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Royal Caribbean International has announced its biggest summer season to date, with its 2014-15 Australasian program on sale from today.
The cruise line also revealed news that the biggest ship sailing Down Under, Voyager of the Seas, is scheduled to undergo a major multimillion-dollar “revitalisation” just ahead of the season. Voyager of the Seas will be joined by Rhapsody of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas – which themselves recently enjoyed over $80 million worth of improvements – in a three-ship fleet of superior superliners sailing local waters together for a third consecutive season.
“Royal Caribbean ships unfailingly deliver the “wow’” factor and in 2014-15, we will continue to bring the best and latest cruising innovations to the region. We began with the revitalisations of Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas in 2011-12, and now we’ve come full circle as Voyager of the Seaswill undergo a bow-to-stern refurbishment to offer even more amazing features. We’ll be able to share further details later this year – but you can be sure that guests will find many of the features found on our newest Oasis Class ships and more,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International.
“More than 140,000 guests from over 100 countries will enjoy our new summer 2014-15 program of cruises. Guests will experience a truly international style of cruising on the three most modern, amenity-rich freshly-revitalised ships ever to be based in the region.”
In the summer of 2014-15, Royal Caribbean will be offering Australian families, groups, couples and singles even more choice with three impressive ships and a wide range of itineraries to choose from.
Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will arrive in Sydney in October 2014 for the start of their season, and sister ship Voyager of the Seas will join them in December 2014. Guests can choose from 55 cruises – more than any other Sydney-based cruise line – ranging from two to 18 nights calling at 37 ports across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, with departures from September 2014 to April 2015.
Now is the time to book for these exciting cruises as Royal Caribbean is offering Earlybird savings of up to $1,000 per person for bookings made by 31 December 2013. With fares starting from $389 per person twin share and a seven-night South Pacific cruise from under $1,000 per person twin share, be quick as the cruises are bound to be sold out way before the deals’ deadline. Other Earlybird deals include savings on bookings for balcony cabins, suites, children and third and fourth berths in a stateroom.
Voyager of the Seas will arrive for her 2014-15 season fresh from her comprehensive revitalisation in October 2014. Guests can expect exciting onboard amenities, including those featured in Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis-class ships. During her third season down under, Voyager of the Seas will sail from Sydney and Perth, offering four new itineraries along with some favourites:
- NEW A 13-night cruise from Singapore to Sydney on 25 November 2014 which calls at Darwin and Brisbane and has Earlybird fares which start from $1,549 per person.
- NEW Royal Caribbean has added an additional 3-night long weekend sampler cruise departing Sydney with Earlybird prices from $599 per person.
- NEW A spectacular Australia & New Zealand 16-night cruise from Sydney ending in Perth has Earlybird fares from $2,149 per person.
- Six Fiji cruises ranging in duration from 9 to 14 nights, including a NEW 14-night itinerary with Earlybird fares from $2,449 per person.
- One 14-night Pacific Island Fusion cruise which uniquely combine calls to New Caledonia and Fiji with New Zealand; Earlybird pricing for this cruise starts from $1,849 per person.
- Three 11-night cruises to New Zealand – offering a shorter ‘express’ itinerary than the traditional 14-night option on Radiance of the Seas – with Earlybird fares start from $1,429 per person.
- Voyager of the Seas will return to Asia on a 14-night sailing on 1 April 2015 from Perth to Singapore, via Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Guests can experience this cruise from just $1,849 per person if they book before 31 December 2013.
Radiance of the Seas will sail out of Sydney and Perth with a wide variety of seven- to 18-night itineraries to Tasmania, around Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Often referred to as the “Foodies’ Ship” for her unmatched 10 restaurants onboard, Radiance of the Seas had a ship-wide revitalisation in 2011 which can be viewed here. Her 2014-15 Australasian season features:
- Two ‘Trans-Pacific’ cruises between Honolulu and Sydney on 22 September 2014 (18 nights) and 19 April 2015 (17 nights) with calls in Tahiti and New Zealand. Earlybird fares for this cruise begin at $2,549 per person.
- Two 14-night New Zealand cruises with eight ports of call each plus scenic cruising of Milford Sound, Dusky Sound and Doubtful Sound – Earlybird fares start from $1,849 per person.
- Eight South Pacific island cruises ranging in duration from seven to 12 nights – including the inaugural call for Radiance of the Seas into Mare, New Caledonia on the 12-night Christmas cruise. If booked by 31 December 2013, fares start from $1,069 per person for a seven-night cruise departing 12 April 2015.
- Two full circumnavigations of Australia and New Zealand. Guests may choose to sail a 16-night ‘Top End’ cruise or a 17-night ‘South Coast & New Zealand’ sailing – or combine the cruises into one majestic 33-night voyage. Cruises depart 20 October 2014 and 26 February 2015 and Earlybird fares start from $2,109 per person for a 16-night Top End cruise.
- A seven-night Tasmania sailing on 13 January 2015 with fares from $1,419 per person.
Rhapsody of the Seas’ season will feature a wide variety of itineraries including two new ones, ranging from two to 16 nights, sailing to Tasmania, Queensland, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The ship also went through an extensive refurbishment in 2012 which added many new features including a restyled seven-deck high Centrum atrium where breathtaking aerial-acrobatic shows take place. In 2014-15, Rhapsody of the Seas will sail the following cruises out of Sydney:
- Two 16-night ‘Trans-Pacific’ cruises between Hawaii and Sydney which travel through the South Pacific islands of Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and New Caledonia; departing on 16 September 2014 (ex Honolulu) and 17 April 2015 (ex Sydney) – Earlybird fares start from $1,969 per person.
- Ten South Pacific island cruises ranging in duration from 7 to 11 nights – including three calls to the port of Mare, New Caledonia for the first time. A seven night South Pacific cruise has Earlybird fares from $999 per person.
- NEW A 10-night ‘Tasmania & South Australia’ cruise which calls at Hobart (overnight), Burnie, Adelaide and Melbourne with fares from $1,309 per person if booked by 31 December 2013.
- NEW A two-night weekend sampler cruise departing Sydney on 3 October 2014 with Earlybird fares from $389 per person.
- Two 12-night South Pacific Fiji cruises New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu; Earlybird fares start from $1,659 per person.
- Four 11-night Queensland sailings which call at Newcastle, Cairns, Airlie Beach and Brisbane. These cruises offer the best of Australia’s northeast coast and include a unique 2-day, overnight call in Cairns – allowing plenty of time to explore the city’s nightlife as well as the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest. Earlybird fares begin from just $1,459 per person.
Unique amenities already offered onboard Royal Caribbean’s Australasian fleet include an ice-skating rink, rock-climbing walls, a Royal Promenade of shops, mini-golf courses, water parks, Broadway-style theatre and full sized sports courts. For more details, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au .