The Bay of Plenty’s cruise season is underway, with the Celebrity Edge gliding into Tauranga Harbour before dawn on Tuesday.

The 306m vessel arrived through a foggy harbour entrance about 5am in calm conditions.

By 7am, passengers were streaming ashore to join tours and discover destinations stretching from Hobbiton and Rotorua to Mt Ruapehu.

For many aboard, Tauranga marked their first taste of New Zealand.

United Kingdom travellers Rod and Sue Slip boarded the Celebrity Edge in Honolulu on September 28 and have spent much of the journey crossing the Pacific.

Rod and Sue Slip from the United Kingdom. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

“This is our first time in New Zealand,” Sue said.

“We boarded the Celebrity Edge on September 28 in Honolulu. It’s been quite a few days at sea.”

The couple enjoyed a stop in French Polynesia en route and are making the most of their first day ashore.

“This is our first stop in New Zealand and we’re off to the Bay of Islands tomorrow,” Rod said. “Today we’re doing a seven-hour tour to Mt Ruapehu.”

American couple Kimberly and Roy Plemmons, from Myrtle Beach, were equally enthusiastic as they stepped on to the wharf.

Kimberly and Roy Plemmons from Myrtle Beach, South California. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

“This is our first time in New Zealand,” Kimberly said. “It’s so exciting.”

The pair planned to catch up with local friends before heading to Hobbiton and a hot springs excursion.

Mount Maunganui Business Association chair Jo Veale said local businesses were delighted to welcome the first cruise ship of the season.

“Hi, welcome, welcome to Mount Maunganui,” Veale said.

“We’re really excited to be welcoming our first cruise ship back for the season.

Mount Business Association chair Jo Veale. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

“It’s quite a big one. More than 4000 people will be descending on our local area today.

“The shops, the restaurants, the bars, the tour companies, everybody’s really excited to welcome the start of cruise season.”

A striking sight in port, Celebrity Edge can accommodate 2918 passengers at double occupancy and carries 1377 crew.

The ship is 306m long and features the distinctive orange “Magic Carpet” platform that moves between decks, serving as a restaurant, bar and embarkation area.

The vessel is also known for its innovative “Infinite Veranda” cabins, where indoor living areas can be opened to the sea at the touch of a button.

Celebrity Edge is due to depart Tauranga at 5pm.