NEWS: Royal Caribbean announced a new season of Australian domestic sailings on board returning favourite Ovation of the Seas. Ovation will sail from Sydney December 13, 2021 through to March 31, 2022, offering a mix of 2- to 10-night domestic sailings that visit some of the country’s most famous cities and regions.
“We continue to encourage and assist federal and state governments to establish a clear pathway for the return of cruising, and hope that by December we will have guests holidaying with us once again. While Sydney manages its ongoing lockdown, several factors make us hopeful that domestic cruising will return this summer, from rapid advances in COVID-19 research, technology and an emphasis on swift vaccine distribution,” says Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean International.
Royal Caribbean announced a new season of Australian domestic sailings and In lieu of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the opening of international borders and to ensure guests have peace of mind surrounding their holiday plans, Royal Caribbean has made the decision to cancel the following sailings:
- Serenade of the Seas’ sailings from Sydney from 24 Oct. 2021 to 27 February 2022 inclusive
- Ovation’s sailings from Sydney from 27 Oct. 2021 to 10 April 2022 inclusive, and Ovation will be redeployed to a domestic only itinerary
Royal Caribbean announced a new season of Australian domestic sailings and all impacted guests and travel partners have been contacted and advised of their options. Guests automatically will be issued a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) to the value of 125% of their cruise fare to use on future sailings, however, guests are able to opt for a full refund or to Lift & Shift to applicable summer 2022-2023 sailings, if preferred.
“We know our guests look forward to our return to cruising in Australia and these cancellations will be met with disappointment, a sentiment that we strongly share here at Royal Caribbean,” says Smith. “We are thankful to our loyal guests and travel partners for their ongoing patience and support since we suspended cruise operations in March 2020. Great progress has been made around the world, and we are eager to welcome guests back as we have successfully done in Singapore, Europe, the USA and UK.”
Looking Ahead in Australia
Ovation will offer guests a raft of short breaks and voyages with 24 sailings from Sydney starting in December. Guests can choose from 2- to 10-night itineraries that visit ports such as Eden, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Kangaroo Island, Airlie Beach, Cairns or Port Douglas. Plus, enjoy scenic excursions of the Great Barrier Reef, Willis Island and the South Coast of New South Wales.
As one of the most technologically advanced ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Ovation features a world of elevated experiences second to none. Guests can enjoy a vast selection of thrill-seeking activities, world-class amenities and dining experiences every night, and turn down for the evening to their luxurious accommodation. Ovation’s new sailings are available to book from Thursday, Aug. 5.
Royal Caribbean announced a new season of Australian domestic sailings and Royal Caribbean’s summer 2022-2023 sailings remain open for bookings. Quantum, Ovation and Radiance of the Seas will make a stunning return to Australia to sail cruise holidays across Australia, New Zealand and islands of the South Pacific.
“We are very encouraged by the great response we have had to our 2022-2023 season as guests plan ahead and remain confident and excited about a return to cruising in Australia. We’ve seen strong interest in cruises on Quantum, which will homeport at Brisbane’s new state-of-the-art cruise terminal,” says Dave Humphreys, director of sales, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean International.
The new, world-class $177 million Brisbane International Cruise Terminal was completed in mid-2020 and will play a vital role in growing Queensland’s cruise industry by helping to showcase all that south-east Queensland has to offer.
Source: Royal Caribbean
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