ROYAL Caribbean’s decision to deploy its brand new Ovation of the Seas in Australasian waters (CW breaking news) next year has been hailed across the industry. And in a stunning endorsement just hours after Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines regional vice president Gavin Smith made the announcement, Cruiseco confirmed it would...
ROYAL Caribbean’s decision to
deploy its brand new Ovation of
the Seas in Australasian waters
(CW breaking news) next year has
been hailed across the industry.
And in a stunning endorsement
just hours after Royal Caribbean
Cruise Lines regional vice
president Gavin Smith made
the announcement, Cruiseco
confirmed it would fully charter
the 4,950-passenger vessel on its
first voyage into Australia, from
Singapore to Sydney in Dec 2016.
Smith, who’s pictured below
with Royal Caribbean sales chief
Peter McCormack, told CW the
deployment is “the single largest
investment in Australia by any
cruise line.
“We believe that Australians
shouldn’t need to travel overseas
to experience the kind of cruise
holiday we stand for; the most
innovative and amazing ships
anywhere in the world are
available right here on your
doorstep,” he said.
Like sister ships Quantum of the
Seas and Anthem of the
Seas, Ovation features an
array of unique attractions
such as sky-diving at
sea, bumper cars, roller
skating, the “Bionic Bar”
with robot cocktail-
makers, and of course
the “North Star” aerial
observatory – which when
extended will reach higher
than the pylons on the Sydney Harbour Bridge (above).
High speed wi-fi will feature
on the ship, allowing guests to
remain connected with family
and friends on shore, and the
high-tech vessel uses electronic
wristband technology which does
away with the need to carry a
cabin key.
An on-board smartphone app
allows guests to book experiences
from their own device, including
booking at any of the 18 onboard
restaurants which include Jamie
Oliver’s “Jamie’s Italian”.
Five voyages will take place in
2016/17 and Smith said Royal
Caribbean would operate many
more if capacity during Sydney’s
busy peak cruise season allowed.
Bookings for Ovation’s inaugural
season in Australia are expected
to open late next month.
Smith said Royal Caribbean was
now working on 17/18 and 18/19
deployments, with intentions to
continue annual Quantum-class
summer deployments in Australia
for the foreseeable future.
