ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL’S BIGGEST SEASON YET OPENS FOR BOOKING

2016/17 summer season onboard Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas on sale from 28 May 2015

27 May 2015 – To continue to meet the ever growing demand for Royal Caribbean International's unique style of cruising onboard the most modern and feature packed fleet of ships in Australasian waters, the cruise line has announced that its 2016/17 season will be its biggest yet, increasing capacity by 12 per cent and providing more variety in itineraries and choice of world class ships than ever before. On sale from Thursday 28 May 2015, Royal Caribbean has confirmed that Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas will all again call Australia home for the 2016/17 season, with new itineraries and destinations carefully designed incorporating feedback from our guests and set to provide more variety in itinerary choice than ever before. 

“The popularity of cruising continues to grow and we’re ecstatic to launch our biggest season yet, with a range of unique and diverse sailings on four international style cruise ships for the 2016/17 summer season,” said Sean Treacy, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International, Australasia & South East Asia. 

In total, Royal Caribbean will offer 71 cruises onboard Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas ranging from three- to 24-nights calling at 51 ports across Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Asia and North America, with departures from September 2016 through to April 2017.

“We dream big at Royal Caribbean and the 2016/17 season will also see Australasia’s first new-build ship Ovation of the Seas join the local fleet for her inaugural Australian season. Details for Ovation’s maiden season are still being finalised and we hope to release information in the coming months as we know how eager Australians are to learn more, with over 20,000 people having registered their interest to cruise on the largest and most technologically advanced ship to ever sail local waters,” continued Treacy.  Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas, packed full of only on Royal Caribbean features such as the FlowRider surf simulators, rock climbing wall and ice skating rinks, will sail more frequently in the family-friendly South Pacific. Meanwhile Radiance of the Seas, with her international appeal and world class dining options, will continue to specialise in Australian and New Zealand itineraries, including a brand new destination for the cruise line, Tonga. For Queensland guests, Legend of the Seas will offer a real variety of sailings during her second season with itineraries including local Queensland, South Pacific and New Zealand cruises.  

For her second season down under, Explorer of the Seas will offer predominantly South Pacific cruises ranging from three- to 24-nights from Sydney. Highlights of her 2016/17 season include:

* A 24-night Repositioning cruise from Seattle to Sydney departing 8 October 2016, with calls at Honolulu and Lahaina (overnight), Hawaii; Suva (overnight), Fiji; Vila and Mystery Island, Vanuatu; and Noumea, New Caledonia.

* Two three-night Sampler cruises departing 8 December 2016 and 16 March 2017.

* Two eight-night South Pacific itineraries visiting Noumea, New Caledonia; Mystery Island, Vanuatu; and Lifou, Loyalty Island, as well as two additional South Pacific sailings additionally call at Port Vila, Vanuatu.

* Six 10-night cruises combining calls in spectacular New Caledonia and Vanuatu, including a departure during the peak school holiday period on 3 January 2017.

* Two 11-night South Pacific sailings which include calls at Fiji.

* A choice of three 12-night cruises calling at New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji, including the combined Christmas and New Year cruise, departing 22 December 2016, and a January school holiday cruise departing 13 January 2017.

* A 13-night April school holiday cruise departing 9 April 2017 which visits Noumea, New Caledonia; Lifou, Loyalty Island; Mystery Island, Vanuatu; Lautoka and Suva; Fiji and Isle of Pines, New Caledonia.

* Explorer of the Seas will then reposition back to Seattle on 22 April 2017 with a 24-night cruise visiting Isle of Pines and Noumea, New Caledonia; Mystery Island, Vanuatu; Suva (overnight), Fiji; and Lahaina and Honolulu (overnight), Hawaii.

For her fifth consecutive season sailing Australian waters, Voyager of the Seas will offer a selection of South Pacific itineraries from Sydney ranging from seven- to 14-nights. A summary of her 2016/17 cruises include:

* Two 14-night Repositioning cruises from Singapore to Sydney departing 18 October 2016 and Sydney to Singapore departing 17 April 2017, calling at Darwin, Port Douglas, Cairns, the Whitsundays and Brisbane.

* Two seven-night New Caledonia sailings visiting the Isle of Pines and Noumea. 

* An eight-night Christmas cruise departing 20 December 2016 and calling at Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia and Lifou in Loyalty Island.

* Bring in the New Year on an eight-night sailing to Lifou, Loyalty Island; Vila, Vanuatu and Noumea, New Caledonia.

* A nine-night cruise departing on 12 February 2017 and one 10-night cruise departing on 5 March 2017 visiting New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

* A choice of four 11-night, three 12-night, two 13-night and one 14-night sailings which combine calls at ports in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. 

Radiance of the Seas will offer sailings from Sydney, Auckland and Perth during her sixth local season with itineraries ranging from eight- to 18-nights to New Zealand and around Australia. Highlights include:

* Two 18-night Transpacific cruises from Honolulu to Sydney on 20 September 2016 and the reverse departing 18 April 2017 which calls at Papeete, Moorea and Bora Bora in French Polynesia and Picton and Wellington in New Zealand.

* For the first time, Radiance of the Seas will offer a 13-night Sydney to Auckland cruise departing 3 December 2016 and calling in New Caledonia, Fiji and the brand new Royal Caribbean port of Tonga. This cruise can be combined with the following 10-night New Zealand sailing from Auckland to Sydney to create a spectacular 23-night South Pacific and New Zealand cruise.

* A choice of two Circumnavigation sailings of Australia, where guests may select to sail a 16-night ‘Top End’ cruise departing Sydney on 31 October 2016 and 9 February 2017 and sailing to Perth, or a 17-night South Coast and New Zealand sailing from Perth to Sydney departing 16 November 2016

and 25 February 2017. Royal Caribbean also offers the opportunity to combine the cruises into one majestic 33-night around Australia and New Zealand sailing. 

* An eight-night Tasmania sailing during the January school holidays and an eight-night Queensland sailing during the April school holidays. 

* Celebrate New Year during an 11-night New Zealand cruise sailing roundtrip from Sydney and departing 26 December 2016.

* Choose from a 12-night, 13-night or three 14-night cruises to New Zealand which visit the North and South Islands as well as the majestic Milford Sounds region.

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.

The $1.3 billion Ovation of the Seas will also sail out of Sydney for the peak summer season from December 2016. Currently under construction in Germany, the Quantum Class megaliner will not only claim the title of the largest cruise ship to ever call Australasia home – carrying almost 5,000 guests and 1,500 crew – but also the most technologically advanced.  Ovation of the Seas redefines cruising down under, offering a host of incredible features and technologies, from an iFly sky diving experience, 18 distinct dining options - including Jamie Oliver’s first at sea - a robotic bar, the fastest internet bandwidth at sea, bumper cars and the North Star – a glass viewing capsule which transports guests more than 91 metres above the ship for breathtaking 360 degree views. 

Bookings for Ovation of the Seas’ maiden Australian season are expected to open mid-way through 2015, but guests are encouraged to register their interest at www.royalcaribbean.com.au/Ovation to be the first to receive information on her sailings down under when details are announced. 

Bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2016/17 summer season open on Thursday 28 May 2015. 

Royal Caribbean is pleased to offer launch savings of up to $1,000 off the full brochure fare for 2016/17 season for bookings made by 31 December 2015*. 

For example, enjoy an 8-night South Pacific cruise from only $999 per person, twin share, departing 5 December 2016 on Legend of the Seas or a 3 night Getaway cruise from as little as $499 per person, twin share, departing 16 March 2017 on Explorer of the Seas.

These special discounts vary by cruise duration and stateroom type as follows:

Balcony Upgrades – Upgrade from as little as $19 per person per night (based on 9 February 2017 cruise on Radiance of the Seas).

Suite Upgrades – Live the “suite life” with upgrades from a Balcony stateroom to a Junior Suite from only $29 per person per night (based on 13 December 2016 cruise on Voyager of the Seas).

Additional Berths – Many of our staterooms have additional beds and accommodate up to four guests. Pricing for passengers occupying third and fourth beds offers extremely good value for money, leading in at only $699 per person – that’s just $87 per night (based on 2 November 2016 cruise on Explorer of the Seas).

Three & Four Share Fares – Combine the prices for two twin passengers plus the third/fourth guests and divide the total cost by three or four passengers. Three Share Fares start from $966 whilst Four Share Fares from as low as $899 per person (based on 1 November 2016 cruise on Voyager of the Seas).

For further information or to make a booking, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au, phone 1800 754 500 or see your local travel agent.

Information supplied by: Royal Caribbean International.

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