It was a breathtaking scene on Sunday morning as the Discovery Princess – the newest and largest Princess Cruises ship to visit New Zealand – sailed into Tauranga Harbour for the first time.

The vessel was greeted by Ngahiriaka Mai Tawhiti, a traditional double-hulled waka crewed by navigators from Te Kura Waka, marking a symbolic meeting of past and present seafaring traditions.

The occasion celebrated Discovery Princess’ inaugural voyage to New Zealand and highlighted Princess Cruises’ cultural partnership with Te Kura Waka, dedicated to preserving Pacific celestial navigation traditions.

Princess Cruises destination management senior director Michael Mihajlov said the meeting of the traditional waka and the state-of-the-art cruise ship represented a unique moment of connection between seafaring of the past and present.

“This will be a truly special moment – the coming together of two navigational worlds that celebrates the spirit of exploration and the deep cultural heritage of Aotearoa,” Mihajlov said.

“Through our partnership with Te Kura Waka, we’re honoured to support the preservation of traditional seafaring knowledge. It’s these authentic cultural connections that make visiting New Zealand so meaningful for both our guests and our crew.”

In a previous statement, Tourism Bay of Plenty general manager Oscar Nathan said Tauranga had always been one of New Zealand’s most popular cruise ship ports.

He said between October and May, the city would be welcoming a similar number of passengers as last season.

“These cruise ship visits provide a vital economic boost for many local businesses – like retail, hospitality, transportation, attractions, and tour operators – and they add a noticeable multinational vibrancy to our communities.”

The Discovery Princess was greeted by a traditional waka on arrival at Tauranga on Sunday. Photo / Supplied

Discovery Princess will visit Tauranga six times over the 2025/26 summer season, bringing more than 20,000 passengers to the region.

Sister ships Crown Princess and Coral Princess will also make calls to Tauranga, with the May 5 departure of the Crown Princess expected to mark the season finale.

“The Bay of Plenty is a spectacular cruise destination – loved by our guests for its stunning landscapes, rich culture and warm Kiwi hospitality,” Mihajlov.

“We’re proud to be committed to this region and look forward to another successful season ahead.”