Royal Caribbean have today announced that their upcoming ship, Ovation of the Seas, will homeport in Australia through the second half of her debut season of service. The Quantum Class ship, the most technologically-advanced vessels in operation, will become the largest cruise ship ever to call Australia home when it arrives in December 2016.
Spending the entire 2016/2017 season sailing out of Sydney, Ovation of the Seas will become the fifth ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to serve the Australian cruise market – demonstration of the growing influence of the region in the global cruise industry.
The ship will include a series of features unique to the Australian cruise market including a 300ft high observation pod and a skydiving simulator. The huge vessel will be capable of carrying almost 5,000 guests and 1,500 members of the crew.
Gavin Smith, regional vice president, Royal Caribbean, Asia Pacific, enthused: “Royal Caribbean has been breaking the boundaries in Australian cruising since we arrived in 2007 but today, we have completely changed the face of the cruise industry, making the single largest investment in Australia by any cruise line.
“While we’ve introduced many firsts to Australia, including the newest, largest and most modern megaliners with features like ice skating and surfing at sea, this is the very first time any cruise line in the world has homeported a brand new ship in Australia.
“We dream big at Royal Caribbean. We create the world’s most imaginative holidays and this has never been truer than for Quantum Class ships. Ovation of the Seas will completely redefine the idea of cruising in Australia, taking the industry to the next level by offering a host of incredible never-before-seen features and technologies.
“This demonstrates our belief in, and long term commitment to, the Australian cruising market. 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.
“With almost five thousand guests and 1500 crew on board, the arrival of Ovation of the Seas in Australia and New Zealand will deliver significant economic benefits at each of her ports of call.”
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Image sourced via Royal Caribbean Press Center. Credit: Royal Caribbean.
