What’s new for Aussies on Ovation of the Seas – the return of an old favourite

• Ovation of the Seas is coming back to Australia and it’ll look very different than it did before.
• The ship has gone through a ‘Royal Amplification’ and is now equipped with a whole new range of venues, restaurants and more.
• Here’s what to expect when she returns to Australia for the 2027/28 season.

Last week Royal Caribbean revealed that Ovation of the Seas would be returning to Australia for the 2027/28 season, in what came as very welcome news for Aussies. 

This not only means once again having two Quantum-class ships in Australia, as Ovation will sail out of Brisbane and Anthem of the Seas out of Sydney, but also means something new for Aussies. Ovation has had more than just a basic dry-dock maintenance, but rather a full renovation with new venues, restaurants and revamped spaces. 

Ovation of the Seas was upgraded as part of Royal Caribbean’s ‘Royal Amplification’ program, which has been rolling out on various ships across the fleet, and signifies more substantial changes to a ship. The upgrades include many new venues and features that until now have only been on newer ships, such as those of the Icon and Oasis classes.

Ovation was already a favourite ship for many Aussies, so getting to see a revamped version returning to Australia will be an exciting moment for many.

It’s not too often that new ships come to Australia, but sometimes a well-done refurbishment can be just as good, and Cruise Passenger will be the first to bring you the reviews when Ovation rolls back into Brisbane. 

For now, here’s some of the changes you should expect when she returns.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen

Giovanni’s will take the spot of Jamie’s Italy, with a slightly different take on Italian dining. Here you can get classic wood-fired pizzas as well as all the other Italian favourites you’d expect, like lasagnas, local wines, pastas, salads and more.

This is a specialty restaurant, not included in your fare.

Izumi Teppanyaki

Taking over Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine is this Royal Caribbean favourite, specialising in teppanyaki-style meals. The chefs will prepare your food right in front of you, so you can see your steak and shrimp, lobster, scallops, wagyu beef or whatever else being sizzled up right by your side. 

Similarly, this is a specialty restaurant, meaning you’ll have to pay extra to enjoy it.

The Pesky Parrot 

Taking over where the Bionic Bar was will be something a bit more lively and fun. The Pesky Parrot brings more of a Caribbean and tiki feel to Ovation of the Seas. 

Here you can enjoy all sorts of frozen drinks, rum mixed with fruits, classic tequila and gin cocktails and more. It’s known as a speedy place to get a drink so you can always expect plenty of atmosphere and it’s a classic for an afternoon or early night cocktail before heading out for a dance. 

You’ll also to get to interact with the animatronic Pesky Parrot himself.

Starbucks 

Ovation of the Seas will now have a decked-out Starbucks, as is found on Oasis and Icon class vessels. Here you can expect all the signature drinks and nibbles of Starbucks. If you use the Starbucks app, you can use it at sea as well to search for promos or discounts.

The catch is that the Starbucks beverages aren’t included, generally not even in a drinks package.

Casino expansion

After the ‘Royal Amplification’ of Ovation, casino players will have a bit more room to move as the casino has been expanded. The size of the game floor is almost doubled as the casino has taken over where the music hall used to be on deck three. 

There’s also a special part of the casino just for non-smokers, who may not enjoy the cigarette smoke in other parts of the casino.

You can expect to find various new machines and games as well as refreshed furnishings and decorations.

Sound Cellar 

The Sound Cellar will be new to Ovation of the Seas, and as the name suggests, it focuses on live shows and dance music, with an emphasis on an immersive and high tech sound system. 

You can expect dance music playing until late in the night, with light shows to match. 

Earlier in the night you’ll often catch the house band playing familiar classics and it’s a great place to grab a more upscale and sophisticated cocktail.

New pool deck 

The pool deck has been refreshed with a more ‘tropical style’, including ‘casitas’ which can be rented to enjoy some cool and shade while sitting by the pool. 

There’s also a new whirlpool to be enjoyed, and in general the space has been reworked and refurbished. 

You can expect something a bit more vibrant than before, but still with options for relaxation. 

New cabins and suites

The ship has about 40 new staterooms after the dry dock, which have replaced some old spaces such as the conference rooms.

There are also some new suites, such as the massive Ultimate Family Suite, a multi-level suite which features up to 11 guests at once.

There are also updated and expanded suite perks, so make sure you have a close read when booking your cabin.

Other changes

The fun of a big ship refurbishment like this is that you’ll notice changes all over the ship. All sorts of spaces have been shuffled around, and plenty of maintenance has been performed as well.

For the Aussies who have been sailing on Ovation of the Seas for years, you can expect to discover all sorts of tweaks as you go exploring the ship.

Find out more here.