The hotel is supposed to look like a ship.
But I don't see it.

Guess I don't know what a ship looks like...

From Travel & Leisure: "This ship-like steel-and-glass hotel has a prime position on Princes Wharf with views of the Waitemata Harbour and city from its front suites. There's only one downside—the east-facing windows are occasionally blocked by cruise ships that come in to dock. The rooms are simple but more than sufficient—gray carpets, minimal furnishing, and large, comfy beds—but the lively Fish restaurant and Bellini Bar downstairs more than make up for it."

Since there will be 3 different cruise ships docked in front of my suite during the time I have booked, I hope Bellini Bar does have delicious martinis to calm any stress. I've never stayed at this hotel before, but I decided to take the chance based on my activities routinely going out of the Ferry Terminal next door. When I was last in Auckland 2019, the entire water front area and a lot of the CBD were in the midst of major construction. 2020 is supposed to be even worse. So staying near the ferries next trip seemed to be the best option.

Ironically, earlier this year, I did see the HUGE cruise ships (taller than the hotel) parked smack against the side (that you see in the photo) of the hotel & wondered what kind of crazy person would want to stay in a hotel like that. Guess I will be joining the ranks of the crazy... Unfortunately, Auckland isn't known for its huge selection of high end hotels. Although it's not where I normally stay, this one is the most convenient to harbor activities. My last trip, it took me 30 minutes by cab to just go between the ferry dock and my hotel near Sky Tower. That distance (without all the construction) can normally be walked in 10 minutes.

Luckily, only 3 days of my fairly long stay will be effected by a cruise ship within "whisper distance" of the room balcony. Auckland has two different docks for cruise ships. Although the other dock is very close, at least, you can't reach out and almost shake hands with cruise passengers docked there.

The Hilton Auckland is considered a 5 Star Hotel. Guess I'll see for myself one way or the other. It's been 4 ˝ star rated by 3000 reviewers on Trip Advisor and 4 ˝ star rated by 1500 reviewers on Google Reviews. Someone obviously likes it.

UPDATE:
COVID arrived on the scene, and I never made my February/March trip to Down Under. So, I never had an opportunity to experience this hotel for myself. Now in year 3 of the pandemic, I haven't been anywhere (but locally) at all... As for the future, who knows??? Starting in 2020, the pandemic changed the world and safe travel. However, pre pandemic. there once was a lot of positive excitement to be able to see the world and have new experiences. I feel blessed that I was able to do all that I have done in my life. I also feel sad that so much of the future is now unknown.

New Zealand has just recently reopened their country again to foreign visitors. Had I followed my original 2020 itinerary, I would have been stuck in the country when it went into total lockdown and cancelled flights in & out of the country.