Revealed: The two new Royal Caribbean ships coming to Australia

Royal Caribbean has listed Voyager of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas as new ships sailing out of Brisbane and Sydney.

While the line has been tight-lipped about what’s going to happen in season 2025/26, a search of the Royal Caribbean website shows Voyager of the Seas departing Brisbane and Anthem of the Seas departing Sydney.

Two itineraries were available on Royal Caribbean’s website, but have been promptly taken down. A nine-night South Pacific cruise on Anthem of the Seas and a four-night Queensland cruise on Voyager of the Seas, in March and February 2026 respectively.

Earlier this week, YouTube cruising couple, Deb & Matt Chat, currently onboard Quantum of the Seas, shared they were told by staff that Anthem and Voyager would be coming to Australia. They also spilled the beans on another big reveal.

The couple speculated that Royal Caribbean could be sailing year-round out of Brisbane from 2025/2026.

Fresh from a chat with the staff onboard, Matt says: “I am comfortable to put money on Royal Caribbean going from 2025/2026 year-round out of Brisbane. I am pretty, confident.

We could be wrong but it looks like the 2025/2026 will have Voyager and Anthem.”

Deb added: “We were given some soft acknowledgment of that.”

We put the couple’s coup to Royal Caribbean and are still waiting a response.

All will be officially revealed when Royal Caribbean announces their 2025/2026 Australian deployments on April 10, a press representative from the line said to Cruise Passenger.

Royal Caribbean though, did not confirm whether Anthem or Voyager would be sailing in Australia. Or if the line would be sailing year-round from Brisbane.

However, the couple do appear to be on the right track, with the Royal Caribbean website already shows scheduled local cruises for Anthem and Voyager in 2026, but no destinations.

A screen shot of the Royal Caribbean website listing the two ships, Anthem and Voyager.
A screenshot of the Royal Caribbean website listing the two ships, Anthem and Voyager, under departures from Sydney and Brisbane.

What we know so far

Currently, Royal Caribbean’s local upcoming seasons have had big question marks over what or how many ships are sailing our waters. Quantum and Ovation are currently sailing here, but have different deployments listed for 2025/2026. That leaves Aussie cruisers wondering as to which ships will be sailing here.

Some loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers have felt the line is neglecting Aussie cruising. However, if the rumours surrounding the year-round deployment in Brisbane are true, these worries would be dispelled.

Royal Caribbean has never sailed year-round in Australia. It would also be a significant milestone for the local cruise industry. It would also acknowledge the success of the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.

Progress on the private island of Lelepa

Deb and Matt were told that work is also progressing on Lelepa, Royal Caribbean’s private island in Vanuatu. While Royal Caribbean has Perfect Day in CocoCay in the Caribbean, Lelepa is set to become the Pacific equivalent.

The day club is proposed to open for up to 4500 passengers per day to begin. The couple were told staff familiarisation trips have already begun, with construction already having begun on the island.

Voyager and Anthem

Voyager of the Seas looks a possibility for Australian waters, with no sailings scheduled past October 2025. The ship will be sailing in the Mediterranean until then, creating an interesting repositioning cruise if it were to redirect to Australia.

Voyager started sailing in 1999, leading Royal Caribbean’s Voyager Class ships. The ship takes 3602 guests across 15 decks.

Anthem of the Seas is more modern, starting its sailings in 2013, as part of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships. Anthem has scheduled sailings up until September 2025 in Alaska, leaving it open to potentially pivot to Australia for the 2025/2026 season.

First pictures: Voyager of the Seas unveils new look
Voyager of the Seas in Singapore.

22 thoughts on “Revealed: The two new Royal Caribbean ships coming to Australia”

  1. Once again royal puts Australian cruises last. For years there has been talk of an Oasis class ship coming to Australia, instead Brisbane gets dumped with a ship built in 1999. Done 12 cruises the worst I ever did was on a voyager class!! The older radiance class is better than Voyager. Common Royal show some respect to Australian cruisers!!

  2. We were told by one of the RCI cruise directors before COVID hit that RCCL were planning to sail all year round from Australia. He also told us that their new island on Vanuatu would be opening in about 12 months.
    Unfortunately COVID must have delayed their plans so it’s good to know that everything is back on the drawing board again.

  3. The issue RCCL face is that while the bigger newer ships can berth at Brisbane and Sydney (if they can get a slot there!), but they struggle for ports of call that can accommodate them elsewhere so a lot of port calls are tender only. Thats problematic when you have to offload and reload 4000 passengers on tenders that hold 100 at a time…

  4. When is Australia going to get an Oasis Class ship? I know for a fact that Vanuatu, mainly Port Villa, has been measured to take these size ships, we just need a dedicated port to take them. Let’s look outside the box we have had enough Quantum Class ships out here, even though I will be booking on Anthem next season.

  5. Will the oasis class of royal caribbean cruise ships come to Australia or is it limited to the size of quantum class ships.

  6. I just watched the YouTube video of the voyager of the seas, i’m so disappointed, looks dated, main areas are awful, reviews of food are 2/5 not a good replacement of the beautiful Quantum

  7. This is what I’m wanting to know so if Royal Caribbean proposes all year round cruising from Brisbane for the 2025/26 cruise season and all year round. What would that mean for celebrity Cruises which is also owned by Royal Caribbean

  8. Post covid Australia now gets treated poorly in the number of ships and different itineraries by Royal. Despite it being Alaska and Europe off-season, the Wonder and new Icon available. Australians sailing in high numbers, with a lot of first time cruisers. Sadly there will only be 2 ships operating out of Australian for 24-25 and it appears the same for 25-26. Doesn’t make sense, considering they have a 3rd ship Brilliance for 23-24, that will not be back or replaced.

  9. As someone who only discovered the joy of cruising since everything reopened after covid, I am going to be so sad if we get Voyager out of Brisbane! Quantum was my first (and only) ship and I love her so much, the idea of going on a much smaller, dated ship with less to offer seems so backwards to me.

    As stated, the new terminal out of Brisbane is a hit (albeit we desperately need transport options other than taxis and ubers) and it can handle the bigger ships, so why bring in a smaller one?

    I know it can navigate to ports more easily, but I couldn’t imagine doing 14 nights on a Voyager class. Unless the prices are alot cheaper than they are on Quantum I fail to see the appeal. I know the staff and food will be lovely, but the lack of space and activities as a young, child free adult really puts a damper on the thought.

    And I have 0 problems with kids on board, I honestly love seeing the families and how much fun they have too, that’s what’s so great about Royal – it really caters to everyone! But I just don’t see how Voyager will have the space, even the Solarium is minuscule in comparison to Quantum and it was hard to find spa or pool space on her most days!

    Sorry for the rant I’m just really passionate and disappointed. I’m happy to get a new ship out of Brisbane but I don’t see how downgrading is a good option. And I can’t even imagine trying to go to New Zealand on Voyager, if Quantum was rough than I imagine it’ll feel like sailing through a washing machine!

  10. Love the Voyager class. They have a promenade, perfect for the Aussie way of life and party attitude on ships with still plenty of quiet areas for those stick in the muds that want a quiet cruise.

    Not fussed on Quantum Class to convoluted and terrible for party nights and parades.

    Would prefer the Freedom class though (Voyager on Steroids)

    Can’t wait

  11. RC needs to expand it’s port options similar to PO. There are many fantastic locations to cruise to in South Pacific. In 2020 senior RC maanagement were quoted about an Oasis class ship for Bris. Where has this plan evaporated to RC ????? IF Voyager stays year round in Brisbane this would be some small compensation but if just doing 3 island pots like Quantum it would soon run out of return cruisers. Hope RC staff are reading all comments.

  12. I would rather have Voyager of the Seas come back to Sydney.
    It has waterslides for the kids, mini golf, rock climbing, more pools and other good activities for us young families with children.

    Yes Ovation is newer but most of the items on the ship are for the older kids to use.

  13. They need to bring a different style ship anthem is the same as ovation.

    I’m sick of the same ship after doing 8 cruises on it

  14. I was on Voyager years ago when it was sailing out of Sydney, the food was absolutely disgusting. Main course, sux pieces of calamari served on cut up iceberg lettuce. Another night lamb chop with congealed gravy. A big disappointment as we had not long returned from an RCI cruise around Caribbean which had fabulous food. Terrible ship.

  15. Talking about cruising out of Brisbane,The new terminal is a great facility,But the location is terrible with no public transport and very difficult to get to, The government has to improve this situation ASAP.

  16. Bring voyager back to Sydney I love this line and explorer. I rather these ships then ovaition come to Sydney

  17. Was not the Legend of the Seas based in Brisbane year round a few years ago until they sold it to Tui cruises?

  18. Voyager was the first of RCL’s Voyager class to sail in Australia, so it’s a return for her.

    If Anthem comes across, we’ll have had 3 of their newer Quantum class here, which is more than any of their other classes.

  19. Yes I agree also with the itinerary. It needs to be expanded. We have Papua above us, local islands in the north and lower reef, Norfolk and Lord Howe Island and the Solomon Islands. Can they not take the amount of people?

  20. Why is it that Australia; in particular Brisbane, gets the oldest class of ships. Especially when we hear and see how successful the QLD port is with Year round cruising possible (apart from the odd cyclone or storm). I am point this direct at Royal Caribbean, NCL, HAL and Princess. I mean Voyager 1999??

  21. The deployment of Voyager of the Seas to Brisbane represents a significant backward step by RCCL. It is much older than Quantum and quite rundown by comparison. I agree with others that RCCL is neglecting Aussie cruisers. So much so that we’ve decided to only book Celebrity for the foreseeable future.

  22. I welcome Voyager coming to Australia. We were meant to go on Voyager in January 2021 for our son’s 21st, but we all know what happened in 2021. However Anthem is just another Quantum class ship similar to Ovation and Quantum, both of which we have sailed on already. Plus it appears to be the same boring South Pacific itinerary visiting only Port Vila, Mystery Island (if you get to disembark, we didn’t), and Noumea, where every South Pacific cruise stops.

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