SYDNEYSIDERS had their last longing look at
Rhapsody of the Seas on Friday, before she
departed the harbour in the early evening for
the start of her Alaska sailing season.
Cruise Weekly was lucky enough to be
onboard Rhapsody before she departed, to
view the results of her four week $54m bow to
stern drydock renovations in Singapore, which
ended earlier this month.
Designed to incorporate popular elements
from Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas,
the work included a bow to stern refresh of
furniture, carpets and upholstery.
Every cabin was also lavished with a new flat
screen TV, iPad, bathroom, linens, drapery and
contemporarily styled furniture.
A new fully-staffed Royal Babies & Tots
Nursery for children aged six months to three
years old was also installed onboard to better
accommodate families; as well as five new
dining experiences to add variety for food
lovers, including: Chops Grille steakhouse
($30pp dinner), Giovanni’s Table Italian
restaurant (US$15 lunch and US$20 dinner),
the Japanese eatery Izumi (US$3 lunch and
US$5 dinner, plus a la carte menu pricing), the
deli-style eatery Park Café (free, open for
brekkie, lunch and dinner), and the exclusive
private dining room, Chef’s Table ($95pp)
which caters for up to 14 guests and offers a
five-course wine-paired dinner.
Additional tweaks include the transformation
of Rhapsody’s atrium into a seven-story
vertical theatre for nightly entertainment and
aerial spectacles, whilst the new R Bar on the
atrium’s ground level now offer’s guests a retro
1960’s style vibe and signature cocktails.
Rhapsody’s pool deck was also swathed in
new wood-like decking and now boasts a large
outdoor movie screen; whilst Crown and
Anchor loyalty guests now have exclusive
access to their own Diamond Lounge, and
suite guests can enjoy access to the new
Concierge Lounge.
Guests who are prone to getting a bit lost
onboard will also appreciate Rhapsody’s new
way-finding system which allows them to
navigate the ship and check out the activities
schedule on touch-screen TVs positioned
strategically around the ship.
MEANWHILE it seems that Australians have
really responded well to Royal Caribbean and
Celebrity Cruises in regional waters, with the
cruise lines reporting a combined 65% year-onyear
increase in guests, with Radiance of the
Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Celebrity
Century together hosting over 90,000 guests
this past summer season.
Australians rueing the loss of Rhapsody from
regional waters should fear not however, as
the vessel is scheduled to return with her
sister ship Radiance of the Seas, as well as
vessel’s from Royal Caribbean’s sister brand
Celebrity Cruises, Voyager of the Seas and
Celebrity Solstice for the 2012/13 summer
season.
