- Royal Caribbean has delayed the announcement of his Australian deployments for the third time
- There is currently no set date, it is simply ‘to be decided’.
- The big question mark is whether Voyager of the Seas will return for a second season in Australia.
Royal Caribbean has delayed the release of Australian itineraries and ship deployments for the 2026/2027 season, raising questions over what ships will be coming to Australia.
It appears that Royal Caribbean is still trying to sort out its deployment, as forward booking schedules show Voyager of the Seas in both Los Angeles and Brisbane for the 2026/2027 season.
Royal Caribbean was originally going to release the dates in March, then in June, and now are left as ‘To be decided’.
The biggest clues will come in the week of February 17, when Royal Caribbean’s West Coast itineraries are revealed. If Voyager of the Seas is confirmed to be sailing in Los Angeles, then Aussies will be waiting to see what ship will replace Voyager as the Brisbane homeporting ship.
Australia currently has two Quantum Class ships sailing in Australia, but from next season will have just one Quantum Class ship and one Voyager Class ship, which is smaller and less modern.
If it does get revealed that Voyager won’t be returning, Aussie Royal Caribbean fans will be holding out hope that a bigger or newer ship is on its way.
It is expected than Anthem of the Seas will return to Australia for a second season, as it is already showing in forward bookings for Sydney cruise port and isn’t scheduled anywhere else. This seems to suggest that Anthem is a solid bet and the only question mark is over Voyager, however, nothing will be confirmed until Royal Caribbean makes an official announcement.
Cruise Passenger will be providing updates on this story.
I traveld with Royal Carebian many times and like it.
But, at age 95, I don’t like flying. Does anyone depart from Frementle?
I would be on it !!!
as a diamond plus member and have been loyal to royal,we have been on the quantum class ships like the ovation and the quantumn of the seas,ovation was the first,amazing spa junior suite, awesome,food,service,and just couldn’t falt it at all,quantum,on two ocasions my wife got covid,not very clean cabin full of dust,service and food poor,we always get the normal speel we apologize can we help,and then cruise credits,but nothing changes,as a guest i say to royal carribean,stop the gas lighting,get your act together,the ships that need to improve is,the brilliance,quantumn,voyager,the ships that are amazing are radiance,rhapsody,explorer,royal carribean have some wonderful staff,from the cabin staff to the bar staff and dining staff,but you have some that are letting the team down,words are cheap,actions mean something,but so far its just a lot of gas lighting,royal before covid you were amazing,now you are just another cruise line,wakeup.
Years ago RC boss in Sydney repeatedly stated the intention to have a year round sailing option from Australia and also an Oasis class ship in the region. Brisbane was the ideal port to do so for the proximity to warmer winter ports and the ability to berth Oasis class ships. When Voyager was announced it was widely tipped she would stay but that was not to be and the option for an Oasis ship vanished over time.
Sadly it seems RC is leaving Australia and Brisbane in the dark. Hopefully RC might give Australia some priority next time.
why not bring the anthum and the spectrum of the seas to australia,they are newer ships,and both have a good reputration,quantum is hopeless and ovation was really nice,we found the food and service on the quantum was very poor,we had an amazing cabin attendent,but some other staff on the ship just let others down,the dining needs to improve .
A few months back CEO Michael Bayley, suggested, when announcing a Quantum Class ship for LA he hinted at sending an Icon Class to LA in the future.
In July 2024, during a travel advisor event aboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, CEO Michael Bayley hinted at the possibility of deploying an Icon Class ship to Los Angeles. He emphasized that increased sales in the region could lead to the introduction of larger vessels, stating, “If you sell the hell out of this ship, we’ll send you an Icon.” This comment was made in the context of announcing that Ovation of the Seas would begin sailing from Los Angeles in May 2025.
Look at the launch timelines for Icon Class ships, If this is the case Ovation or Quantum could be freed up for a return to Australia, possible with an extended break between the 25/26 & 26/27 Australian seasons. Or (and Perhaps more far fetched) an announcement is also pending about Discovery class.
Strategically with the Carnival group fleet reduction in Australia, opportunities have certainly opened up for RC to take advantage of.