Ovation of the Sea is COMING to Australia & New Zealand!!!

[Pean]

Those prices you quoted in US dollars?

 

No it is Aussie dollars. $7200 balcony includes bev package and grats on Constellation and $4700 balcony inc grats but no bev package on Ovation. Enjoy a drink but don't think price difference is worth it but do visit more ports on Constellation. Then again more sea days on Ovation gives more of a chance to explore the ship. The ongoing question, is the ship the destination?

[Pean]

Those prices you quoted in US dollars?

 

Sorry, just realised you may have been querying MMDownunder's quote. From what I have read I believe that it is AUS $ they are quoting not including taxes and grats.

[The_Big_M]

Was surprised to hear this news given this ship's Chinese base. However, think it's great work from RCL Aust that they were able to get her assigned here for a brief period over Summer. Will be nice to see this addition to the fleet.

[DemeterVee]

I am SO interested to see this ship. I did find the Voyager a little too big for my preference but I think curiosity is going to get the better of me. I'd love to do a longer NZ trip on a huge ship so you have time to experience everything on the ship.

[avalon007]

Do C&A members get any pre public notification of the release date for the schedule announcement? Anyone know?

 

Interested as I received an email announcing her coming & asking us to sign up & express our interest - we are Diamond C&A.

 

But my mum who is gold C&A didn't get any email.

[ladybird1292]

Will they be outfitting the Ovation for the Chinese market or retain the American styling. I understand the music hall is being overhauled to become a second casino on the Quantum of the Seas. They are changing Jimmy Rockets and the American Icon to Chinese based restaurants. time will tell all I suppose.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited April 19, 2015 by ladybird1292

[Royalty X]

Will they be outfitting the Ovation for the Chinese market or retain the American styling. I understand the music hall is being overhauled to become a second casino on the Quantum of the Seas. They are changing Jimmy Rockets and the American Icon to Chinese based restaurants. time will tell all I suppose.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I think the difference is that Quantum will be based in China/Asia permanently. I believe Ovation will more than likely keep the American styling due to it operating similar to Voyager and Legend, which will both be moving between here and Asia.

[avalon007]

I agree, changing Ovation to Chinese styling would alienate some Australian cruisers.

 

Plus they have all the speciality dining restaurants on the Quantum class now where they have invested a lot in creating menus, styling, total experience etc, so doubt they would change that too much.

 

We have found Voyager that alternates with Asia to be just like the rest of RCCL's non Asian cruising ships, with only a more noticeable number of Asian staff & more expensive watch/bag shops, but that is about all.

 

I think also it's better to not do repo cruises FROM Asia or the first cruise or two after Asia, as I have read reviews that indicate the change over from Asian to Australian clients takes the crew a little while to adjust, so they may not be as tuned in to our cultural expectations, especially if they are newer Asian staff on board.:)

[The_Big_M]

I think the difference is that Quantum will be based in China/Asia permanently. I believe Ovation will more than likely keep the American styling due to it operating similar to Voyager and Legend, which will both be moving between here and Asia.

 

Nope, Ovation is also Chinese based.

 

She's making a brief visit here to help our market, but her base is China.

[avalon007]

I thought I read somewhere that she will return for the 2017/18 season with potentially more cruises?

 

How is it helping our market by giving us Ovation for just a few cruises then taking her away? Seems an odd way to build customer satisfaction to me.

 

I wouldn't sail on her out of China - I recall a guy that was from Singapore on this forum saying that even they find the Royal Chinese based cruises too Asian in both food options & cultural norms for their tastes.:eek:

 

So best get on board when she comes here I guess! :D

 

EDIT - Found this below here on cruise critic:

 

"Because cruise schedules are locked in two years in advance, Ovation has been given five slots at Circular Quay during 2016/2017, and Royal Caribbean is working on the program for 2017/18 and 2018/19 summer seasons."

Edited April 19, 2015 by avalon007

[The_Big_M]

Yes, Australia's asked for and expected to get another Summer season with her, although it's not been assigned yet. I expect they'll look at how sales go with three ships based in China vs the revenue they get from the Au visit.

 

How it helps? As seen by their advertising, they say it's the first brand new ship... and as seen in this thread it's a pull. I expect sales to be very good, particularly because she'll only be here a short time.

[avalon007]

Where have you read that info? Seems the CC link I posted mentioned 2 more seasons on top of the one just announced? That is more than just a one off pull, unless you know something the Cruise Critic editors don't? :)

 

It may help Royal to have a 'pull' as you put it, but it won't help if they then pull that from under the Australian cruisers.

 

Everything I'm reading from Royal is using language that implies at least that she is committed to several Australian seasons (Australia's newest ship, home ported in Sydney etc etc) alternating with Asia just like Voyager does now. Even suggesting that we will see potentially more larger ships from them down here ongoing.

 

I guess we will see, but I seriously doubt this is a once off season for us.

 

Plus more Chinese are wanting to travel, so cruising out of Sydney for them is also an option, not just from China.

 

I assume they to will get sick of the same old own home region asian ports & will be looking a little further afield, which means Australia is ideally placed as we are not too far away & they are already familiar with the Royal brand.

Edited April 19, 2015 by avalon007

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I thought I read somewhere that she will return for the 2017/18 season with potentially more cruises?

 

How is it helping our market by giving us Ovation for just a few cruises then taking her away? Seems an odd way to build customer satisfaction to me.

 

I wouldn't sail on her out of China - I recall a guy that was from Singapore on this forum saying that even they find the Royal Chinese based cruises too Asian in both food options & cultural norms for their tastes.:eek:

 

So best get on board when she comes here I guess! :D

 

EDIT - Found this below here on cruise critic:

 

"Because cruise schedules are locked in two years in advance, Ovation has been given five slots at Circular Quay during 2016/2017, and Royal Caribbean is working on the program for 2017/18 and 2018/19 summer seasons."

 

 

We will have to wait and see, but I think many Australians could be disappointed in the Asian influence of the ship when she is here for such a short time. They will have European food outlets on board but I am picking that most of the Restaurants will be Asian.

[lighthousemom]

Cruiseco is doing a charter for the inaugural Singapore to Sydney 15 night in November 2016. No details on itineraries.....

[gaechann]

We will have to wait and see, but I think many Australians could be disappointed in the Asian influence of the ship when she is here for such a short time. They will have European food outlets on board but I am picking that most of the Restaurants will be Asian.

 

Our very first cruise was in the South China Sea region from Bejiing to Hong Kong. We expected the ship to be full of Chinese passengers and whilst there were lots aboard it was interesting to find out that the majority of them were from the USA, Canada & the UK so they didn't really want the Chinese influence onboard but were most interested in the Asian ports from which many of their ancestors originated!

[avalon007]

We will have to wait and see, but I think many Australians could be disappointed in the Asian influence of the ship when she is here for such a short time. They will have European food outlets on board but I am picking that most of the Restaurants will be Asian.

 

 

I seriously doubt that as 'Dynamic Dining' is the new big thing on the Quantum class ships. They have designed these multiple speciality type restaurants to be an experience & replace MDR. They may add some more Asian options during the time in Asia but like other ships would revert to the Western menu when elsewhere.

 

They would have to do away with the whole dynamic dining concept if they made it too Asian - Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant can't be anything but Italian for example!

 

What I was referring to was the food on Voyager during Asian cruises, more Asian choices in the MDR & Windjammer compared to a western based cruise.

 

Also the Singaporean guy mentioned things like announcements in Chinese & English, Chinese cruise director, cultural differences in how people act that we may find unpleasant etc etc. All things that change when out of Asia as they are clientele driven.

 

I think Ovation will be absolutely fine for western tastes when sailing out of Sydney & they would be silly to make permanent changes to ships that limit their broad appeal, as that makes them less flexible if the market changes.

[The_Big_M]

Where have you read that info? Seems the CC link I posted mentioned 2 more seasons on top of the one just announced? That is more than just a one off pull, unless you know something the Cruise Critic editors don't? :)

 

Your post didn't have the edit and link when I read it to reply, but what I wrote doesn't contradict that link. Basically, upcoming season is confirmed for the visit, and future seasons in AU are being evaluated and likely (although her base is China).

 

 

Plus more Chinese are wanting to travel, so cruising out of Sydney for them is also an option, not just from China.

 

 

Why would they come to Sydney, when they can sail her and others including a sister out of China? Not to say nobody would of course, but it's not a lure when they can access her more conveniently and for more of the year locally.

 

Certainly this was borne out by Voyager which was actually intended to be a greater lure for Chinese travellers, but turned out to attract more Australian customers on AU sailings than expected.

 

I assume they to will get sick of the same old own home region asian ports & will be looking a little further afield, which means Australia is ideally placed as we are not too far away & they are already familiar with the Royal brand.

 

At this stage their market is proportionally much smaller and less mature so they're looking to attract more local (Chinese) custom. As said, some will travel, but then the ship itself won't be such an attraction given it is locally available to them. To give you an equivalent comparison, how many Australians travel to Asia to sail on Voyager's sister, Mariner? Despite that our market is relatively more mature than China's now.

 

Proportionally very few.

Edited April 20, 2015 by The_Big_M

[avalon007]

Big M, when you said 'a brief visit here' it implied to me that Ovation was to be a one season wonder down here, maybe not what you meant. But regardless the link I provided from a reliable source indicates Royal plans to have her here ongoing for the next few years at least.

 

I certainly hope that is the case.:)

 

I think more & more of us Aussies are cruising in overseas ports - we did Alaska & Hawaii plus repo 18 months ago because like many regular cruisers we are getting tired of the same old NZ/Pacific ports.

 

We plan to do Panama Canal & other overseas cruises to shake things up.

 

The Chinese will be in the same boat so to speak in a few years time I would expect.

 

I would agree many Aussies probably don't sail on Mariner but why would then when they can sail Voyager & use her as a repo to get to or from Asia, to then do things there you can't do on a cruise.

 

Fly there, then do a land component with some other operator & cruise home with the duty free & cases full of cheap Asian shopping is ideal for many as no worries about baggage weight.

 

Asia has more to offer inland from my experiences than what a cruise alone can offer on day trips.

 

Anyhow, I think it's great Ovation is coming to Australia, nobody would have guessed it would happen a few short years ago, so it's a positive move in the right direction that's for sure - no matter how long it lasts! :D

[The_Big_M]

Big M, when you said 'a brief visit here' it implied to me that Ovation was to be a one season wonder down here, maybe not what you meant. But regardless the link I provided from a reliable source indicates Royal plans to have her here ongoing for the next few years at least.

 

 

No worries, I meant the approx. 5 cruise season reported rather than the longer seasons the other visiting ships have.

 

Anyhow, I think it's great Ovation is coming to Australia, nobody would have guessed it would happen a few short years ago, so it's a positive move in the right direction that's for sure - no matter how long it lasts! :D

 

I didn't even think it likely a couple of months back when Ovation was announced to go to China. Quite a positive surprise!

[aussielozzie18]

Do C&A members get any pre public notification of the release date for the schedule announcement? Anyone know?

 

Interested as I received an email announcing her coming & asking us to sign up & express our interest - we are Diamond C&A.

 

But my mum who is gold C&A didn't get any email.

 

Hi

Like your mum, I am only gold C & A. I received the email announcement and the option to express our interest which I have done:)

Edited April 20, 2015 by aussielozzie18

[avalon007]

OK, thanks for the reply. Seems no advantage for being Diamond & above in this case.

 

I wonder if C&A members are even getting a heads up on the release date at all? I guess we will find out! :)

[cheznandy]

OK, thanks for the reply. Seems no advantage for being Diamond & above in this case.

 

I wonder if C&A members are even getting a heads up on the release date at all? I guess we will find out! :)

 

I am a lowly C&A Gold and got an email.

You may get an advantage when the prices come out.......maybe sent to Diamond and above first.

 

Chez

[shazzygirl67]

Do C&A members get any pre public notification of the release date for the schedule announcement? Anyone know?

 

Interested as I received an email announcing her coming & asking us to sign up & express our interest - we are Diamond C&A.

 

But my mum who is gold C&A didn't get any email.

 

We are only gold as well & we did receive the same email.

[Vader1111]

I'm a diamond C&A member and I haven't had any emails from RCI about the Ovation.

[robynwally]

I'm a diamond C&A member and I haven't had any emails from RCI about the Ovation.

 

Same here Vader...Diamond and nothing!!!