Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises are bringing the winds of change again as five world-class superliners head Down Under for a stellar 2014/15 cruise season. For the first time, there will be two Australian-based Celebrity Cruises ships, and Voyager of the Seas returns fresh from a multimillion dollar revitalisation packed with new features including Australia’s first surfing experience at sea.
The combined fleet will offer something for everyone with a selection of 82 cruises available throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asian and South Pacific waters.
“It’s a historic season for us as we close one chapter in Australia and begin a new era. We say farewell to our beloved Rhapsody of the Seas that started our journey here. When Rhapsody of the Seas arrived in 2007, she marked a significant step up in the quality of ships home-ported in Australia as the largest ship based locally, and offering ground-breaking features like Australia’s first rock-climbing wall at sea. Fast forward to now and this season we will welcome the newly-revitalised Voyager of the Seas that once more raises the bar in Australian cruising,” said Sean Treacy, RCL Australia & New Zealand Commercial Director.
“This season, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises continue to make significant investments in the region bringing newer and more exciting ships packed with imaginative features – such as the first FlowRider surf simulator at sea on Royal Caribbean and the world renowned Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Celebrity Cruises. We are thrilled to be bringing five exceptional and world-class ships to Australasian waters this season, offering thousands of guests from more than 100 countries a stylish and fun holiday that delivers interesting and worldly experiences that exceed their expectations.”
Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas kicks of the international cruise season, arriving for her last Australian season on 3rd October 2014 after a 16-night Transpacific sailing from Hawaii. Celebrity Century is not far behind her – arriving for her first Australian season after a few years’ hiatus on 10th October. Radiance of the Seas arrives the next day, on 11th October and Celebrity Solstice, Australia’s youngest superliner begins her third season on 23rd October. Australia’s largest superliner, Voyager of the Seas, enters dry dock in Singapore in October and arrives in Sydney on 8th December fresh from a multimillion dollar bow-to-stern revitalisation.
New itinerary highlights this season include:
- Celebrity Cruises’ first ever single-voyage crossing of the Pacific – a 23-night sailing from San Francisco to Sydney via Hawaii and Tahiti onboard Celebrity Century departing 16th September 2014;
- Combined South Pacific & Queensland sailing on Celebrity Century;
- Dedicated South Australia and Tasmania sailings on Celebrity Century;
- A combined South Australia and Tasmania sailing on Rhapsody of the Seas;
- A spectacular Australia and New Zealand 16-night cruise from Sydney ending in Perth on Voyager of the Seas;
- And shorter two- and three-night sampler cruises on Voyager of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice.
“Feedback from our cruises shows that guests enjoy the international experience they get onboard our ships. They may be cruising close to home, but once they step on board, they are on a holiday that’s very far from the everyday. More and more Australians are choosing a cruise as their preferred holiday choice and this season we’ve noticed more and more first time cruisers of all ages. We’ve also noticed guests are getting savvier, as they become aware of the choice that is out there and how to choose a cruise that best fits what they want,” said Sean.
Royal Caribbean International is Sydney’s largest cruise line, offering more cruises and carrying more guests than any other cruise line in the 2014/15 season. Royal Caribbean International was also recently voted ‘Best Australian Based Cruise Line’ for the second year running at the National Travel Industry Awards. Celebrity Cruises is also Australia’s highest rated cruise line according to the industry bible The Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2014.
For further information or to book a cruise, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.au or www.celebritycruises.com.au, phone 1800 754 500 or see your local travel agent. For further information about Voyager of the Seas’ revitalisation, visit www.voyageroftheseas.com.au
SOURCE RCL