Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Luxury Cruises & Charters View Basket

Discover the best of New Zealand & the South Pacific in small ship luxury

Intricate island exploring, gourmet dining and active adventure

Island Escape's "Island Passage" takes you to places in a way that large cruise ships can't, up close and very personal. Go where few have been before, into small bays and hidden passages… discover the ultimate in floating luxury. This is an experience that will leave you amazed, pampered, enlightened and inspired.

Island Escape Cruises invites you to enjoy a luxury getaway aboard the 42-metre Island Passage. The Island Passage is unique in that other vessels of her size carry more than double the 24 passengers that she can accommodate. This gives her guests much more room to relax with 12 spacious and individually-designed cabins fitted with DVD, flat screen TV and air-conditioning.

On 'Island Passage', Island Escape Cruises' beautifully-appointed small ship, you can explore in a way that combines the graciousness of gourmet travel with the spontaneity and intrepid spirit of an explorer's expedition. Weighing in at almost 500 tonnes, Island Passage is equipped to travel to remote, hardly-visited areas while delivering the highest level of passenger comfort.

The Island Passage operates with a crew of eight and is registered as a New Zealand vessel under NZ Safe Ship Management. The ship carries a selection of landing craft, tenders and kayaks to allow exploring off the ship into bays, estuaries and islands. The helicopter is available for trips beyond the range of the sea craft.

Choose from these luxurious New Zealand Bay of Islands cruises or take a private charter with friends and family, or a group of couples. Island Escape Cruises ensures that your cruise choice is the ultimate in luxury and leisure.

Island Escape Cruises offers first-class excursions, led by expert guides who travel with you and uncover the mysteries of the region's wildlife, history, guided walks, kayaking, fishing, small boat exploration, shore transfers and island tours. Or you may choose to just relax in the sun...

Bay of Islands Luxury Cruises – 6 nights, Jan to March departures

The Bay of Islands is one of the most interesting and beautiful maritime environments on the planet, complete with 144 islands and many fascinating stories from New Zealand’s history.

As a nautical playground, it was made famous over a century ago by legendary author and game fisherman, Zane Grey. Further back it is the cradle of European civilization in New Zealand.

Island Passage arrives here in early January, at the start of New Zealand’s summer season, and stays in the region for three months.

Summer temperatures are around the 27°C (80°F) level, tempered by cooling afternoon sea breezes. It is ‘bare foot, shorts and T- shirt’ cruising.