Both Ovation of the Seas (left) and Celebrity Edge (right) will be filling the berths at Port Chalmers today.
Potentially more than 10,000 people will arrive in Dunedin today in one of the largest influxes of cruise ship visitors seen.
To deal with the influx, extra buses have been arranged by the Otago Regional Council and retailers told to plan for additional demand.
In addition to 65 cruise-line organised buses, an extra 14 bus trips have been arranged by the ORC.
Ovation of the Seas and Celebrity Edge are expected to bring a potential combined 8000 cruise visitors and 3000 crew into the city today.
Council transport manager Lorraine Cheyne said the council would increase capacity on local services to allow regular passengers and visitors to use public transport.
"Additional trips are added to the Port Chalmers route at peak times on busier cruise ship days.
"Although cruise passengers were encouraged to use the private buses offered by their ships, many choose to take the public bus service and the additional trips we are operating help to ease pressure on the public bus service."
A Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency release said this was one of the largest influxes of cruise ship visitors the city had seen and may impact all roads in the central business district.
Last year, the highest number of bus tickets sold in one day was 482.
The additional buses are to cater for 600 public transport users.
Parking outside Toitū Otago Settlers Museum would be reserved for cruise buses only, an NZTA spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said the area was set to be very busy.
She said those intending to travel to Port Chalmers today or use State Highway88 should expect delays and allow extra time for their journey.
