Extended Auckland stopover for cruise passengers

Repairs keep P&O cruise ship Aurora in Auckland port for several additional days.

Travel Insurance News - 12/03/2009

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The P&O Aurora, on a round-the-world cruise, was forced to remain docked in Auckland for several extra days this past week while repairs to its propeller shaft were carried out.

The city’s shopkeepers and other retailers were happy to see the ship’s passengers spend some of the extra time – and money – at local businesses during their extended stay.

Shortly after the cruise ship left Sydney, a propeller shaft bearing failed and the port engine had to be shut down for the Tasman Sea crossing to New Zealand.

Aurora has originally been scheduled to depart from Auckland on Saturday.

An Auckland business leader said to stuff.nz.com: "The good news is with their extended stay, our retailers are getting some of these beautiful people out of their shell suits and into some designer fashion.”

On the way to Auckland, the Aurora was scheduled to stop at Wellington and Napier, but those visits had to be cancelled, as did the scheduled visits to Moorea and Papeete in Tahiti.

After leaving Auckland, the Aurora will sail to Honolulu directly, and then proceed to San Francisco and on to Southampton on its 93-night, round-the-world voyage.

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