seven decks and is registered in the Bahamas.

Silver Whisper's 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.