New Zealand cruise offers dinner with hobbits Philip Ordever, Crystal's vice president of international sales and marketing, said: "This is an extraordinarily timely opportunity for Crystal guests to be transported to a place that many fantasy-fiction genre fans and movie buffs, as well as foodies and off-the-beaten-path travellers, can only dream of visiting." The two cruises that include the hobbit tour depart on December 20 this year and January 29, 2013, and will visit some of New Zealand's other impressive sights. Both stop at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dusky, Doubtful and Milford Sounds, while also making a trip to Sydney in Australia. The December cruise will be a festive affair and celebrates New Year's Eve in Sydney Harbour. An all-inclusive, 16-night sailing costs from £7,600 per person. The January cruise takes 13 nights and starts at £4,672 per person. The hobbit excursion costs and extra $265 per person. The Hobbit is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings and the latest film in the trilogy to be released, opening in the UK on December 13. The director, Peter Jackson, again used many different shooting locations around the country, with stars such as Stephen Fry, Sir Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and Billy Connolly, regularly seen in the capital Wellington. The hobbit cruise is the latest in a string of cruises with unusual themes that offer passengers something extra. Strictly Come Dancing cruises with P&O have proved popular, while naked cruises and voyages for "cougars" - women who like younger men - can also be found.