The big ship's captains onboard! Onboard Sootychaser that is!

A limited edition cruise, one of its kind!

This very special cruise is scheduled around the arrival AND a departure of container ships, so we can get as close as possible to the ship as they goes right past us, as it leaves Port Chalmers! We'll be looking up at the ship as the crew look down on us!

We will have a professional former ship's captain onboard with us, to talk to us about what it's really like to be the captain of a large ship.

It's the captains job, to navigate their way across the oceans between ports where the pilots join them, to make their way down the winding Otago Harbour Channel. 

With years of experience under his belt and full of charm, the former ships captain, Mike Webb, will join us and to share his years experience and stories from the bridge and answer your questions, one on one!

How big is the 'steering wheel'? Is it hard to stay in the channel? Where does everybody sleep? How often do the crew and captain get to see their families? What happens when there is a storm? Where are all the containers coming and going from? What is In the containers!?

A once in a lifetime opportunity, to find out the inside story!

You'll be amazed by the sight of the huge ships going past and you'll leave with a new insight and maybe even inspiration of what its like to be the captain of large ships! What is the difference between a captain and a pilot?

We will also see the pilot boats, on their berths or underway, or both, that the harbour pilots are transported on, to meet the ships and join the captain before and after they transit the harbour.

And the tug boats as they assist the ship into and away from the berth.

We DO NOT go out to sea for this product, we stay in the usually sheltered harbour.

Bathroom onboard, heated cabin.

This product is specially timed to be around the departure times of the container ships.

Please expect that ship departure times may change slightly as the date nears, and so the tour time might too. 

 If the cruise ship departure schedule changes, we will do our best to give plenty of notice of any changes. If we do need to change the time by more then half an hour, from when you make the booking, you are able to be fully refunded if the new time does not suit you. 

We will keep in close contact including the day of the cruise to check you are ok with any changes and update you, if that happens. Usually any changes are by around 30 minutes, if at all.

This tour is a special limited edition cruise.

Suitable to all ages, but best for ages 5 years to adults.

This product is from Port Chalmers, by default, please write in your booking notes if you'd like a Portobello departure.