royal caribbean cruises australia reviews

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Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas Deck Plans & Reviews

Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas

Activities & entertainment

• CruiseCritic Meet and Mingle
• Dance Classes
• Dance Parties
• Fitness Classes *
• Hot Tubs (4)
• RipCord by iFLY *
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Running Track
• Scavenger Hunts
• Splashaway Bay
• Sports Tournament
• The Workshop
• Vitality At Sea Fitness Center
• Vitality At Sea Spa *
• Wine Tasting *
• Waterslides
• Adventure Ocean
• Fuel Teen Disco
• Casino Royale *
• Deck Parties
• Demonstrations
• Game Broadcasts
• Poolside Movies
• Royal Esplanade
• The Royal Theatre
• Wellness Lectures
• American Icon Grill - American
• Silk - American
• The Grande - American
• Izumi - Asian *
• Wonderland - Avant Garde
• La Patisserie - Cafe Fare *
• Windjammer Marketplace - Casual
• Cafe @ Two70° - Casual Bites
• Chic - Contemporary
• SeaPlex Doghouse - Fast Food
• Coastal Kitchen - Fusion
• Michael's Genuine Pub - Gastropub *
• Chef's Table - Gourmet *
• Solarium Bistro - Healthy Fare
• Jamie's Italian - italian *
• Boleros - Latin bar *
• Café Promenade - Light Bites
• Schooner Bar - Nautical bar *
• Sorrento's - Pizza
• North Star Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pool Bar - Pool Bar
• Sky Bar - Pool Bar *
• Sunshine Bar - Pool Bar *
• Bionic Bar - Robot Bar *
• Chops Grille - Steakhouse *
• Vintages - Wine Bar *

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• Excellent 69
• Very Good 53
• Terrible 24
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Upcoming itineraries

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Royal Caribbean reviews

The Royal Caribbean fleet in Australia includes Voyager of the Seas , Explorer of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas . Read our Royal Caribbean reviews to hear from Cruise Passenger experts on their experiences.

Review: Quantum of the Seas’ toys are a little too popular

Brisbane is home for Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas and the decade-old big ship celebrated her inaugural sailing with a seven-day cruise to Vanuatu. Cruise Passenger was onboard – check our videos on Instagram. […]

What’s on board the new Quantum class of ships heading for Australia

We boarded one of Royal Caribbean's most ambitious class of ships - Quantum - is headed to Australia. Here’s what to expect.

REVIEW: Wonder of the Seas a dazzling, bonkers world of entertainment

To many, the thought of cruising with 6,988 others on the world’s biggest ship is, well, unthinkable. I looked up at Royal Caribbean’s US$1.31 billion Wonder of the Seas, towering over the dock in Barcelona, […]

INSIDE the world’s largest ship – Wonder of the Seas is absolutely Wonder-ful

When Royal Caribbean announced it was building its latest “world’s largest cruise ship” back in 2016, some cynics wondered the need for a vessel so gigantic that it flirts with the mind-blowing 10,000 milestone in […]

The full spectrum: our first look at Spectrum of the Seas

Spectrum of the Seas is homeporting in Shanghai – an excellent fly-cruise destination for SE Asian sailors looking for some excitement. Rebecca Rachel Wong took her for a spin. It wasn’t what we expected. It […]

Ovation of the Seas

Our British correspondent, John Honeywell aka Captain Greybeard was onboard Ovation of the Seas when she sailed out of Germany. He reviews the ships for Cruise Passenger. An observation capsule that can be raised more than […]

Legend of the Seas

In December 2015, Legend of the Seas homeported for her inaugural five-month season in Brisbane. Cruise Passenger’s Teresa Ooi took a ride from Sydney to Brisbane. At 94, Madam Man Tak Ching was far too busy […]

Explorer of the Seas

I’m onboard Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas for its first sailing out of its new homeport of Sydney for three nights of waterborne fun. It’s a full house and the 3,800 passengers onboard are […]

Onboard the new Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas takes on the title of Biggest Cruise Ship in the World.

Rhapsody of the Seas Review

When the ship is as important as the destination... I believe all cruise ships are beautiful; some more than others. It’s a matter of comparing many factors. When my wife Sandra and I boarded Rhapsody of the Seas, we were a little disappointed at not being able to obtain a balcony stateroom, but we became pleased with our large Oceanview stateroom, with its picture window and more room than the usual balcony stateroom. Our cruise was headed north and we were looking forward to 10 days of R&R.

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Royal Caribbean Review

When it comes to exploring the vast and diverse landscapes of Australia and its neighbouring regions, Royal Caribbean has long been a trusted name in the cruising industry. For over 50 years this innovative cruise line has been pushing the boundaries of what it means to embark on a luxurious and unforgettable sea voyage. With a reputation for delivering world-class amenities and one-of-a-kind experiences it’s no wonder Royal Caribbean has become the go-to choice for seasoned and first-time cruisers alike.

Despite facing its fair share of challenges in recent years including the global pandemic, Royal Caribbean has shown an unwavering commitment to safety. With rigorous health protocols in place and an ongoing dedication to environmental sustainability, the cruise line has managed to maintain its status as a leader in the industry. As Royal Caribbean continually evolves to meet the needs of modern travellers it remains steadfast in its mission to create the most memorable and enjoyable cruising experiences imaginable.

• Destinations

Guest Experience

The verdict.

Royal Caribbean boasts a diverse and impressive fleet of 25 active ships each designed to cater to the unique tastes and preferences of its passengers. Among these the Oasis-class ships are the largest and most innovative, featuring awe-inspiring amenities such as the iconic Central Park, the thrilling Ultimate Abyss slide and the mesmerising AquaTheater. At the other end of the spectrum you’ll find the smaller yet equally captivating ships of the Vision and Radiance classes, which offer more intimate experiences and access to lesser-known ports that larger vessels simply cannot reach.

One of the most notable aspects of Royal Caribbean’s fleet is its commitment to ongoing innovation. With the introduction of cutting-edge ships like the Odyssey of the Seas and the Wonder of the Seas the cruise line has once again proven its dedication to providing guests with the very latest in technology, entertainment and comfort. From virtual reality bungee trampolining to robotic bartenders, these next-generation ships are truly setting the standard for the future of cruising.

The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to the destinations visited by Royal Caribbean. Cruises to Australia and New Zealand remain among the most popular, offering passengers the opportunity to explore iconic cities like Sydney and Auckland as well as natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Milford Sound. These cruises often feature unforgettable excursions such as wine tasting in the Barossa Valley or diving with sharks at the Neptune Islands.

Another highly sought-after destination is the South Pacific with its enchanting islands, crystal-clear waters and vibrant cultures. Royal Caribbean cruises to this region often include stops at idyllic locations such as Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia, providing guests with the chance to immerse themselves in the laid-back island lifestyle and experience the warm hospitality of the locals.

For those looking to venture even further afield, Royal Caribbean also offers cruises to Southeast Asia where guests can explore bustling cities like Singapore and Bangkok and embark on once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as visiting the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the pristine beaches of Bali. With such a diverse range of destinations on offer there is truly something for every traveller aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Royal Caribbean is renowned for its commitment to delivering the ultimate guest experience. From the moment you step on board you’ll be met with stylish and comfortable accommodations, ranging from cosy interior staterooms to extravagant suites with private balconies and exclusive access to luxury lounges. No matter your budget or preferences you can expect a serene and restful retreat to return to after a day of exploration and adventure. Recent cruise guests have reported that the service standards and value for money have taken a bit of a dive recently, with extortionately expensive prices for shuttle buses at ports and lacking customer service creating a disappointing experience on their cruise. We recommend tempering your expectations if you are used to a high standard of service when cruising.

When it comes to dining, Royal Caribbean offers a diverse array of options that cater to every palate. With a multitude of complimentary and specialty restaurants guests can indulge in a culinary journey that spans the globe. From the elegant Main Dining Room to the casual Windjammer Marketplace there is something to suit every mood and occasion. For a more intimate and unique experience, specialty restaurants like Wonderland, Jamie’s Italian and Izumi provide expertly crafted dishes and exceptional service.

Entertainment on a Royal Caribbean cruise is truly second to none with a variety of options to suit every taste. Spectacular Broadway-style shows, live music and mesmerizing ice-skating performances are just some of the ways you can spend your evenings on board. During the day guests can participate in engaging activities such as trivia, dance classes and culinary demonstrations or simply unwind by the pool with a refreshing cocktail. The level of service provided by the attentive and friendly crew is exceptional, ensuring that every guest feels valued and well taken care of throughout their journey.

Royal Caribbean offers an unparalleled cruising experience that consistently aims to exceed the expectations of its guests. With a diverse and innovative fleet, an incredible range of destinations and a commitment to providing the very best in accommodations, dining and entertainment, it’s no surprise that this cruise line has become a favourite among travellers of all ages and backgrounds. A Royal Caribbean cruise is much more than just a holiday; it’s an opportunity to create lifelong memories and share unforgettable experiences with the people you cherish most.

Royal Caribbean’s hard earned reputation has taken a bit of a hit recently, with a slip in standards and lack of value for money causing a poor experience for many cruise guests. Hopefully this is just a temporary blip as they recover from the pandemic, train their staff and return to the high standard that they are known for!

Final Rating: 4/5 – The ships provide an amazing and awe-inspiring experience but recent standards have slipped when it comes to on board service and value for money.

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Spring Break

My family spent a week on Jewel of the Seas. Our room was outdated, with literally no sound-proofing. The balcony cabin was under the fitness center. It was awful. Staff is very friendly. Entertainment is okay at best. Food is decent but the main dining room takes forever. We dined in all of the “extra” restaurants which I find frustrating to have to pay for variety. I would not travel on this ship again.

Date of experience : 22 March 2024

Refused to refund or give future credits

Multiple flights canceled due to bad weather. Company refused to refund multiple tickets, and even refused to give a credit for future cruises because the flight was not booked through them. Lost multiple future clients, we were all looking foward to it.

Date of experience : 04 April 2024

This was my first cruise with Royal…

This was my first cruise with Royal Caribbean after cruising a few times with Disney Cruise Lines. The actual cruise experience was good, the surrounding amenities were not so much. I won't go into many of the details but just know that the "Key" is a waste of money, and don't prepay for arcade. Overall - not worth it. Contacted them numerous times via phone and keep getting transferred and/or call dropped. Guest Experience Management seems to be a joke.

Date of experience : 25 March 2024

Would just like my money back!!!

When planning a trip and purchasing insurance for this trip with the cruise line; we was told that if we could not go for any reason due to illness our money would be refunded to us. Well a few weeks prior to the cruise my husband's Parkinson's began to cause some problems with his legs really bad and he felt that it would be wise not to take the trip at this time. We contacted the trip planner, who in turn gave us the numbers to call and cancel our trip. Not once has anyone from the Cruise line called to ask if there was something they could do to help. Never asking if we would like to reschedule the trip. We are still trying to get our money back as it seems unlikely a cruise is in our future, because of my husbands' health.

Date of experience : 07 June 2023

I went through a horrible divorce after…

I went through a horrible divorce after 33 year marriage. I had two trips planned with my husband I had to cancel. I asked to move the trips to another time. They said they were keeping my deposit and will not work with me. The one trip was 4 months before setting sail. I gave them plenty of notice. As a business owner myself I would have never treated a customer like this. I am a major gambler too and always spend a lot in their casinos. I will not be going back to Royal Caribbean. Shame on them.

Date of experience : 01 April 2024

If you struggle with mental illness, please reach out to me before you go or save yourself the trauma and DONT GO!

If I could give my experience with Royal Caribbean 0 stars I would. I would like to share what I experienced and went through in hopes that I can save someone from trauma and raise awareness for the horrible actions that went on. I also would like to raise awareness for mental health disorders. Because of a mental disorder, I was confined into a room with everything I had, including my prescription medication taken away from me. I had 0 rights. Ship doctor was one of the most heartless and disrespectful human beings. Prisoners get more hours of sunlight that I was allowed. All employees gave different responses and it was clear there was lack of communication. Every action done by staffing was traumatic and contradictory of what should have been done. I will be writing my story to raise awareness of this issue. Please if you have a mental disorder DO NOT GO! If you would like more information or to discuss please reach out or comment.

I would give them no stars if it was…

I would give them no stars if it was possible! We just returned from a cruise on the Odyssey of the Seas. This was, without a doubt, the worst cruise that my husband and I have ever taken! It started the day we boarded and we found that I could not do the muster briefing because someone from RCCL had loaded my husband's information and picture on my seapass card. Next we found out that our balcony stateroom was 75% obstructed by steel beams! I logged into the app to check and see what time our dinner reservations were for that night, only to find that every reservation had been deleted. After waiting on hold for 45 minutes, my husband and I went down in person at dinner time to check when our reservation was. It was crowded in the hallway, so I found a staff member from the dining room and attempted to explain our situation to him. He responded by putting his hands on me and shoving me into a line telling me to wait in line until I got to the front to ask!!! The next few days were relatively uneventful, but the cruise had two days at sea before docking at the end of the cruise in Ft. Lauderdale. The cruise was meant to be a relaxing time for my husband and I, however, in ended as anything but relaxing. The second to last day of the cruise my husband and I went up to the pool deck, got deck chairs, spread out our towels, and put our books, bags, shoes and sunscreen on the chairs before we went into the restaurant to get ice. We were gone MAYBE 20 minutes. When we got back, all of our personal belongings were gone and there were people in the chairs that we had! We found out from another passenger that two passengers had wanted chairs in our area but there were none available so after we walked away they got one of the housekeeping attendants and told them that we had been gone an extended period of time! Housekeeping took their word for it and removed all of our stuff!!! We tried to talk to a member of management, to no avail. No one cared at all that we had been targeted and our personal property inappropriately removed! Even worse, the staff at RCCL supported the action! Meanwhile, there were dozens of deck chairs that had been "saved" for hours that went unnoticed by housekeeping. After speaking with a manager, things were put into a ridiculous perspective. My husband and I, who planned on spending time together relaxing on the cruise, could not go in the pool or hot tub together, we could not do any deck activities together, eat together or even walk around, for fear of our privacy and personal belongings again being violated and taken. As a result, one of us had to stay on the chairs at all times when the other did things around the pool alone! The last two days of our cruise were completely ruined! We emailed the corporate office about our trip and no one cared at all about any of it, not even that a member of their staff actually put their hands on me and shoved me! My husband and I are both diamond level members with RCCL but this cruise was such a terrible experience that we will never cruise with RCCL again! I have been on over 20 cruises with a variety of different lines and have never experienced such horrible treatment and such an indifferent executive office! Do yourself a favor and save your money! Post-COVID Royal Carribean is absolutely terrible!

Date of experience : 05 April 2024

Don’t give what you paid for.

Booked a cruise to go to three islands, two of which were coco cay and labadee so we did not have to book excursions and could have a nice day without having to spend extra to get off the island. At the last minute Royal Caribbean cancelled our Labadee stop (which given the circumstance is understandable) however, they routed other cruises to nice equal or better islands, but chose to send us to the trash can of the Caribbean - Nassau. Given they replaced our stop with one that is less valuable (cruises that go there are cheaper than other destinations) they absolutely refused to cancel our cruise or give us any sort of discount or compensation for not giving us our moneys worth of our cruise and changing it to no fault of our own. Their attitude is basically they don’t care if you like it or not they have too many other customers to care if you are happy or get what you paid for. Will stick with Carnival from now on.

Date of experience : 28 March 2024

Air2Sea Program is HORRIBLE

Booked my cruise and needed to fly to our port. I made the mistake of booking our flights through their Air2Sea Program. I am a very inexperienced traveler. We had a connecting flight in Atlanta, unfortunately, their program chose a flight that was 35 minutes between flights. We didn't realize that boarding closed 15 minutes before the flight time. We landed in Atlanta and discovered that we had 14 minutes to get to the terminal that was 19 minutes away from our terminal. Needless to say, we missed our connecting flight - all outbound flights were fully booked, we were on standby for 3 more flights but did not make it and missed our cruise. We did get a refund for the cruise, however, Air2Sea said we were marked as a NO SHOW and REFUSE to refund our flights. IF you cruise with Royal Caribean, DO NOT book your flights with their Air2Sea Program.

Date of experience : 17 November 2023

Disappointment prior to sailing.

I’ve never been on a royal caribbean cruise and this will be the last time I book with them. I haven’t even set sail and I truly regret even booking with them. The cruise selected was to Labadee, Haiti however, with the current issues happening in Haiti, I appreciate Royal Caribbean making the decision to not go there for safety concerns. The cruise is now going to stop in Nassau, Bahamas. I do not feel that Nassau, Bahamas is of equal or greater port value as Labadee, Haiti. I understand the cruise has the right to change ports per the contract, but I’ve been to the Bahamas many times and contacted Royal Caribbean to change to a different cruise that would sail the same dates. I was told no changes could be made after final payment. I paid for my cruise in one payment and the port was changed close to the departure date. I understand Royal Caribbean has rules that I agree to at sign up, but I feel they could offer their passengers something for this change to make it a little better for the disappointment. They have their money and they seem to not care if you are happy with their change. Especially, because they are making money by going to one of the cheapest cruise destinations available (Nassau, Bahamas).

Date of experience : 27 March 2024

misinformed/discriminated

 I checked in two weeks before as required I uploaded my passport and a picture as indicated by the time I was leaving to to the port, I realize I had miss placed my passport, so I called the cruise line and asked if there was anything else I could use as proof of citizenship. I told the lady that took my call that I had a global entry, and if I would be allowed to board the ship say yes, after having me on the phone for around 15 minutes the attendant check with the supervisor and was advised I was going to be able to board. Therefore I drove 14 hours , paid hotel, gas, parking, and for food I wouldn’t have gone if had not been told that I could board. It was very frustrating that when I got there I was told that I couldn’t board I wasn’t given a choice of anything else so I called and requested to see if I could get a refund or get credit to be able to sail another time they say no, they won’t be giving me anything back. Like I said I was just requesting to see if I could get a least credit because I was informed that I would be able to board. This is not right that they miss informed me after being on the phone with them for 15 minutes, and my friends said that they were never asked for documents when they got off/on in Mexico and that someone mentioned that they are only strict about documents with minorities which I’m a person of a minority group so I feel that I was discriminated. therefore I have to give them a really low rating because I have friends they travel with them a lot and I shouldn’t have to lose my money because of their misinformation. Yes I I am responsible for my documents but yes I did call and I was informed that I would be able to board with my global entry and my driver license from the United States. Therefore, I am very disappointed at this cruise line. 

Date of experience : 30 March 2024

This was by far the worst cruise we…

This was by far the worst cruise we have ever experienced with RCCL. We have been on numerous cruises. There were some positives (i.e., room attendant, dinner service, a few of the bartenders (pool area) We had an incident with a member of our party of 9 that involved security. Security extremely rude, very unprofessional and harassed the entire party throughout the remainder of our cruise. So, the last 3 days of a 5-day cruise was miserable. We could not wait to disembark. NEVER AGAIN WE WILL SAIL WITH RCCL. I realize that our measly amount of money will not bother them as they could care less.

Date of experience : 03 March 2024

I have traveled with Royal many times…4

I have traveled with Royal many times and this will be my last cruise with them. If there is one thing I dislike is being nickel & dimed by companies forcing cruisers to get packages they do not want. Drinking packages are a great way to save money however when you force a extra package on other room occupants that is wrong. You will no longer have me as a cruiser anymore Royal Carribean!!!

Date of experience : 22 February 2024

Royal Caribbean Customer Service

I am going on a cruise ship with my parents on the Symphony of the Seas. Despite i sent 5 messages to customer service with my questions, nobody has replied me. I also tried to call the US line from Europe as the German customer service can‘t help with bookings done on the US website ( i find it extremely weird) but the number „was not reachable“ at that time. We haven‘t done any cruise ship so far, but i hope the journey will be better than the first experience with the cruise ship.

Date of experience : 15 February 2024

Probably our last Royal Caribbean cruise

First off, on embarkation, our luggage was left out in the pouring rain for a long time. When we found our luggage down the hallways from our room, our suitcases and all the clothes, shoes, and purses inside were all dripping wet. We had to wring out all our clothes in the tub and hang them up all over the bathroom. Also, our locks on our suitcases were all dented and scratched up, as if someone tried to pry the locks open. Then the next day, we were called by the front desk several times to come down and see them over a security issue. We went down and we were interrogated in front of other passengers, while being told that we were being recorded by them on their body camera. We were interrogated about a “wallet” that we had found the night before. We never found a wallet. My husband finally told the security people that if there is a video of someone finding a wallet, they need to look closely, because it wasn’t us who found it. We asked why they thought we had found a wallet, and they wouldn’t answer us. They just apologized and said it was a misunderstanding. We left them just shaking our heads, wondering what just happened. We walked over to the bar across from the front desk and the same security guys followed us over, and watched us until we left. We are aged 55 and 61, and have never so much as taken a pack of gum. Also, the only reason we had booked this cruise is because we’ve never been to Nassau and wanted to experience it. But Nassau ended up being cancelled. I know that’s not RC’s fault, but it was still a disappointment since that was the reason we booked this cruise. The only highlight of the cruise was our day at Coco Cay. We paid for the Coco Beach Club and that was really nice. Food was good and the beach was beautiful. The food on the ship was ok, nothing great. The elevators are terrible; many people just walked up many flights of stairs rather than waiting 20 minutes or more for the elevators. Looking back: we were made to feel like criminals and we were shown that Royal Caribbean does not care about our personal belongings (by leaving our bags and luggage out in the pouring rain to become drenched). So, we've made a decision to stop cruising with Royal. Plus, they have not bothered to reach out to us regarding our feedback about our negative experience; even though I asked them to.

Travel Agent that will never book group on RCCL

I am a travel agent and I will would never book a group on RCCL again. I have a client that tested positive one day prior to sale. RCCL refused to give a future cruise credit. It seems they would rather everyone get on the cruise ship and infect everyone.

Just sailed with Royal Caribbean on the…

Just sailed with Royal Caribbean on the Voyager of the Sea's and had a fantastic time! Ship was very clean, staff was friendly, food was great. Getting on and off was easy. Highly recommend. Took our company for our first annual trip and look forward to going again.

Date of experience : 29 February 2024

Dishonest and BS company that I will…

Dishonest and BS company that I will never ever again consider using. They tell you they can refund your deposit if it's >3 months then they make you hold for 1/2 hour before transferring your to wait another hour then they tell you they won't refund your deposit because "you bought a non-refundable ticket." That is not what they told me when I bought it!!!! Total BS. DO NOT GIVES THIS CRAP COMPANY YOUR MONEY unless you're 100% sure nothing will happen that may cause you to miss your trip. They rep wouldn't even give his last name "DIEGO" is all he would say. THIS IS A RIP-OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date of experience : 03 February 2024

Unless you are a frequent Royal…

Unless you are a frequent Royal Caribbean passenger, look at another cruise line. You will be a second class passenger in every way. Before you can even get on the ship, all amenities, shows and reservations will be unavailable to the casual passenger. You will spend your cruise looking from the outside wondering why you cannot be part of their advertised services. To a degree, every cruise line does this, but Royal has taken it to a new level that is actually discouraging new customers.

Save yourself

Save yourself, this is the worst holiday our family ever experienced. Brilliance of The Seas is bogan of the seas, horrific food, boring, heavy drinking, dull and total waste of money. We got off at first stop at a huge extra cost of hotel and flight home, total disaster.

Date of experience : 30 December 2023

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A Review Of Our Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise From Sydney Australia

Table of Contents

On our first visit to Australia a few seasons ago, we included an amazing …

🛳 Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise, 🛳 in our travel plans. This particular cruise departed from the beautiful; ⚓ Sydney Harbor. The cruise we chose, made stops at some stunning tropical destinations in the 🏝 South Pacific.

Our 11 night cruise was in the month of February and we were on board Royal Caribbean’s …

“🛳 Rhapsody of the Seas. 🛳”

This was most certainly, one of the main highlights of our Australia vacation. It was a fabulous cruise with absolutely perfect weather, friendly staff and amazing food the entire voyage!

First, check out my short 📹 video clip of the views you will experience in Sydney, Australia’s beautiful harbor!

Sydney Harbour Australia – YouTube Video

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One very reputable world leading digital travel company I have used for many years now for searching and booking attractions and more is … Viator by Tripadvisor.

🌅 Discover More Outstanding Attractions In & Around Sydney – Australia! 🌅

Be sure to spend a few nights in Sydney, as there’s so much to see and do in and around the city!

Our 11 Night Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise

If you make your own off shore excursion arrangements, it is your responsibility to be back at the ship before departure. The ship will not wait for you if you’re late! 🙁

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 A Pleasant Day In Noumea On Our Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise

Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise – 1st Port of Call

Luganville – Vanuatu

Royal Caribbean South Pacific Cruise – 3rd Port of Call

We did not go to the more built up and commercialized; “Nanda Blue Hole,” but to a smaller hidden piece of 🌺 paradise our driver picked out for us.

Million Dollar Point

Inside the hotel, the walls were decorated with some lovely paintings from local artists.

It was a nice break for lunch, but we were anxious to get on with the tour, as our driver and others were having a siesta! 😴

Survivor Reality Television Series – Vanuatu

I highly recommend including some sort of cruise vacation into your holiday plans when visiting Australia. 🗺 Be sure to check out the {Google Map} box at the bottom of this post for Sydney Australia’s exact location. 🗺

⚓ Search For That Perfect Cruise Vacation! ⚓

If you wish to book on your own, one very reputable long standing online booking website we’ve used in the past with excellent results is …

🛡 I Only Endorse Products/Services That Can Be Trusted & Verified &/Or That I’ve Personally Used! 🛡

😎 Safe and Healthy Travels! 😎

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The best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for every type of traveler

What's the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship? We get this question a lot, and our answer always is the same: It depends.

It depends on what sort of traveler you are. Royal Caribbean is the world's biggest cruise line, and it has more ships than any other major line, including vessels in a wide range of sizes and with a wide range of amenities. While they all have a lot in common, they have some major differences, too, that make them more or less appealing to different types of travelers.

Some Royal Caribbean ships — such as the line's Oasis-class vessels and recently launched Icon of the Seas — are built with far more family-focused activities than others. Some, such as the two-year-old Wonder of the Seas, have added features that appeal to luxury-loving travelers. Other Royal Caribbean ships operate on particularly low-cost itineraries that are best for budget travelers.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

In short, the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for you, if you're traveling with children, might not be the same as the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for a solo traveler or the best Royal Caribbean cruise ship for a retiree.

Here, we list our top picks for the best Royal Caribbean cruise ships for five different types of travelers.

Icon of the Seas: Best ship for families

The best Royal Caribbean ship for families, in the unanimous view of TPG's cruise editors, is a ship that just debuted earlier this year: Icon of the Seas.

Sailing since January 2024, Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world — more than 6% bigger than the next-biggest ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet. That means greater space for the family fun zones that are a hallmark of Royal Caribbean ships, from children's clubs to water parks.

But it's not just its larger size that makes Icon of the Seas the best Royal Caribbean ship for families. As TPG saw during an early sneak peek at Icon of the Seas in January, Royal Caribbean has designed the vessel — the first of a new class of ships — specifically to cater to families in a bigger way.

For starters, Icon of the Seas has an increased number of cabins that offer extra bunks to accommodate families with multiple children, including new room designs. Some family suites even feature separate rooms for the kids.

Related: The 5 best cruise lines for families

Many of these family-friendly accommodations are near a new-for-the-line outdoor "neighborhood" called Surfside, which is dedicated to families with young children. Surfside features splash areas for babies and kids, pools and lounge spaces for parents, family-friendly eateries and shops, and a bar with "mommy and me" matching mocktails for kids and cocktails for grownups.

Icon of the Seas also features the largest water park ever built on a cruise ship, with a record six top-deck waterslides and a cool new ropes course. Your teens will never want to sail on another ship.

Related: The ultimate Icon of the Seas review and guide

Icon of the Seas is just the first of three family-focused sister ships Royal Caribbean has on order for delivery by 2026 that will make up its new Icon class. The second ship in the series, Star of the Seas, will debut in 2025 and already is open for bookings.

Wonder of the Seas: Best ship for luxury lovers

There's no doubt about it, Wonder of the Seas is the Royal Caribbean ship to book if you're looking to live the high life (and are willing to spend big bucks to do so). Unveiled in 2022, the world's second biggest cruise ship (after Icon of the Seas) was the first Royal Caribbean vessel with a private suite complex for the fancy set — a swanky hideaway with an upscale private lounge, restaurant and sun deck (the new Icon of the Seas has one of these, too, but we still rank Wonder of the Seas as our top Royal Caribbean ship for luxury).

If you book a suite in the complex on Wonder of the Seas, you'll be getting a luxury experience of the sort you won't find almost anywhere else in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Related: What's it like in Wonder's suite complex? We spent $11,000 to find out

Called the Suite Neighborhood, the complex offers some of the biggest (and priciest) suites at sea, including the sprawling, two-deck-high Royal Loft suites that measure more than 1,500 square feet.

A booking for one of the suites also comes with a bevy of perks, from complimentary Wi-Fi to private beach access at Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach destination in Haiti. Among the best perks: Access to private concierges who set up shop daily in the suite complex and will ensure you get prime seats at the ship's shows or a table at the always crowded Mason Jar eatery . On a ship that can carry more than 6,000 people, such reservations are a must.

Note the suite complex is a gated community — one where you'll only be surrounded by other swells who have paid top dollar for exclusivity. Nobody can get into the area unless they have a keycard showing they're a resident.

Related: The 8 best cruise lines for elegance and exclusivity

With access to a stylish rooftop pool, loungers at the suite area's private sun deck and higher-level food in its private Coastal Kitchen eatery, you may never want to leave the enclave. However, this being Royal Caribbean, you'll also have access to a seemingly endless array of amusements from waterslides to aerial water shows just steps away.

Freedom of the Seas: Best ship for budget travelers

Freedom of the Seas is the Royal Caribbean ship to pick when you're looking for a quick and affordable getaway — something that isn't a big commitment and won't break the bank.

Based in Miami, the 16-year-old vessel operates short three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas that are often on sale for just $250 per person or less. That's not per day, mind you, but for the entire cruise. It's a lot more affordable per day than the two ships mentioned above, which are the belles of the ball in the Royal Caribbean fleet and command significantly higher rates.

For would-be Royal Caribbean cruisers, Freedom of the Seas serves as a sort of "test the line" ship. Its short sailings and low pricing mean you're not out a lot in time or money if you don't have the time of your life. It caters heavily to first-time cruisers as well as Florida locals who can book on short notice and drive into the port for a quick escape.

One of three ships in the line's Freedom class that date to the mid-2000s, Freedom of the Seas is no longer the creme-de-la-creme of the Royal Caribbean fleet (though it was when it debuted). At around 156,000 tons, it's about 30% smaller than Royal Caribbean's newer Oasis-class ships and has fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces.

Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean ships, explained

That said, Freedom of the Seas still has a huge amount to offer for all sorts of travelers, from couples to families with kids. The ship was, notably, the first in the Royal Caribbean fleet to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on its top deck — now a signature attraction for the line.

The vessel also has multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on its top deck. It also has one of Royal Caribbean's signature Royal Promenades in its interior — a mall-like space filled with eateries, bars and shops.

The only things you won't find are the most over-the-top Royal Caribbean attractions found on newer Royal Caribbean ships, such as zip lines, skydiving simulators and bumper car pavilions.

Quantum of the Seas: Best ship for solo travelers

Royal Caribbean isn't particularly known as a major draw for solo travelers. In recent years, it's doubled down on the family market more than ever. That doesn't mean that solos aren't welcome on its ships or won't have a great time.

If you're looking for the best Royal Caribbean ship for solo travelers, you'll want to start with Quantum of the Seas and its Quantum-class sisters. It's the class of ships where Royal Caribbean made the most effort to appeal to solo travelers.

In designing the vessels, Royal Caribbean took a page from solo-targeting Norwegian Cruise Line 's playbook and added several cabins specifically for solos. Quantum of the Seas offers 28 of these dedicated studio cabins, each measuring from 101 to 119 square feet.

What's more, unlike Norwegian's solo digs, some of these cabins are ocean-view rooms with balconies. Others have a virtual balcony that, at first glance, looks like a veranda but is actually a digital screen projecting a real-time view of the outside. (It may sound corny, but it works.)

Related: The best cruise ships for solo travelers

While the solo cabins on the Quantum-class ships don't come with a dedicated solo lounge as they do on Norwegian ships, solo travelers will find Royal Caribbean-hosted meetups for solo travelers on the vessels. It's a great way for single travelers to find others in the same boat, so to speak.

There's also quite a bar scene on Quantum-class ships, with a lot of counter-style seating in bars that are a great place to find other solo travelers. We recommend one of the two large bars at the Music Hall, where you can make new friends while sipping musically inspired cocktails and listening to live bands. If the Music Hall is too noisy for chatting up other solos, head to the sometimes quieter Schooner Bar.

In addition, Quantum of the Seas ships is particularly known for its unusual range of activities, from skydiving simulators to bumper cars that you can enjoy just fine as a solo traveler.

Rhapsody of the Seas: Best ship for retirees

For older travelers looking for a Royal Caribbean ship that isn't jammed full of children, it's hard to beat Rhapsody of the Seas.

Dating to 1997, Rhapsody of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean's oldest and smallest vessels, and it lacks nearly all the gee-whiz attractions for families found on newer Royal Caribbean ships. You won't find big water parks, kiddie splash zones, zip lines or bumper car pavilions on this ship.

For the most part, its top deck only offers pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. As a result, it draws far fewer families than the vessels above and caters more to an older crowd of mostly couples.

Rhapsody of the Seas is also the ship that Royal Caribbean deploys on some of its most destination-focused itineraries, the type that have particular appeal to retirees looking to see more of the world.

Related: The 7 best cruises for seniors who love to travel

Over the next two years, for instance, Rhapsody of the Seas is sailing out of such less-common home ports as Colon, Panama; Cartagena, Colombia; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The sailings out of Colon and Cartagena offer the chance to visit Southern Caribbean ports such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao that aren't on most Royal Caribbean itineraries in the Caribbean. The sailings out of San Juan will also get you into the Southern Caribbean, while the sailings out of Israel and Cyprus offer a destination-heavy tour through the Eastern Mediterranean, including stops at multiple Greek islands.

At 78,808 tons, Rhapsody of the Seas is a third the size of the biggest Royal Caribbean ships. Expect a more intimate experience than what you'll find on the bustling Icon-class, Oasis-class, Quantum-class and Freedom-class ships mentioned above.

The vessel is one of four in the line's Vision class, featuring ships much smaller than the typical Royal Caribbean vessel. With this class, the experience has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience.

Bottom line

Royal Caribbean is the world's largest cruise line, with a large fleet of ships that cater to a wide range of traveler types.

While its biggest focus of late has been on the family market, it has ships that will appeal to luxury travelers, budget travelers, solo travelers and retirees as well.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Royal Caribbean Cruises   Reviews

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Spring Break

My family spent a week on Jewel of the Seas. Our room was outdated, with literally no sound-proofing. The balcony cabin was under the fitness center. It was awful. Staff is very friendly. Entertainment is okay at best. Food is decent but the main dining room takes forever. We dined in all of the “extra” restaurants which I find frustrating to have to pay for variety. I would not travel on this ship again.

Date of experience : March 22, 2024

Refused to refund or give future credits

Multiple flights canceled due to bad weather. Company refused to refund multiple tickets, and even refused to give a credit for future cruises because the flight was not booked through them. Lost multiple future clients, we were all looking foward to it.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

This was my first cruise with Royal…

This was my first cruise with Royal Caribbean after cruising a few times with Disney Cruise Lines. The actual cruise experience was good, the surrounding amenities were not so much. I won't go into many of the details but just know that the "Key" is a waste of money, and don't prepay for arcade. Overall - not worth it. Contacted them numerous times via phone and keep getting transferred and/or call dropped. Guest Experience Management seems to be a joke.

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Would just like my money back!!!

When planning a trip and purchasing insurance for this trip with the cruise line; we was told that if we could not go for any reason due to illness our money would be refunded to us. Well a few weeks prior to the cruise my husband's Parkinson's began to cause some problems with his legs really bad and he felt that it would be wise not to take the trip at this time. We contacted the trip planner, who in turn gave us the numbers to call and cancel our trip. Not once has anyone from the Cruise line called to ask if there was something they could do to help. Never asking if we would like to reschedule the trip. We are still trying to get our money back as it seems unlikely a cruise is in our future, because of my husbands' health.

Date of experience : June 07, 2023

I went through a horrible divorce after…

I went through a horrible divorce after 33 year marriage. I had two trips planned with my husband I had to cancel. I asked to move the trips to another time. They said they were keeping my deposit and will not work with me. The one trip was 4 months before setting sail. I gave them plenty of notice. As a business owner myself I would have never treated a customer like this. I am a major gambler too and always spend a lot in their casinos. I will not be going back to Royal Caribbean. Shame on them.

Date of experience : April 01, 2024

If you struggle with mental illness, please reach out to me before you go or save yourself the trauma and DONT GO!

If I could give my experience with Royal Caribbean 0 stars I would. I would like to share what I experienced and went through in hopes that I can save someone from trauma and raise awareness for the horrible actions that went on. I also would like to raise awareness for mental health disorders. Because of a mental disorder, I was confined into a room with everything I had, including my prescription medication taken away from me. I had 0 rights. Ship doctor was one of the most heartless and disrespectful human beings. Prisoners get more hours of sunlight that I was allowed. All employees gave different responses and it was clear there was lack of communication. Every action done by staffing was traumatic and contradictory of what should have been done. I will be writing my story to raise awareness of this issue. Please if you have a mental disorder DO NOT GO! If you would like more information or to discuss please reach out or comment.

I would give them no stars if it was…

I would give them no stars if it was possible! We just returned from a cruise on the Odyssey of the Seas. This was, without a doubt, the worst cruise that my husband and I have ever taken! It started the day we boarded and we found that I could not do the muster briefing because someone from RCCL had loaded my husband's information and picture on my seapass card. Next we found out that our balcony stateroom was 75% obstructed by steel beams! I logged into the app to check and see what time our dinner reservations were for that night, only to find that every reservation had been deleted. After waiting on hold for 45 minutes, my husband and I went down in person at dinner time to check when our reservation was. It was crowded in the hallway, so I found a staff member from the dining room and attempted to explain our situation to him. He responded by putting his hands on me and shoving me into a line telling me to wait in line until I got to the front to ask!!! The next few days were relatively uneventful, but the cruise had two days at sea before docking at the end of the cruise in Ft. Lauderdale. The cruise was meant to be a relaxing time for my husband and I, however, in ended as anything but relaxing. The second to last day of the cruise my husband and I went up to the pool deck, got deck chairs, spread out our towels, and put our books, bags, shoes and sunscreen on the chairs before we went into the restaurant to get ice. We were gone MAYBE 20 minutes. When we got back, all of our personal belongings were gone and there were people in the chairs that we had! We found out from another passenger that two passengers had wanted chairs in our area but there were none available so after we walked away they got one of the housekeeping attendants and told them that we had been gone an extended period of time! Housekeeping took their word for it and removed all of our stuff!!! We tried to talk to a member of management, to no avail. No one cared at all that we had been targeted and our personal property inappropriately removed! Even worse, the staff at RCCL supported the action! Meanwhile, there were dozens of deck chairs that had been "saved" for hours that went unnoticed by housekeeping. After speaking with a manager, things were put into a ridiculous perspective. My husband and I, who planned on spending time together relaxing on the cruise, could not go in the pool or hot tub together, we could not do any deck activities together, eat together or even walk around, for fear of our privacy and personal belongings again being violated and taken. As a result, one of us had to stay on the chairs at all times when the other did things around the pool alone! The last two days of our cruise were completely ruined! We emailed the corporate office about our trip and no one cared at all about any of it, not even that a member of their staff actually put their hands on me and shoved me! My husband and I are both diamond level members with RCCL but this cruise was such a terrible experience that we will never cruise with RCCL again! I have been on over 20 cruises with a variety of different lines and have never experienced such horrible treatment and such an indifferent executive office! Do yourself a favor and save your money! Post-COVID Royal Carribean is absolutely terrible!

Date of experience : April 05, 2024

Don’t give what you paid for.

Booked a cruise to go to three islands, two of which were coco cay and labadee so we did not have to book excursions and could have a nice day without having to spend extra to get off the island. At the last minute Royal Caribbean cancelled our Labadee stop (which given the circumstance is understandable) however, they routed other cruises to nice equal or better islands, but chose to send us to the trash can of the Caribbean - Nassau. Given they replaced our stop with one that is less valuable (cruises that go there are cheaper than other destinations) they absolutely refused to cancel our cruise or give us any sort of discount or compensation for not giving us our moneys worth of our cruise and changing it to no fault of our own. Their attitude is basically they don’t care if you like it or not they have too many other customers to care if you are happy or get what you paid for. Will stick with Carnival from now on.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Air2Sea Program is HORRIBLE

Booked my cruise and needed to fly to our port. I made the mistake of booking our flights through their Air2Sea Program. I am a very inexperienced traveler. We had a connecting flight in Atlanta, unfortunately, their program chose a flight that was 35 minutes between flights. We didn't realize that boarding closed 15 minutes before the flight time. We landed in Atlanta and discovered that we had 14 minutes to get to the terminal that was 19 minutes away from our terminal. Needless to say, we missed our connecting flight - all outbound flights were fully booked, we were on standby for 3 more flights but did not make it and missed our cruise. We did get a refund for the cruise, however, Air2Sea said we were marked as a NO SHOW and REFUSE to refund our flights. IF you cruise with Royal Caribean, DO NOT book your flights with their Air2Sea Program.

Date of experience : November 17, 2023

Disappointment prior to sailing.

I’ve never been on a royal caribbean cruise and this will be the last time I book with them. I haven’t even set sail and I truly regret even booking with them. The cruise selected was to Labadee, Haiti however, with the current issues happening in Haiti, I appreciate Royal Caribbean making the decision to not go there for safety concerns. The cruise is now going to stop in Nassau, Bahamas. I do not feel that Nassau, Bahamas is of equal or greater port value as Labadee, Haiti. I understand the cruise has the right to change ports per the contract, but I’ve been to the Bahamas many times and contacted Royal Caribbean to change to a different cruise that would sail the same dates. I was told no changes could be made after final payment. I paid for my cruise in one payment and the port was changed close to the departure date. I understand Royal Caribbean has rules that I agree to at sign up, but I feel they could offer their passengers something for this change to make it a little better for the disappointment. They have their money and they seem to not care if you are happy with their change. Especially, because they are making money by going to one of the cheapest cruise destinations available (Nassau, Bahamas).

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

misinformed/discriminated

 I checked in two weeks before as required I uploaded my passport and a picture as indicated by the time I was leaving to to the port, I realize I had miss placed my passport, so I called the cruise line and asked if there was anything else I could use as proof of citizenship. I told the lady that took my call that I had a global entry, and if I would be allowed to board the ship say yes, after having me on the phone for around 15 minutes the attendant check with the supervisor and was advised I was going to be able to board. Therefore I drove 14 hours , paid hotel, gas, parking, and for food I wouldn’t have gone if had not been told that I could board. It was very frustrating that when I got there I was told that I couldn’t board I wasn’t given a choice of anything else so I called and requested to see if I could get a refund or get credit to be able to sail another time they say no, they won’t be giving me anything back. Like I said I was just requesting to see if I could get a least credit because I was informed that I would be able to board. This is not right that they miss informed me after being on the phone with them for 15 minutes, and my friends said that they were never asked for documents when they got off/on in Mexico and that someone mentioned that they are only strict about documents with minorities which I’m a person of a minority group so I feel that I was discriminated. therefore I have to give them a really low rating because I have friends they travel with them a lot and I shouldn’t have to lose my money because of their misinformation. Yes I I am responsible for my documents but yes I did call and I was informed that I would be able to board with my global entry and my driver license from the United States. Therefore, I am very disappointed at this cruise line. 

Date of experience : March 30, 2024

This was by far the worst cruise we…

This was by far the worst cruise we have ever experienced with RCCL. We have been on numerous cruises. There were some positives (i.e., room attendant, dinner service, a few of the bartenders (pool area) We had an incident with a member of our party of 9 that involved security. Security extremely rude, very unprofessional and harassed the entire party throughout the remainder of our cruise. So, the last 3 days of a 5-day cruise was miserable. We could not wait to disembark. NEVER AGAIN WE WILL SAIL WITH RCCL. I realize that our measly amount of money will not bother them as they could care less.

Date of experience : March 03, 2024

I have traveled with Royal many times…4

I have traveled with Royal many times and this will be my last cruise with them. If there is one thing I dislike is being nickel & dimed by companies forcing cruisers to get packages they do not want. Drinking packages are a great way to save money however when you force a extra package on other room occupants that is wrong. You will no longer have me as a cruiser anymore Royal Carribean!!!

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

Royal Caribbean Customer Service

I am going on a cruise ship with my parents on the Symphony of the Seas. Despite i sent 5 messages to customer service with my questions, nobody has replied me. I also tried to call the US line from Europe as the German customer service can‘t help with bookings done on the US website ( i find it extremely weird) but the number „was not reachable“ at that time. We haven‘t done any cruise ship so far, but i hope the journey will be better than the first experience with the cruise ship.

Date of experience : February 15, 2024

Probably our last Royal Caribbean cruise

First off, on embarkation, our luggage was left out in the pouring rain for a long time. When we found our luggage down the hallways from our room, our suitcases and all the clothes, shoes, and purses inside were all dripping wet. We had to wring out all our clothes in the tub and hang them up all over the bathroom. Also, our locks on our suitcases were all dented and scratched up, as if someone tried to pry the locks open. Then the next day, we were called by the front desk several times to come down and see them over a security issue. We went down and we were interrogated in front of other passengers, while being told that we were being recorded by them on their body camera. We were interrogated about a “wallet” that we had found the night before. We never found a wallet. My husband finally told the security people that if there is a video of someone finding a wallet, they need to look closely, because it wasn’t us who found it. We asked why they thought we had found a wallet, and they wouldn’t answer us. They just apologized and said it was a misunderstanding. We left them just shaking our heads, wondering what just happened. We walked over to the bar across from the front desk and the same security guys followed us over, and watched us until we left. We are aged 55 and 61, and have never so much as taken a pack of gum. Also, the only reason we had booked this cruise is because we’ve never been to Nassau and wanted to experience it. But Nassau ended up being cancelled. I know that’s not RC’s fault, but it was still a disappointment since that was the reason we booked this cruise. The only highlight of the cruise was our day at Coco Cay. We paid for the Coco Beach Club and that was really nice. Food was good and the beach was beautiful. The food on the ship was ok, nothing great. The elevators are terrible; many people just walked up many flights of stairs rather than waiting 20 minutes or more for the elevators. Looking back: we were made to feel like criminals and we were shown that Royal Caribbean does not care about our personal belongings (by leaving our bags and luggage out in the pouring rain to become drenched). So, we've made a decision to stop cruising with Royal. Plus, they have not bothered to reach out to us regarding our feedback about our negative experience; even though I asked them to.

Travel Agent that will never book group on RCCL

I am a travel agent and I will would never book a group on RCCL again. I have a client that tested positive one day prior to sale. RCCL refused to give a future cruise credit. It seems they would rather everyone get on the cruise ship and infect everyone.

Just sailed with Royal Caribbean on the…

Just sailed with Royal Caribbean on the Voyager of the Sea's and had a fantastic time! Ship was very clean, staff was friendly, food was great. Getting on and off was easy. Highly recommend. Took our company for our first annual trip and look forward to going again.

Date of experience : February 29, 2024

Dishonest and BS company that I will…

Dishonest and BS company that I will never ever again consider using. They tell you they can refund your deposit if it's >3 months then they make you hold for 1/2 hour before transferring your to wait another hour then they tell you they won't refund your deposit because "you bought a non-refundable ticket." That is not what they told me when I bought it!!!! Total BS. DO NOT GIVES THIS CRAP COMPANY YOUR MONEY unless you're 100% sure nothing will happen that may cause you to miss your trip. They rep wouldn't even give his last name "DIEGO" is all he would say. THIS IS A RIP-OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Date of experience : February 03, 2024

Unless you are a frequent Royal…

Unless you are a frequent Royal Caribbean passenger, look at another cruise line. You will be a second class passenger in every way. Before you can even get on the ship, all amenities, shows and reservations will be unavailable to the casual passenger. You will spend your cruise looking from the outside wondering why you cannot be part of their advertised services. To a degree, every cruise line does this, but Royal has taken it to a new level that is actually discouraging new customers.

Save yourself

Save yourself, this is the worst holiday our family ever experienced. Brilliance of The Seas is bogan of the seas, horrific food, boring, heavy drinking, dull and total waste of money. We got off at first stop at a huge extra cost of hotel and flight home, total disaster.

Date of experience : December 30, 2023

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World’s biggest cruise liner’s huge Australian move

Cruising has become a big deal over the past few years, even among Gen Z-ers, which is why this liner has made a big move in Australia.

‘If I knew this I wouldn’t have moved here’

Wild moment great white launches at boat

‘Unacceptable’: Beach pic infuriating Aussies

Cruising has become a big deal over the past few years even among Gen Z, with more Aussies hitting the seas than ever before.

To keep up with the demand, Royal Caribbean (RCL) has announced the debut of a new ship — Anthem of the Seas and after five years has brought back Voyager of the Seas with its new homeport of Brisbane, as it prepares for a wild summer season in Australia.

RCL is the world’s biggest cruise brand with 27 ships globally.

“We have many Australian guests who are returning cruisers on Quantum and Ovation, so we’re bringing in new ships to the region as a unique opportunity to provide our guests with fresh itineraries, while of course still being able to provide many of the signature favourites people know and love,” Gavin Smith, managing director for Royal Caribbean AUNZ, told news.com.au.

He said Anthem brings new experiences including the Queen inspired musical, We Will Rock You, and retro themed diner, Johnny Rockets, while Voyager offers guests three storey waterslides, ice-skating and minigolf.

“We’ve had a bumper year in Australia this season which was partially driven by young families as well as millennial and Gen Z passengers who have increasingly taken to cruising,” he said.

“Multi-gen families are also a key guest for Royal Caribbean in Australia driving the demand, as often we see the grandparents booking suites for themselves, and supporting with rooms for the rest of the group, which in turn introduces their younger family members to cruising.”

Mr Smith said cruising is shaking up the holiday industry in Australia as Aussies look for value and ease amid cost-of-living pressures.

@baileyparker__ cruise ships are absolutely wild #royalcaribbean #anthemoftheseas #cruise #fyp ♬ Che La Luna - Louis Prima

@cruisingwithcalandra Anthem Shining Bright.. @royalcaribbean #anthemoftheseas #cruising #travel #dronevideo #drone ♬ Stars - BCD Studio 9ver

“We’re anticipating the next season will bring high levels growth led by younger guests, we’re looking forward to a rise in cruise converts as more Aussies will get a true ‘something for everyone’ holiday experience.”

He said they’re also seeing strong demand from first time cruisers who are “really embracing and understanding the benefits” to this style of holiday.

@cruise.blog Have you sailed on Voyager of the Seas? #cruise #cruiselife #cruiseblog #cruiselife #cruisewithme #royalcaribbean #voyageroftheseas #royalcaribbeancruise #voyager #cruisereview #galvestoncruise ♬ Calm Down X Love Nwantiti - DJ Drek

“On a cruise, all of your needs are met from the moment you step on board. Where else can you visit multiple countries and only unpack once without the need to spend precious holiday time in airports or pay for expensive hotels in peak summer periods?”

But it’s shorter cruise adventures that are currently the most attractive among travellers.

“Guests are taking shorter holidays, but more of them for example a family may take a 7-night holiday to the South Pacific, plus parents also enjoy an adult only wellness weekend with friends,” Mr Smith said.

He said on Anthem, there’s more weekend getaways than ever before so groups of friends can enjoy getting away for a wellness retreat and indulge in “adults only spaces and spa”.

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The ship will makes its debut in Australia when it arrives to Sydney in November 2025 with 24 holidays ranging from three to 18 nights across New Zealand, the sunny Australian coast and islands of the South Pacific.

Voyager will sail from Brisbane for the first time from December 2025, with 20 holidays to choose from and a new destination in the line-up – Luganville, Vanuatu.

Sailing is between November 2025 and April 2026.

A British expat has shared a hilarious clip about the reality of working in the outback, adding that if she knew this about Australia, she wouldn’t have come.

A TV star was onboard his boat when he was suddenly surrounded by five great white sharks and what happened next was wild.

A heated debate has erupted over a photo taken at a popular Sydney beach with many describing the act as “unacceptable” and in poor form.