QUEENSLAND’S NEWEST LEGEND ARRIVES IN HER NEW HOME

Royal Caribbean’s first Brisbane based cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, kicks off maiden season

Royal Caribbean International’s first ever cruise ship based in Queensland, Legend of the Seas, has arrived to her new home of Brisbane this morning.  The new local legend will sail from the sunny state until April 2016 and is expected to inject more than $24 million into the Queensland economy in passenger spending alone.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Legend of the Seas to her brand new home.  We have been working towards basing a ship in Brisbane since opening our Australia office in 2009 – so it’s a great pleasure to finally deliver Queenslanders with an international style of cruising, right on their doorstep,” said Adam Armstrong, Regional Commercial Director, Royal Caribbean International.

“Queensland is one of the fastest growing markets in the country and has been a major source market for our Sydney-based ships over the last decade. Positioning Legend of the Seas to Brisbane offers greater convenience for Queenslanders, who now have an exciting new choice in cruise lines.”

At 70,000 tonnes, Legend of the Seas is one of the largest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet that is able to navigate the Brisbane River and dock at Portside Wharf, Hamilton.  Following an extensive US$50 million revitalisation in 2013, the ship boasts extraordinary facilities that guests will not find onboard any other cruise ship sailing from Brisbane, such as the Central Atrium where high flying acrobats put on an incredible aerial show, an outdoor rock climbing wall for active travellers to test their skill, a mini golf course, indoor adults-only swimming pool for more leisurely pursuits, as well as a babies nursery. 

Legend of the Seas’ onboard dining offering will excite Queenslanders with six options including three speciality restaurants – a Japanese restaurant called Izumi, Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse Chops Grille and the 12-seat Chef’s Table private dining room.  She also features a stunning two-deck grand dining room, a pool-side big screen showing movies and sports games, an 800-seat theatre with Broadway style productions, the Vitality Spa & Fitness centre, a beauty salon and a shopping arcade. 

Legend of the Seas arrived this morning at around 6am, concluding an 18-night repositioning sailing from Hong Kong. The ship departs this evening at 6pm on a two-night Sampler sailing – the first local cruise of her maiden season. 

During her five month season, Legend of the Seas will embark on 15 itineraries in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific ranging from two to 18 nights.  The ship will return to Brisbane for an extended summer season October 2016.

Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean International’s unprecedented fourth ship sailing in Australia for the 2015/16 summer season; joining Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas sailing out of Sydney; contributing to capacity growth of almost 50% this summer. 

Legend of the Seas 2015/16 Itineraries

Legend of the Seas arrives in December for Royal Caribbean’s first ever season sailing from Brisbane. During her five month season, Legend of the Seas will embark on 15 itineraries in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific ranging from two- to 18-nights before repositioning back to Asia in April 2016. 

Highlights of Legend of the Seas’ maiden season include: 

* An 18-night cruise from Hong Kong to Brisbane on 20 November 2015 which calls at Manila, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, Bali, Darwin, Cairns and Whitsundays. A similar cruise operates in reverse departing Brisbane on 20 April 2016.

* Nine South Pacific cruises ranging from eight- to 10-nights calling at ports in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Loyalty Islands. And a further two 11-night cruises incorporate the South Pacific islands and Fiji.

* One 14-night cruise to New Zealand which calls at Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin and Dusky/Doubtful/Milford Sounds.

* Visits to the Whitsundays and Cairns on two seven-night Queensland sailings.

* One two-night sampler cruise, giving cruisers a taste of Legend of the Seas.

Legend of the Seas’ 2016/17 Itineraries 

For her second season in Queensland, Legend of the Seas will offer itineraries ranging from three- to 14-nights to the South Pacific, Queensland and New Zealand. Highlights of her season homeported in Brisbane include:

* Two 18-night Repositioning cruises from Hong Kong to Brisbane and the return at the beginning and end of her season, departing on 19 October 2016 and 9 April 2017. The repositioning sailings include port calls at Manila and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Bali in Indonesia as well as Darwin, Cairns and the Whitsundays.

* A selection of nine South Pacific cruises visiting ports in New Caledonia and Vanuatu ranging from seven- to 10-nights.

* One 11-night and two 12-night cruises which incorporate the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

* One 14-night cruise to New Zealand departing 15 January 2017 which calls at Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Akaroa, Dunedin and the spectacular Sounds.

* A seven-night Queensland sailing visiting the Whitsundays, Cairns (overnight) and Willis Island departing 2 March 2017.

* One three-night weekend sampler cruise departing 2 December 2016.

Legend Of The Seas Fast Facts

Registry: Bahamas ● Built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique, St. Nazaire, France

Maiden Voyage: May 16, 1995 ● Refurbished: February 2013 

Godmother: Cindy Pritzker, wife of Board member Jay Pritzker

69,130 GRT ● 867 feet long ● 105 feet wide ● 25 feet draft ● 24 knots cruising speed

11 guest decks ● 11 guest elevators ● 2 bow thrusters ● 2 stabilizers

1,832 guests (double occupancy) ● 2,074 guests (total) ● 726 crew (International)

Ship Facilities

Public Rooms Capacity

Romeo and Juliet Dining Room 1,020               

Windjammer Cafe   546 Chops Grille    62

Izumi     39 Park Café    84 Chef’s Table    12

Casino Royale  240

That's Entertainment Theater  800

Anchors Aweigh Lounge  550 

Public Rooms Capacity 

Viking Crown Lounge   60

R Bar     33

Schooner Bar    104 Diamond Lounge   36 Concierge Lounge   36

Adventure Ocean Youth Area30

Royal Babies and Tots Nursery 4

Optix Teen Center   40

Conference Center   110

Library     8 

STATEROOMS

Total: 915 ● Ocean View: 587 (356 with balconies) ● Interior: 328

Staterooms with third/fourth berths: 244 ● Wheelchair accessible staterooms: 17

All staterooms convert to Royal king size bed configuration and have private bath, vanity area, closed-circuit, flat panel LED televisions, electric mini-bar, hair dryers and individually controlled

air-conditioning

OTHER AMENITIES

Vitality Spa & Fitness Center ● Beauty Salon ● Solarium ● Two Pools ● Four Whirlpools 

Rock-climbing Wall ● Nine-Hole Miniature Golf Course ● Jogging Track ● Outdoor Movie Screen  Video Arcade ● Boutiques ● Medical Center ● Royal Caribbean Online Internet Center

Information Supplied by: Royal Caribbean International.

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