| RCI to spruce up three ships

ROYAL Caribbean’s Sydney-based ship Ovation of the Seas (pictured) will be among the next three ships in the cruise line’s fleet to undergo “amplification”, with a variety of new features to be introduced.

Building on the success of similar upgrades added to Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s jazz-up program will see a revamped pool deck introduced, complete with private cabanas and a new whirlpool.

Poolside dining will also be enhanced with the Pesky Parrott tiki bar, previously a feature on Oasis-class ships.

Beyond the top deck, Ovation’s f&b improvements will include the Tuscan flair of Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, while an exciting new teppanyaki experience will be introduced at Izumi.

After-dinner entertainment will see the new Sound Cellar nightclub added, along with an expanded gaming line-up at Casino Royale.

Ovation will return to Australia in her current form for the 2025/26 summer, following her inaugural season cruising from Los Angeles (CW 11 Jun).

She will then enter dry dock for her amplification in Q2 of 2026.

“After seeing incredible success and guest satisfaction with the amplification of Allure of the Seas, we’re excited to bring three new amplifications to our fleet in 2026,” Royal Caribbean Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said.

Similar works will be carried out to Harmony of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, with the former welcoming a Caribbean-inspired pool deck and a reworked adults solarium, among a host of new dining and entertainment features.

Headlining the upgrades on Liberty be an all-new Royal Escape Room activity along with a new Starbucks coffee shop. ML