Royal Caribbean's third Quantum-class ship to sail cruises from the port of Sydney
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Royal Caribbean International’s Ovation of the Seas is to homeport in Sydney, Australia, in winter 2016-2017.
Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft yard in Germany, the line’s third Quantum-class ship is due to launch in April 2016 and will be the largest ship to homeport in Australia to date, as well as the most technologically advanced.
Ovation of the Seas will join Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas in Sydney in winter 2016-2017. Legend of the Seas will be based in Brisbane during the same period, taking the Australia-based Royal Caribbean fleet to five ships.
“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,” said Gavin Smith, regional vice president of Royal Caribbean, Asia Pacific. “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.”
Royal Caribbean has also revealed that Ovation of the Seas will sail an inaugural 52-night Global Odyssey cruise from the Port of Southampton in the UK after her April 2016 launch. The ship will head to Tianjin in China, where she will homeport and offer a series of cruises to destinations in Asia.
Joining Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, the newbuild will be the fifth Royal Caribbean ship sailing in the region. Together, the five ships will comprise the largest fleet deployment for any cruise brand in the region and primarily sail three- to 12-night itineraries to destinations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The 167,800gt Ovation of the Seas will have 16 guest decks and be able to accommodate 4,180 passengers at double occupancy. The vessel will also feature the cruise line’s largest staterooms, including the industry’s first cabins with Virtual Balconies, which offer guests in interior staterooms real-time views of the ocean.
In addition, Ovation of the Seas will offer a series of ‘first-at-sea’ onboard experiences including the new Bionic Bar where guests can place orders via tablets and then watch robotic arms mix their drinks; the Ripcord by iFly skydiving experience; SeaPlex, the largest indoor active space at sea; Two70°, which spans three decks at the stern of the ship; and North Star, a glass pod that extends more than 300 ft above the ship.
Guests can also enjoy the Dynamic Dining concept, which comprises 18 restaurant concepts and speciality restaurants created with partner-chefs Jamie Oliver, Devin Alexander and Michael Schwartz.
“I’m super-excited that Ovation of the Seas will be sailing out of Australia and with a Jamie’s Italian onboard,” said Oliver. “This will be our third restaurant with Royal Caribbean, and it’s been a real honour to work with the team. The response we’ve had to Quantum of the Seas – our first restaurant at sea – has been brilliant, so it just makes me even more excited for this one to open.”