It’s just weeks until Australia’s largest ship, Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas arrives in Sydney for her inaugural season.
On December 15, she will sail into Sydney Harbour and there has been much hype built around what has been hailed, as the southern hemisphere’s most technologically advanced ship.
In an interview with Cruise Passenger, Manager Director of Australia & New Zealand at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Adam Armstrong said the line is planning a massive celebration for her arrival.
“Ovation of the Seas will be sailing from Southeast Asia to Australia where there will be a number of events to celebrate her arrival. She’ll stop at ports like Fremantle in Western Australia as well as Hobart in Tasmania where Royal Caribbean has planned several media and travel agent events so people can see the ship,” he said.
“Then, when she arrives in Sydney on December 15, there will be a massive gala event when she finally docks at her home port – the Overseas Passenger Terminal. And we are now finalising the details of the gala, which we are extremely excited about.”
Mr Armstrong said he is excited to see the Aussie reaction to the ship after watching her evolve from the construction to sailing phases.
“I feel like she is our baby. While she is an international ship, Ovation of the Seas, I feel, is like Australia’s ship. I watched when Ovation of the Seas was just a few sheets of metal, to her christening in Beijing. And I can’t wait for Aussies to try her out.”
He also said that the line would be ‘Aussifying’ some aspects of the ship, particularly the menu.
“There will still Asian cuisine onboard, as she sails Singapore and China. But for the Australians, we will be introducing more meat and seafood to the menu as well as offering Australian and Kiwi wines. And of course, there will be Vegemite at breakfast!”
Ovation of the Seas’ inaugural season has sold out but there are cruises from and around Asia available. Alternatively, you can book a cruise during the 2017/18 wave season.
She will be sailing around Australia and New Zealand on a number of itineraries ranging from two to 12 nights.