The countdown is on to the start of the international cruise season, and making a welcome return is Royal Caribbean – renowned for the biggest, newest and most modern ships in Australia and the world. Superliner Radiance of the Seas, arriving in Sydney on Sunday 8 October 2017, marks not only the first of the company’s cruise ships to return to our shores, but also Royal Caribbean’s tenth season based down under.
With six exceptional Australia-based ships, RCL Cruises – comprising Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises – will offer an incredible selection of 97 cruises available throughout Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia during the 2017/18 summer season, delivering an injection of AUD$198 million to the Australian economy in passenger spend alone.
Joining Radiance of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking Ovation of the Seas, returning for her second and longest SuperCruising season yet, as well as family-favourites Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas, known as the South Pacific Sisters.
Celebrity Solstice – voted Australia’s favourite ship by Aussie travel agents and readers of Cruise Critic – will celebrate her sixth season in Australia, arriving in Sydney on 20 October 2017 for her first sampler cruise in three seasons.
Meanwhile boutique cruise line, Azamara Club Cruises returns for her third and biggest season down under yet, when Azamara Journey arrives via Australia’s west coast in January, making maiden calls to Adelaide and Perth, as well as a number of regional destinations.
“You know summer’s in the air when the cruise ships return, and as this is our 10th season since the mighty Rhapsody of the Seas first sailed from Sydney, it is particularly special for us at Royal Caribbean – and more importantly, our travel partners and guests, past and present,” says RCL Cruises managing director, Adam Armstrong.
“The arrival of Rhapsody of the Seas 10 years ago marked a new era in cruising for Australia. Nobody had ever experienced a level of imagination quite like Royal Caribbean’s in local waters before, and guests were blown away by features which, once upon a time, could only be found on Royal, like the rock-climbing wall.”
“Ten years ago, our philosophy was to bring the world’s most cutting-edge cruise product to Australia’s doorstep. Today, we continue this proud tradition of delivering Australians with the world’s best holidays at sea – most recently with the all-new Ovation of the Seas. And today, we make a commitment to Australians that they can expect continued excellence in cruising, and even bigger, better, bolder and more modern ships from Royal Caribbean for the next 10 years.”
“To mark our 10 year milestone we’ll be announcing some very special birthday surprises for guests and agents throughout the season – so watch this space.”
Royal has plenty in store for guests this summer, including the return of Ovation of the Seas for a significantly longer season. Together Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas will offer 76 sailings ranging from two to 23 nights, calling on 46 ports during the 2017/18 season. Royal Caribbean retains the title of the largest cruise line in Sydney over the summer season – with bigger ships and more capacity than any other cruise line.
This 2017/18 season will also see a number of new cruise ports for Azamara Club Cruises, with Azamara Journey making maiden calls to Perth (Fremantle), Exmouth, Bunbury, Albany and Esperance in Western Australia, plus Adelaide and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
This will be Azamara’s third and biggest season yet in Australia. Not only will both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest visit Australia’s shores in one calendar year, the season will also herald the very first of Azamara’s country intensive voyages – brand new itineraries which focus on a single country. Plus Azamara Journey will end her 2017/18 season with the line’s inaugural World Journey, a 102-night extravaganza from Sydney to London, calling at 60 ports in 29 countries along the way.
Meanwhile modern luxury line Celebrity Cruises will offer 17 sailings ranging from two to 18 nights, calling at 32 ports during the season. The highlight of the season is the return of Celebrity Solstice’s two-night weekend sampler cruise – back by popular demand after a three-season hiatus. The sampler, departing Sydney on Friday 20 October, is the perfect chance for Australians to trial Australia’s favourite cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice.
Plus, Celebrity Cruises will offer guests even more opportunity to explore destinations at night, with overnight calls to Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne.
For more information about or to book a cruise, visit royalcaribbean.com.au, call 1800 754 500 or contact your travel agent.
SOURCE: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises
