Just days after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked New Zealand's South Island last month, Princess Cruises' 3082-passenger Emerald Princess made its maiden call to picturesque Picton, not far from the hard-hit town of Kaikoura.

Princess Cruises carries more passengers from Australia to the Land of the Long White Cloud than any other cruise line and this season six Princess ships will make 202 calls to 11 NZ ports. The economic input will be especially welcome after the latest quake – Princess estimates that over its next five visits to Picton, passengers and crew will spend about $10 million in the area.

Stuart Allison, Princess Cruises vice-president Australia and NZ, said, "As the leading cruise line in New Zealand, we're proud to play a role in assisting quake-affected communities to get back on their feet by delivering a steady stream of tourists without the need for the same level of infrastructure as land-based holidays. Our guests are very pleased to be able to help New Zealand communities at a time of need and we expect to see them out in full force during our visits to Picton and Wellington this summer."

Emerald Princess is the biggest Princess ship to visit NZ, in a record cruise season that will see 33 cruise ships sailing in local waters. The line has launched a new onboard and onshore program called Across the Ditch, which features a strong emphasis on local food, wine and culture.

Onboard, passengers can tuck into some of NZ's most popular and traditional dishes, such as racks of lamb, hokey-pokey ice-cream and a Maori hangi-style dinner, while new food-themed shore tours include cooking classes in Akaroa and a gourmet walking tour in Wellington. The ships will stock more NZ wines than ever before to develop the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail at Sea, including pinot noir from Central Otago and sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough region.

Maori culture is also celebrated onboard with kapa haka groups performing the world-famous haka and traditional poi dancing. Princess ships will also showcase regular presentations on the wildlife, terrain and history of the country, pop-up displays from the Auckland museum and acclaimed Kiwi films during Movies Under the Stars.

Other first-time visitors to NZ this season include Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas; Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Europa 2; Seabourn's new Seabourn Encore; Azamara Club Cruises' Azamara Journey; NCL's Norwegian Star; and Oceania Cruises' Sirena.

While some of these newer ships are filling fast, it's not too late to book a trans-Tasman cruise this summer – see cruising.org.au to find a CLIA Australasia accredited cruise travel agent near you.

For online: To experience a taste of the Across the Ditch program please see the video.

MEET THE CREW

NAME Clytus John Dias, from India

POSITION Chef de Cuisine, Carnival Spirit

MY JOB I am in charge of the entire kitchen operation, which includes more than 10 food outlets and a team of 120-plus whose goal is to provide our guests with exemplary culinary creations. I oversee the day-to-day operation of food production and also the training of our kitchen staff.

A TYPICAL DAY I start my day with a cup of coffee, ready to do my rounds of the various galleys. With the responsibility of preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner for more than 2500 guests and 900 crew, it is vital that my team is well briefed. I then complete tastings, coaching and guiding the cooks and check the quality of food served for guests and crew.

FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT When we sail out of Sydney Harbour – we enjoy the most spectacular view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

FAVOURITE CRUISE PORT Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. It's a beautiful long stretch of white sandy beach and, on the other side, there is a great snorkelling site by the rock.

INSIDER TIPS Try our favourite Boomerang burger at Guy's Burger Joint, enjoy lunch or dinner at Freshies and Bonsai Sushi, and book our specialty restaurant, Nouveau, online before you embark.

TIP

Pack binoculars for your next cruise – as well as spotting whales or dolphins at sea they give a whole new perspective on birdwatching, stargazing and getting close-ups on distant views. See ozbinoculars.com.au

NEWS

Girls' Own Adventures

Aqua Expeditions has announced a series of hosted journeys on the Amazon and Mekong rivers exclusively for women in 2017. As more and more people opt to travel solo, Aqua Expeditions has launched these cruises to offer women a safe and inclusive environment to explore destinations that may otherwise feel too off the beaten track for a solo traveller. The cruises offer women the chance to learn about the cultures and traditions of Cambodia and Peru while meeting fellow travellers who share the same love of adventure – and enjoy a bit of luxury at the same time. Both itineraries include biking, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing and cultural "meet and greets" with local community members. See aquaexpeditions.com

Cruise with a conscience

Peregrine's new Adventure Cruising collection lets travellers "cruise with a conscience" as each trip is carbon-offset by the company. Passengers can explore little known towns and villages in some of the world's most sought after destinations, including Croatia, Cuba, Iceland, Portugal, Panama and the Seychelles. The Adventure Cruising itineraries stay true to Peregrine's local, immersive style of travel and offer cruises on small ships that carry no more than 50 passengers. Peregrine Adventures' managing director James Thornton said, "We're just a start-up in the fast growing cruise market, but we think it is ripe for disruption because the big companies have not responded quickly enough to demand for genuine local experiences that benefit both travellers and the places and people they visit." See peregrineadventures.com

Spoilt for choice

Oceania Cruises has released its 2018 Europe & The Americas Collection, an array of voyages its fleet of six mid-size ships will sail across the Mediterranean, Baltic and northern Europe, Alaska, Canada and New England, and the Caribbean. "Offering more than 100 voyages and 85 unique itineraries, 71 of which are brand new, each of the itineraries has been crafted to offer the perfect blend of culinary, historical and cultural immersion," said Steve Odell, senior vice-president and managing director for NCL Holdings Asia Pacific. Exclusive offers for Australian cruisers include 50 per cent off deposits when paid by December 31, plus $250 shipboard credit on select 2018 itineraries and OLife Choice onboard packages when cruises are booked by March 31, 2017. See oceaniacruises.com

DEAL OF THE WEEK

Cruise Traveller's 17-night fly-cruise-rail-stay package combines a nine-night expedition cruise onboard Ponant's L'Austral from Sydney to Cairns, exploring Islands on the Great Barrier Reef with an expert team of biologists and marine wildlife professionals; a day trip to Kuranda; two nights in Cairns; flight to Darwin, a four-night stay in Darwin that includes a full-day Kakadu tour; a two-night train trip on the Ghan to Adelaide; and return flight to Sydney. Departing March 6, 2018, fares start from $9495 ($10,955 singles) when booked by January 31, 2017. Phone 1800 507 777, see cruisetraveller.com.au

MORE DEALS

UNIWORLD Save up to 20 per cent off selected 2017 Europe and Russia river cruises when booked by December 31. Enjoy a seven-night Paris and Normandy cruise on the new S.S. Joie de Vivre, including all meals and unlimited beverages onboard, six days of hosted excursions and more! From $4319 (including discount); phone1300 780 231, see uniworld.com/au/ [uniworld.com/au].

MYCRUISES' new fly-stay-cruise package is built around a 15-night river cruise with Emerald Waterways from Amsterdam to Budapest, or vice versa. Two nights accommodation in Budapest and Amsterdam, return flights, an upgrade from a mid-deck balcony suite to a top-deck balcony suite, private car transfers and gratuities are included in the fare, which starts from $9990 when booked by December 30. Phone 1300 69 2784. See MyCruises.com.au