Royal Caribbean International today announced the cruise line’s 2011-12 Australia and South Pacific cruises and cruisetour season. Radiance of the Seas will debut at Sydney, joining Rhapsody of the Seas for the winter and doubling Royal Caribbean’s capacity in the region. Both ships will reposition from Alaska and offer a total of 29 sailings, comprising 13 unique itineraries that range from two- to 18-night cruises and call at 50 ports in nine countries. Additionally, vacationers can choose from 19 escorted Royal Caribbean cruisetours for a more immersive Australia and New Zealand vacation. Bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2011-12 Australia and South Pacific cruises and cruisetour land packages open today.
“Royal Caribbean’s new range of Australia and New Zealand cruises and cruisetour land packages offer exciting vacation choices for families and adventurous couples,” said Betsy O’Rourke, senior vice president of Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests of all ages will enjoy a memorable vacation aboard the region’s most innovative cruise ships and enjoy the Royal treatment, delivered by our friendly and engaging staff and crew. Additionally, Royal Caribbean’s cruisetour land packages offer compelling itineraries that take guests to the most renowned sites of Australia and New Zealand.”
Ranging from 12 to 23 nights, Royal Caribbean’s Australia cruisetours offer a most memorable Outback adventure by combining a voyage aboard Radiance of the Seas or Rhapsody of the Seas with a pre- or post-cruise land tour to popular destinations in Australia or New Zealand. All Royal Caribbean cruisetours are escorted by a Tour Director who specializes in the region and includes guests’ transportation, hotel accommodations, certain activities and some meals for an exciting, stress-free vacation, where Royal Caribbean takes care of all the planning and reservations.
Australia and New Zealand also offer guests a wide variety of shore excursions that appeal to every taste and style. Guests can climb Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to see the city from a different perspective on “Sydney Bridgeclimb & Rocks,” or snorkel in the world’s largest reef system on “Great Barrier Reef” from Cairns. And in Melbourne, guests would be remiss to pass up an opportunity to observe Australia’s iconic wildlife in their natural setting on “Kangaroos & Koalas – In the Australian Bush.” At Dunedin, “Queenstown Overnight” is packed with breathtaking scenery and opportunities to experience New Zealand’s culture and delicious food and wines, while oenophiles can sample New Zealand’s top rated vintages in Napier on “Wineries of Hawkes Bay.”
Radiance of the Seas will offer vacationers a wide array of Australia and New Zealand itineraries, ranging in length from two to 18 nights, departing mostly from Sydney. Vacationers can choose among four sailings to explore New Zealand on 14-night itineraries that cruise Milford, Doubtful and Dusky sounds and call at seven New Zealand ports, concluding with an overnight at Sydney. Radiance of the Seas also will offer vacationers two opportunities to circumnavigate the Australian continent, by combining a new 16-night westbound voyage to Perth (Fremantle) with a new 18-night southern return voyage to Sydney via New Zealand. Theship will make maiden calls at Esperance and Geraldton on this 34-night Australia odyssey. Additionally, a new two-night Weekend Getaway itinerary, sailing on November 18, 2011, will offer regional vacationers a chance to sample a Radiance-class cruise, while a seven-night Tasmania itinerary, sailing on February 12, 2012, will overnight at Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania, for guests to take in the nightlife.
Rhapsody of the Seas, for its part, will return to its seasonal homeport of Sydney to offer seven- to 12-night roundtrip itineraries in the South Pacific, which include maiden calls at Apia, Samoa; Denarau, Fiji; and Pago Pago, American Samoa. Vacationers also can take advantage of four 11-night Queensland itinerary sailings that are only available aboard Rhapsody of the Seas. Additionally, a new three-night Sampler itinerary will be offered twice to vacationers looking for a short cruise getaway.
Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas are both appointed with multi-deck, dazzling glass windows, affording guests sweeping vistas of the landscape as it unfolds. Guests can race to the top of the ships’ iconic rock-climbing walls for an even more thrilling view from the ship’s highest point or enjoy a variety of rejuvenating spa treatments in the Day Spa. Younger guests will be entertained and enlightened in the cruise line’s award-winning Adventure Ocean and teen programs, with scheduled activities led by a college-graduate counselor beginning from 9 to 2 a.m. In the evenings, guests can enjoy the Royal Caribbean Productions’ award-winning Broadway-style musical revues, and recount the day’s experiences in multiple onboard bars and lounges over cocktails.
