Panoramic view of Wellington, New Zealand, showing the city skyline, sailboats on turquoise harbor waters and surrounding green hills under a clear sky.

Wellington, New Zealand

Cruises to Wellington, New Zealand

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Things to do in Wellington

Expect a capital city that runs on caffeine, creativity and whatever the wind blows in. Wellington’s all cliff‑clinging homes, Victorian façades and forested edges, with Cook Strait sending gusts that rearrange your hair and your plans. From the Wellington Cable Car scaling the hills to the national museum Te Papa Tongarewa unpacking the country’s full, fascinating story — this city’s got range.

Explore things to do in Wellington
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  • Close-up of a wet outdoor café table and chairs on a rainy day in Wellington, with blurred city lights and pedestrians in the background.

    Sample local cuisine where farm‑to‑table is literal and craft breweries share sidewalk space with fishing wharf cafés.

  • View of Te Papa Tongarewa museum along Wellington’s waterfront, with a dockside crane, yellow mooring posts and people walking by the harbor.

    Explore landmarks like the Cable Car, Te Papa Tongarewa and the Victorian‑era buildings that rise on steep city hills.

  • Stone path winding through the Wellington Botanic Garden, lined with succulents, native plants and colorful flowers beneath a bright blue sky.

    Soak up natural beauty at the Wellington Botanic Garden and Lady Norwood Rose Garden, and take in vistas that peer across the strait to the South Island.

  • Display of intricately detailed fantasy armor and props at Wētā Workshop in Wellington, including chainmail, sculpted helmets and beaded adornments.

    Dive into film culture via the Weta Workshop and movie‑location tours that give you “Middle‑Earth” credentials for real.

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Shore excursions to explore in Wellington

What’s your vibe? Hill climbs, wine time, forest rambles or a bit of movie magic — these curated tours serve it all up, no worries.

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  • Close-up of a brown weka bird walking through grass, its red eye and streaked feathers visible against a soft green background.

    Local Connections: Shenandoah – A Unique Kiwi Experience

    Travel 20 minutes outside the city to a working farm within a native bird‑life reserve overlooking the inlet. Meet Simon, your Kiwi host, tour his private museum filled with vintage motorcycles and artifacts, wander formal gardens and bird‑rich zones, then enjoy tea with local treats. You’ll come back to port with countryside cred and a deeper sense of place.

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  • Shaded dirt path winding through lush green forest on Mount Victoria, with sunlight filtering through tall trees.

    Full Day Lord of the Rings Film Locations & Weta Workshop

    Journey through the Wellington/Wairarapa region along filming trails of Hobbits, elves and wizards, visit the Weta Workshop where cinematic magic is made, then stand atop Mt Victoria Lookout for sweeping harbour views. Whether you’re a Tolkien/Peter Jackson fanatic or you just like cool movie sets, this tour delivers with legends and landscapes.

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  • Rocky coastal islands and cliffs rising from vivid blue waters of Cook Strait under a clear sky.

    Seal Coast Safari

    Jump into a 4WD Mercedes, climb up to dramatic cliff‑tops near Cook Strait, peer down across fault lines and valleys and finally arrive at a rocky beach (home to New Zealand fur seals lounging, playing and diving off ledges). Nature, raw and real, from Wellington’s wild side. You can’t take the seals home back with you, but photos are free game.

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  • A herding dog drives a group of sheep across lush green farmland with hills and a small lake in the background.

    Ultimate Wellington: The Storm Coast Drive

    Settle into a motorcoach and ride along rugged coast, visit a private sheep‑station farm where dogs hustle sheep and shearing happens fast, then soak in views across the strait to snow‑tipped mountains. It’s less ‘city walk’ more ‘coastline reveal’ with wind‑blasted beauty and sheepdogs.

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  • Calm lake surrounded by dense native forest and hills under a clear blue sky at Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.

    Zealandia Eco Reserve & Otari Wilton Bush

    Just minutes from downtown Wellington you’ll enter the predator‑fenced valley of Zealandia, home to rare kiwi, tuatara and giant wetas. Then stroll the canopy walkway at Otari‑Wilton’s native‑plant garden, seeing New Zealand’s flora like you never imagined it could be. Earthy, tranquil and oddly moving.

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  • Winding mountain road cutting through dense green hills of the Remutaka Ranges under a cloudy sky.

    Wineries of Wairarapa

    Cross the Remutaka Ranges, arrive in historic Greytown with its wooden Victorian buildings, then head into Martinborough’s village charm and family‑run vineyards. Two wine‑tastings, local chocolate studio and a leisurely lunch make this one for guests who like sipping and tasting while they take it all in.

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Explore all Wellington shore excursions

Explore itineraries with cruises to Wellington

Your ship docks at CentrePort Wellington, with terminals like Aotea Quay putting you just minutes from the heart of the city. You step almost directly from ship deck to sidewalk. For New Zealand cruise itineraries this port punches above its weight: a compact city with serious view‑power, cafés, cable‑car rides and culture all within reach of the terminal. No long transfers, just immediate access.

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Tauranga, New Zealand

14-Day Australia & New Zealand

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Manukau Heads Lighthouse - Auckland, New Zealand

15-Day New Zealand

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Aerial view of Sydney, Australia

36-Day New Zealand, Tasmania & Fiji

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Discover Wellington on your next cruise

Wellington is a living, breathing mix of cheeky humour, steep streets, sculpt‑stone buildings and film‑set surprises. The national museum Te Papa Tongarewa pulls you into Maori heritage, the Wellington Cable Car gives you views to write home about and the wind… well, the wind just does whatever it wants (usually sideways). Princess Cruises brings you here with smart itineraries that let you cruise to Wellington with comfort and leave with memories that you’ll want to repeat. Onboard amenities keep the relaxed vibe going while you prepare to disembark into something unexpectedly epic.

Cruises to Wellington
Red-roofed pavilion beside a calm lake at Zealandia wildlife sanctuary, reflecting trees and clouds in still water.

Soak in the tranquility of Zealandia’s lake, where reflections of forest and sky merge in perfect harmony.

The Beehive building in Wellington with a bronze statue in the foreground under a soft morning sky.

Discover modern power and political history at Wellington’s iconic Beehive.

A smiling couple stands at the railing of a Princess® cruise ship, enjoying the open sea and blue sky.

A couple stands together on the wooden deck of a Princess® cruise ship, gazing out at the open sea beneath a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.

Front-facing view of a Princess® cruise ship sailing through calm ocean waters.

Cut through the world’s waterways and experience the planet’s most exciting coastlines from a sea-side perspective; our fleet is your luxury-and-entertainment-packed transport to adventure.

Discover our ships

Step aboard any Princess® ship and discover your new favorite way to travel. Each vessel is a floating playground of flavor, comfort and top-deck experiences. Enjoy freshly prepared local dishes, Broadway-caliber entertainment, oceanview fitness and wellness studios, family programming and beds so comfortable they’ve won awards. 


No two ships are identical, but they all share one mission: turn your vacation into a standing ovation.

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Cruises to Wellington FAQs

*The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

Let Princess get you there with travel, airfare & hotels

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  • Princess EZair

    Princess EZAir® Flights

    Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time, and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair® flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airline, allow you to book early and pay later with no penalty, and protect you if your flight is late or canceled. Princess EZair flight quotes are available on our cruise search result details pages. Please note: Princess EZair® is only available in certain markets.

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

    Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

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  • Cruise Plus hotel packages

    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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Escape to the open sea with Princess Cruises.

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The beautiful Piazza lets the light shine in.

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