An ailing passenger on a visiting cruise ship sparked a challenging rescue in turbulent stormy seas off Auckland last night.

Northern Coastguard spokesman Johnny said the Australia-bound Norwegian Jewel was at Leigh Harbour near Kawau Island at 8.15pm when it reported a passenger needed to be urgently taken to hospital.

Coastguard spokesman Johnny Clough said the captain headed back to Auckland where it was met by the Coastguard's rescue craft with a paramedic on board.

The Norwegian Jewel returned to Auckland after a passenger became ill. Image / www.marinetraffic.com

In 2m swells, gale force winds and deepening darkness a paramedic climbed aboard the massive 93,000 tonne ship through a portal just 2m above the waterline.

The conditions were described as "turbulent" making for a challenging rescue operation.

Clough said the sick passenger was stabilised before being lowered in a lifeboat down the side of the ship into the waiting rescue catamaran.

Clough said the rescue craft raced to the Marine Rescue Centre and was met by a waiting ambulance. The patient was taken to Auckland Hospital.

After the medical emergency the Norwegian Jewel and its 2300 passengers resumed its delayed voyage north.