"A facinating insight into the land behind the coastline..."

About the Service Provided

Fiordland Cruise Consultants provide a professional Port Lecturing Service for international cruise ships visiting Fiordland National Park World Heritage Area.

We aim to enhance the visitor experience to this remote wilderness area of South Island, New Zealand.

Local experience

The Consultant group are Fiordland locals who have resided in the area for many years, and some are retired National Park Rangers and marine skippers, who have an intimate and extensive working knowledge of the Park including its history and unique biodiversity.

The service

They embark and disembark with the Fiordland Pilots where required at either Milford Sound for east bound voyages or Port Chalmers, Dunedin for west bound voyages. The role of the Pilot is quite different to that of the Consultant (Port Lecturer) who can provide uninterrupted commentaries.

The Fiordland Information Services provided include a commentary from the bridge on the public address system whilst inside and transiting through up to five of the fourteen magnificent Fiords of Fiordland including Milford, Thompson, Doubtful, Breaksea and Dusky Sounds. A Fiordland Information Sheet and Map is supplied in advance to the Ship Cruise Entertainment Director for printing and distribution as a supplement to the daily newsletter for passenger information and orientation for the Fiordland Scenic Cruise. We also have a Fun Activities sheet for educational use with children.

Whilst cruising along the outer coastline a one hour power point visual image presentation overview of Fiordland is also given in the Ship’s Theatre. The theatre presentation is normally scheduled during the longest sea leg between Milford and Thompson Sounds and aligned to the ship's navigational voyage plan timings for the day's scenic cruise.

En-route commentary

If required an arrival or departure bridge commentary is given of Otago Harbour - Port Chalmers, which is the first or last New Zealand Port of call. The commentary includes the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head at the Harbour entrance, which is the world’s only mainland Albatross Colony.

For those Cruise Ships visiting Stewart Island/Rakiura and Paterson Inlet/Whaka a Te Were information and commentary services can also be provided by Fiordland Cruise Consultants for Rakiura National Park.

 

A small island outcrop sits amongst the Fiords of Fiordland. © Graham Dainty