High winds yesterday affected the huge ship’s stay in the port, the method of ferrying its passengers back to the ship, and even its leaving time.
Port Otago commercial general manager Peter Brown said the ship’s thrusters were operating from mid-morning. A tug had also been deployed.
It was "very uncommon" for such measures to be taken at the port.
"It’s simply a reflection of the wind speed and the direction that it’s coming today," Mr Brown said.
Ovation of the Seas, the largest cruise ship to visit New Zealand, is prone to "windage".
Its height above water level and limited draught mean the ship can act as a sail.
Mr Brown said a new system of bollards at Port Chalmers built this year, strong enough to hold the new class of ships, were "doing a wonderful job".
The new system has six bollards that can each hold 150 tonnes and two "breast lines" attached to bollards set back about 15m from the wharf and secured in a hole 2m deep, 4m x 4m across, filled with concrete.
While the weather had been "atrocious" for passengers, many had left the ship for Port Chalmers and Dunedin.Port Otago had organised buses to drive on to the wharf to deliver passengers directly to gangways, rather than have them walk from a building on Beach St.
"We tried to minimise their exposure to the wind and the rain."
The city was crowded during the day, as both Ovation of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice were in port, with a combined total of more than 7000 passengers.
"They braved the conditions and they all seemed in good spirits," Mr Brown said.
Celebrity Solstice sailed last night shortly after 8pm.
Ovation of the Seas was delayed by wind gusts, and left just before 9pm.
Its late departure meant the incoming Seven Seas Voyager, with capacity for 708 passengers and 445 crew, had to wait outside Taiaroa Head for about two hours before finally berthing about 11pm.
