With the Prime Minister having just announced his phased plans to return to travelling which also affects cruising, but with no mention of cruising, Royal Caribbean International says that as international travel restrictions remain in place, it is hopeful that a pathway will soon be established to resume cruising locally, by announcing a new season of Australian domestic sailings on board Ovation of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean International says that Ovation of the Seas will sail from Sydney starting 13th Dec. 2021 through 31st March 2022 offering a mix of 2- to 10-night domestic sailings visiting some of the country’s most famous cities and regions.
Meanwhile over at competitor Carnival, they have some time ago, extended their temporary pause in operations for all P&O Cruises Australia ships for all departures on and before 17 December 2021 and have cancelled select itineraries departing in February 2022, with President Sture Myrmell saying it will be many months before we will see cruise ships in Australia!
So back to Royal Caribbean International, with domestic sailings onboard Ovation of the Seas sailing from Sydney starting 13 December 2021 through 31 March 2022 offering a mix of 2 to 10-night domestic sailings visiting some of the country’s most famous cities and regions. Looking Ahead in Australia
Ovation’s raft of short breaks and voyages feature 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, Port Douglas, Kangaroo Island, Airlie Beach, Cairns or Port Douglas, plus, enjoy scenic excursions of the Great Barrier Reef, Willis Island and the NSW South Coast.
Royal Caribbean International says that as one of the most technologically advanced ships in the 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, August 5.
Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean International said, “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”, adding, “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.”
Royal Caribbean International also says that because of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the opening of international borders and to ensure guests have peace of mind surrounding their holiday plans, it 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 of the Seas’ sailings from Sydney from 27 Oct. 2021 to 10 April 2022 inclusive, and Ovation will be redeployed to a domestic-only itinerary
Smith said, “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,” adding, “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.”
In the meantime Royal Caribbean International‘s summer 2022/2023 sailings remain open for bookings, with Quantum, Ovation and Radiance of the Seas returning to Australia to cruise across Australia, New Zealand and islands of the South Pacific, with Dave Humphreys, director of sales, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean International saying, “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”, adding, “We’ve seen strong interest in cruises on Quantum, which will homeport at Brisbane’s new state-of-the-art cruise terminal,” which cost $177 million was in mid-2020 and is planned to play a vital role in growing Queensland’s cruise industry by helping to showcase all that south-east Queensland has to offer.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor, Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.
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