ROYAL Caribbean International (RCI) has updated its Australian summer season to domestic-only. Ovation of the Seas will sail from Sydney starting 13 Dec through 31 Mar 2022, offering a mix of two- to 10-night domestic sailings visiting some of the country’s most famous cities and regions. The ship will offer...
ROYAL Caribbean International (RCI) has updated its Australian summer season to domestic-only.
Ovation of the Seas will sail from Sydney starting 13 Dec through 31 Mar 2022, offering a mix of two- to 10-night domestic sailings visiting some of the country’s most famous cities and regions.
The ship will offer guests a raft of short breaks and voyages, with 24 sailings from Sydney visiting ports such as Eden, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Port Douglas, Kangaroo Island, Airlie Beach, and Cairns.
Available to book from tomorrow, guests can also enjoy scenic excursions of the Great Barrier Reef, Willis Island and New South Wales’ South Coast.
The new season means Ovation’s current sailings from Sydney from 27 Oct to 10 Apr 2022 have been cancelled, as have Serenade of the Seas’ sailings from Sydney from 24 Oct to 27 Feb 2022.
All impacted guests and travel partners will be contacted and advised of their options.
Guests will automatically be issued a future cruise credit to the value of 125% of their fare to use on future sailings.
However, guests are also able to opt for a full refund, or to lift & shift to an applicable summer 2022-2023 sailing, if preferred.
“We continue to encourage and assist federal and state governments to establish a clear pathway for the return of cruising, and hope that by Dec we will have guests holidaying with us once again,” said RCI Vice President & Managing Director Australia & New Zealand Gavin Smith (pictured).
“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.”
Late last month, Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises also announced its own domestic pivot (CW 22 Jul).
