- Royal Caribbean is surveying its Australian guests on how appealing certain cruise ports are to them.
- Ports mentioned in the survey include Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Raiatea in French Polynesia, Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, and more.
- This could potentially be linked to the uncertain situation in New Caledonia.
Royal Caribbean has been sending out surveys to Australian cruisers, with a list of different ports, asking cruisers how appealing they find those particular ports. The listed ports include some that the cruise lines already visit or has visited before, and some others that would be new for Royal Caribbean.
The ports that one cruiser was asked to give their opinion on are Noumea in New Caledonia, Bora Bora in French Polynesia, Port Vila in Vanuatu, Suva in Fiji, Lenakel in Vanuatu, Mare in New Caledonia, Raiatea in French Polynesia, Isle of Pines in New Caledonia, Lelepa in Vanuatu and Vavau in Tonga.
However, other cruisers have reported receiving similar emails but with different ports listed in the survey, including other ports in the South Pacific and even some in New Zealand.
The news that Royal Caribbean is surveying new ports for its Australian cruisers comes at a welcome time. In July this year Cruise Passenger published an article on Australians becoming bored with repetitive cruise itineraries and received a massive response. Both Australian cruisers and travel agents were calling for a great variety in cruise itineraries.
This was particularly in reference to South Pacific itineraries that have had a strong focus on New Caledonia in recent years, with regular cruisers reporting things like having been to Noumea six times just in 18 months.
Previously Royal Caribbean has sailed a wider variety of Pacific itineraries from Australia, with visits to Fiji, French Polynesia and more, however, since the pandemic sailings have been more focused around New Caledonia. In New Caledonia, Noumea often proves to be a divisive port, with many Australians growing tired of it or finding it an underwhelming place to visit.
However, these surveys appear to show that Royal Caribbean has heard this feedback, and are looking at designing some new itineraries for its cruises out of Australia.
What are people saying about the possible new ports?
Royal Caribbean cruisers feel positive about the possible new ports, with the possibility of moving away from the typical, ‘copy-paste’ itineraries.
Jo Espey wrote: “Would be nice if RCI would move away from the bland copy/paste itineraries of Vanuatu/New Caledonia and venture further to Tonga, Fiji and dare I dream of a round trip to French Polynesia?”
Other cruisers feel nostalgia for previous Royal Caribbean destinations and would be thrilled to see them come back.
Jenny Petkevicius wrote: “I miss Isle of Pines so much, that has been my favourite so far. Definitely need new destinations, I’ve been cruising the South Pacific since 2005 and I’m kinda over the ‘same same’ ports.”
Sean Steele says he’d be keen on cruises to French Polynesia.
“Cruise from Australia to French Polynesia and return would be amazing. But stopping at the 3 ports there not just Raiatea.
“Needs to include Papette and Moorea. Would be an amazing cruise if done at the right time of year.”
Ryal Lissner wrote: “I received this survey also, but with some different ports, e.g. Tonga but not Fiji, Lifou and Isle of Pines but not Mare, Moorea but not Raiatea. It’d be fantastic to see some longer South Pacific itineraries. Even a one-way Transpacific via Fiji and Tonga.”
Other cruisers are more pessimitic, having recived similar surveys in the past but not noticed a change in itineraries.
“Ive gotten these surveys before. Despite wishing for some longer South Pacific cruises to places farther afield, It will still be the same old same old.”
Could this be due to the situation in Noumea?
The country of New Caledonia has been undergoing a period of civil unrest, with much of this unrest focused in the capital, Noumea. Noumea is also an extremely common cruise stop.
The Smart Traveller warning for New Caledonia is “reconsider your need to travel”, due to “political tensions and unrest may increase at short notice.”
After a break, cruise ships have already begun visiting Noumea and New Caledonia again, and no guests have reported any issues when getting off the ship. However, the unrest remains ongoing and this could be a factor in Royal Caribbean wanting to explore other destinations.
What’s happening with Lelepa?
Previously, Royal Caribbean had announced it would be bringing its PerfectDay experience to the South Pacific, to Lelepa in Vanuatu. The PerfectDay experience currently exists at CocoCay in the Caribbean and involves an island completely private to Royal Caribbean customers.
However, it was quietly revealed a few months ago that Lelepa won’t be getting a PerfectDay experience, but that Royal Caribbean still has plans to build an exclusive beach resort on the island. It currently has an unofficial timeline of opening in 2027.
Royal Caribbean announced there will instead be a new PerfectDay experience in Mexico, to which the cruise line is currently investing significant amounts of money.
Royal Caribbean Australian cruisers were also surveyed a few months ago by the cruise line about features they’d enjoy at an exclusive destination, so it’s likely the Lelepa development is still in the planning stages.
Lelepa was also one of the ports listed in the most recent port surveys, indicating Royal Caribbean are still looking to gauge interest on the destination in general.
Sydney, Airley Beach, Cairns, Yorkey Knob, Darwin, Broom, Perth, Esperance, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney
Different cruising ports — maybe Tassie, SA and Victoria
i would like to go on a royal carribean cruise but since i use a wheelie walker i would like more accessible ports to cruise to the islands from sydney
I totally agree. As a single traveler that would prompt me to travel more. Thank you.
If you look at the P&O/Carnival port options you will find a much wider variety of ports in the Pacific/Asian region. I cannot understand why RC does not follow a similar model. As we love cruising we have booked trips now on P&O to Tonga, Singapore, PNG and Norfolk for 2025/26 where RC will not go, so lost opportunities.
As a Diamond RC person, I currently have some NextCruise bookings to settle on and the options are very limited from Brisbane. We always enjoy Vila and have our secret spot outside town to return to but we do miss places like Isle of Pines and Fiji which are currently dropped.
If RC is to expand a Tahiti/Hawaii extended stay round trip would be great as would one or two longer voyages to the north ie PNG; Indonesia; even Hong Kong or Japan. I know RC focus on shorter voyages but its time to mix it up.
I, like many others are also very unhappy to see Voyager is NOT staying year round in Brisbane according to the RC web site. The long-promised never delivered year-round deployment would see RC have the ability to expand their offerings. As it stands now one only has the option of P&O/Carnival Encounter in the winter months. Not to say the Encounter is a bad ship – it’s not. In fact just the opposite, but a second option would be nice. Heading north is great this time of year – no cyclones and nice weather.
One can only hope RC considered all the options.
I read that wonder of the seas was coming to Australia and then they changed it and sent Anthem of the seas instead. Woukd love one of the newer ships to come down under .
I have been cruising for53 years a cruise to Adelaide to Bali and Singapore, Bangkok and return to Adelaide once a year would be refreshing
It’s interesting to see some of the suggestions for ports in the comments. The fact is distance plays a significant role in which countries can be reached within the typical 1-2 week cruise out of Sydney or Brisbane.
There is a reason ships go to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand – they are 2-3 days sail each way from Australia. Fiji is an additional 2-3 days, and Tonga, Tahiti and Samoa, about 5 days. These ports are often visited on transpacific repositioning cruises, but would need 3-4 week cruises return to Australia.
Similarly, cruises to Asia from Sydney or Brisbane require at least a week to get to Indonesia, Japan or Singapore, so a return cruise would be 3+ weeks.
There are currently cruises that do something like this, but most people would do one direction and fly back, unless they are able to cruise for at least three weeks or more.
How about a return trip to Southeast Asia? Overnight stay in two to three ports like in Manila, Bangkok, and Ho Chi- Minh.
Most Australian cruises just keep going to the same places over and over again. N.Z. & Pacific. Like to see return trips to China, Japan Africa America etc . Not New Guinea.
Wowe ! Even New Zealand !!
How about that ! and how about thinking about your loyal New Zealand customers in these surveys ?
And how about making NZ a departure port as your heading to Bora Bora ? I get sick and tired having to fly the Tasman ( there and back ) to do a cruise with RCL my favourit cruise line .
Yes please more places in South Pacific!!!
But particularly I’d like A cruise company like Royal Caribbean to have cruises leave from Auckland!!
That would be sooooo good and not have to fly internationally to get on a cruise.
We love Royal Caribbean
My husband and I loved cruising, it was our favourite type of holiday. Sadly my husband recently passed away, and in my mind so did my future holiday enjoyment. I’m still young enough to holiday, but most cruises do not cater for solo cruisers, or get charged double. As cruising would be a safer option for a solo female travellers, I would like to see more cruises for people in my situation.