First ship of the season arrives at Lyttelton's new cruise berth
Kiwi-only cruises will soon get the green light to set sail, as the first passenger vessel to get a Government exemption docks in New Zealand.
Christchurch-based Heritage Expeditions flagship Spirit of Enderby arrived at the Port of Lyttelton on Monday.
The arrival marked a trifecta of firsts: the first cruise ship of the summer to arrive in New Zealand, the first captained by New Zealand’s first and only female marine pilot, Joanne Laing, and the first vessel to dock at Lyttelton’s new $67 million cruise ship berth.
Lyttelton Port Company general manager Phil de Joux said he was not expecting the berth would be used by a cruise ship so soon.
“Obviously Covid’s had a huge impact on the cruise market, so we’re just stoked really."
The Spirit of Enderby sailed directly from Vladivostok in eastern Russia, and the crew had been in isolation for 43 days now.
“They had two weeks and two Covid tests moored offshore, then 29 days of sailing.”
The crew had another test at 9am on Monday, and remained confined to the ship for now.
The 50-passenger boat will sail to Invercargill to pick up its first passengers on November 24.
It will then head out on an expedition to Fiordland and Stewart Island.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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9% Yes! New Year, New Me
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21.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.1% Nah - not for me
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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78.7% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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21.3% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Response to regifting presents
My mind tends to wander:
I do not see any problem with regifting it back to the person who gave it, they obviously liked it. In fact, that might work out well as you buy the present you want, then gift it to someone you know who will gift it back.
Perfect, no decision needs to be made about Xmas presents
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