Royal Caribbean to deploy Radiance of the Seas down under

[Oxymoron]

just don't spill the rum! :D

[lizzy77]

Yes bring the ship Downunder and lets hope it sails out of Melbourne:D:D

Jillybean does the ship have those wonderful corner/aft balconies?? Another secret????

[villauk]

I've been reading this thread with interest, hoping that Radiance would be cruising Australia by the end of 2010. She is a beautiful ship, we cruised on her last August in Alaska and didn't have any issues with the plumbing. Unfortunately, we're visiting Australia next April (2011), so we'll just miss having the opportunity to travel on her again:(. In fact, we're having great difficulty finding any ship itineraries around Oz available in April (presume it's the end of the season for most companies)? P&O have a cruise around Queensland(that you can only book if you're an Australian resident????), but the ships appear to be older with fewer facilities than RCI? I'm sure you'll love Radiance 'down under':).

[wfgm]

Looks like it's not only Princess and P&O that think Australians don't know any better and send their old ships to cruise here, How are these mega liners going to fit under the bridge and beth at the supposed new terminal at White Bay

[cruisin-m]

Looks like it's not only Princess and P&O that think Australians don't know any better and send their old ships to cruise here, How are these mega liners going to fit under the bridge and beth at the supposed new terminal at White Bay

 

 

True! But this ones practically a baby compared to everything else on offer :p Pretty sure its the newest ship to 'homeport' Sydney or Aus in general. haha Besides the really new ships are too un ship like for me if that makes sense, want it to feel like a cruise not like im in a shopping mall.

 

They'l just berth at OPT like all ships that can't fit under do I'd say

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

Yes bring the ship Downunder and lets hope it sails out of Melbourne:D:D

Jillybean does the ship have those wonderful corner/aft balconies?? Another secret????

 

 

Hi Lizzy, this ship has many secrets ;) and many balcony staterooms, not many inside cabins.

 

Jillybean:)

[broberts]

Looks like it's not only Princess and P&O that think Australians don't know any better and send their old ships to cruise here, How are these mega liners going to fit under the bridge and beth at the supposed new terminal at White Bay

 

Hard to have it both ways. If you want new ships they are not going to fit under the bridge. Besides, 9 years old for a ship isn't really that old.

[Ausgirl]

Hard to have it both ways. If you want new ships they are not going to fit under the bridge. Besides, 9 years old for a ship isn't really that old.

 

The newer bigger ships could still berth at the Overseas Paasenger Terminal and not have to get under the bridge.

[Gaznjo]

...as for public toilets being closed during a Noro outbreak...it is a precaution to prevent those idiots who wont stay in their cabins while they are unwell..giving it to the rest of us.:mad:

 

 

yeah but the toilets were closed before the noro even started :eek:

[The Fox]

yeah but the toilets were closed before the noro even started :eek:

 

 

Hi Joanne,

 

On our Rhapsody cruise in december we noticed that a lot of the hand sanitzers were missing.Me being a sticky beak ...had to ask the question.......The answer was.....since they took them out of the toilets...the rate of noro reduced dramatically.The reason being that pax were using the sanitzer and not washing their hands....kina makes sense.

 

 

Col:)

[raringtogo]

Well thats the best news, hope the ports are the South pacific and NOT NZ. We will be on it for sure !!! YAy

 

 

i hope they're not the Pacific and NOT NZ - somewhere new and totally different would be so wonderful- how many ships and how many times can we all go to those same ports- i love the pacific ports but 3 pacific cruises in the last 7 years is enough for us

 

I wonder if we might see one of these ships based in Melbourne?

 

Sydney harbour must surely have enough ships visiting now???

 

It would be SO amazing to have an RCI ship leaving from Melbourne- fingers crossed...I think we deserve it ;)

[The_Big_M]

i hope they're not the Pacific and NOT NZ - somewhere new and totally different would be so wonderful- how many ships and how many times can we all go to those same ports- i love the pacific ports but 3 pacific cruises in the last 7 years is enough for us

 

They also have coastal/QLD/Tas cruises. Where do you suggest for totally new though?

[raringtogo]

They also have coastal/QLD/Tas cruises. Where do you suggest for totally new though?

 

 

maybe to the tahitian isles or rarotonga- nui - tonga. (just to clarify- I meant not Noumea, Vila, Ouvea, Isle des Pins etc.,)

 

maybe to the USA return (not Hawaii-) maybe a couple of return trips per season - not just once when it arrives and the return journey when it goes back to the other side at the end of the season.

 

 

I just think any different itineraries to what we've already got an abundance of would be good...I've been around the coast of Oz on Princess, and to NZ and to the Pacific Islands and I would so much love to try Radiance, but, the itinerary has GOT to be something new, otherwise we had already decided that it will be time to go further afield for our cruise-fix from next year.

[johndon]

When the only choice we have for cruises based in Australia are the "older, worn out ships" from the Carribean and Alaska cruise areas it is pretty pathetic. It is not that we dont care; it is because we dont have a choice. All of the cruise lines send their older ships "down under" when they are too old for the Northern hemisphere market. Market volume also has something to do with it and we in Australia just dont have the sheer numbers of USA and Europe.

 

Johndon

[raringtogo]

When the only choice we have for cruises based in Australia are the "older, worn out ships" from the Carribean and Alaska cruise areas it is pretty pathetic. It is not that we dont care; it is because we dont have a choice. All of the cruise lines send their older ships "down under" when they are too old for the Northern hemisphere market. Market volume also has something to do with it and we in Australia just dont have the sheer numbers of USA and Europe.

 

Johndon

 

 

yeh- it SUCKS!!! we are a growing market but we are still so far down the scale regards to shear numbers. We were so lucky to see Diamond & Sapphire Princesses and we took advantage of that immediately- it was the most amazing and wonderful experience..what a ship:) !

[Australian family]

Extract from Cruise Weekly:

 

Sydney is set to be the

homeport for a second Royal

Caribbean ship – the newest,

largest, fastest superliner ever

to be based in Australia.

 

RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS’ BIG SISTER RADIANCE OF

the Seas is planning to spend six months

here from next year, effectively bringing

Australia’s cruising into the 21st century.

Built in 2001, Radiance will be the most

modern cruise ship ever based in Australian

waters, when she arrives in October 2011.

The 2100-passenger, 293-metre long

superliner will offer voyages departing from

Sydney to ports around Australia, New

Zealand and the South Pacific.

Radiance of the Seas shares some features

with Rhapsody, such as a rockclimbing wall,

adults-only indoor pool and waterfall, day

spa, gym, casino and theatre – plus several

special extras including a third pool, kids’

waterslide, cinema, basketball court, minigolf,

five restaurants and a nine-deck atrium

with glass lifts facing the sea.

Announcing the news last week, Gavin

Smith, managing director of Royal

Caribbean Cruises Australia, said Radiance

was “newer, taller, faster, more

environmentally friendly… and has the

largest cabins cruising in the region”.

More than half of guest cabins have a

balcony, and three-quarters have an ocean

view.

Smith confirmed that fares on the new

ship would be “about the same” as for

Rhapsody.

“We have between 30 and 40 grades of

accommodation and we will have parity on

like-for-like grades,” he said.

“I believe the Australian market is

really looking for a greater choice

in cruises...”

Smith said the move demonstrated the

increased demand from Australians as well

as American, European and Asian visitors to

experience cruising in this region.

“I believe the Australian market is really

looking for a greater choice in cruises, and

our expansion will set a new standard in the

expectations of Australians in what they

want from their cruise holiday,” he said.

The two vessels will be homeported in

Sydney from mid-October 2011 until April

2012, with fares and itineraries to be

released on 30 March 2010.

 

 

[Australian family]

Also an interesting comment from the editor of cruise weekly:

 

After decades of refurbished hand-medowns

from the US, the UK and Europe, I

wonder how long it will take for one of

these companies to build a brand new

superliner for Australia!

Hello have they suddenly realised in the travel industry that us Aussies are sick of the hand me downs. Maybe Carnival may sit up and take notice for once.

[raringtogo]

Extract from Cruise Weekly:

 

Sydney is set to be the

homeport for a second Royal

Caribbean ship – the newest,

largest, fastest superliner ever

to be based in Australia.

 

how do they figure??????:mad:

is planning to spend six months

here from next year, effectively bringing

Australia’s cruising into the 21st century.

Built in 2001will be the most

modern cruise ship ever based in Australian

waters, i don't think sowhen she arrives in October 2011.

The 2100-passenger, 293-metre long

superliner will offer voyages departing from

Sydney to ports around Australia, disappointed- how about melbourne???? New

Zealand and the South Pacific.[/left]

[shares some features

 

adults-only indoor pool and waterfall, day

spa, gym, casino and theatre – plus several

special extras including a third pool, kids’

waterslide, cinema, basketball court, minigolf,

five restaurants and a nine-deck atrium

with glass lifts facing the sea.

Announcing the news last week, Gavin

Smith, managing director of Royal

Caribbean Cruises Australia, said [/color][/size][/font]Radiance[/left]

was “newer, taller, faster, more

environmentally friendly… and has the

largest cabins cruising in the region”.

 

.[/left]

“I believe the Australian market is

really looking for a greater choice

in cruises...”

Smith said the move demonstrated the

increased demand from Australians as well

as American, European and Asian visitors to

experience cruising in this region.

“I believe the Australian market is really

looking for a greater choice in cruises, and

our expansion will set a new standard in the

expectations of Australians in what they

want from their cruise holiday,” he said.

The two vessels will be homeported in

Sydney from mid-October 2011 until April

2012, with fares and itineraries to be

released on 30 March 2010.

 

well, i'm breathless with anticipation- so what are they going to circle around and around all the usual ports, maybe even dock side by side in Noumea (just like the ships do in the Caribbean)

 

 

[/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font]

 

Also an interesting comment from the editor of cruise weekly:

 

After decades of refurbished hand-medowns

from the US, the UK and Europe, I

wonder how long it will take for one of

these companies to build a brand new

superliner for Australia!

Hello have they suddenly realised in the travel industry that us Aussies are sick of the hand me downs. Maybe Carnival may sit up and take notice for once.

 

 

but, this is STILL a hand-me-down- it's 10 year's old for heaven's sake and will be 11 & 12 year's old by the time we get to see it.

[The_Big_M]

It's just the realities and economics of the market. The lines are global, and the costs of these gleaming new megaships is enormous. Would many in Australia be willing to pay the premium prices of new ships? A limited number will, but nowhere near the number of another market - for many ships it would be uneconomic to sail it here. It wouldn't be able to cover the costs.

 

On top of that, they have to look at their own profitability. People over there also get bored with ships they've had for 9 years, just as people here do. Thus, if they deploy a brand new ship here instead of there, then it's a similar satisfaction rating for many local cruisers as transferring one from there, but their competitiveness goes down in overseas markets as people are bored and go to competitors with newer, or different ships.

 

It would take an extremely high sales rate and pricing that I don't see as likely to justify a new 'superliner' to be deployed and based here.

[broberts]

but, this is STILL a hand-me-down- it's 10 year's old for heaven's sake and will be 11 & 12 year's old by the time we get to see it.

 

I don't doubt that if Royal Caribbean believed they could fill a 5,400 passenger Oasis class ship week after week in Australia they would build one specifically for that market. After all, if recent Australian threads are to be believed (no reason not to) given the higher fares charged it would be much more profitable than operating in the Caribbean.

[yatchet]

Here in aus a NEW ship would be great, does not have to be a mega liner but something like the Pacific Princess for example.

[broberts]

Here in aus a NEW ship would be great, does not have to be a mega liner but something like the Pacific Princess for example.

 

Pacific Princess is older than Radiance. She first sailed in 1999 as the Renaissance R3.

 

I think if you look at new builds with the exception of those for the 5 star lines they are all 90,000 GRT or larger.

[yatchet]

Yes I know the history of pacific princess, we cruised on her, on her last season in oz. Beautiful smaller ship, one of our favorites.

 

What I was trying to say was that australians think that a new ship has to be a super/mega liner, even a new 90,000 t grt would be great here.

Its not about the size but the age that matters, we don't really want an oasis of the seas.

[Brossy]

I just got off the Jewel yesterday and the captain announced that P&O are having a ship built for us Aussies and is due in 2012....I wonder if it'll happen though...fingers crossed.

[yatchet]

I just got off the Jewel yesterday and the captain announced that P&O are having a ship built for us Aussies and is due in 2012....I wonder if it'll happen though...fingers crossed.

I don't believe anything until I see it, lol.