Dunedin's tourism and commercial sector has stepped up to cater for a cruise ship set to stay overnight tonight.
Celebrity Solstice is due today at 7.15am, and will not leave until tomorrow at 3.30pm.
Dunedin i-Site visitor centre manager Louise van de Vlierd said it had yet to be confirmed why the vessel was not leaving as expected this evening, but the stay was a bonus for the cruise ship season.
Ms van de Vlierd put out a call yesterday for retailers who had extended hours on Thursday night and those in the hospitality sector who could entertain passengers to advise her.
She had, she said late yesterday, ''a brilliant response''.
There were cafes and shops staying open late, as well as tourism operators providing activities later today and tomorrow morning.
Businesses in Port Chalmers were staying open until 8pm or even 9pm.
Shuttle buses would run from Port Chalmers to the city, with the last returning at midnight.
''It's going to be fantastic.
''Our aim is they go away from having to stay longer in Dunedin going 'wow, that's an awesome place to have to spend more time'.''
Celebrity Solstice has a passenger capacity of 2850 and a crew of 1250.
