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Royal Caribbean to Deploy Two Ships in Australia in 2025-26

• June 28, 2024

Two Royal Caribbean International ships are set to spend the 2025-26 winter season in Australia and the South Pacific.

Sailing in the region for the first time, the Anthem of the Seas is set to offer various itineraries from Sydney.

The Quantum-class ship will be joined by the Voyager of the Seas, which returns to Australia after a hiatus for cruises departing from Brisbane.

Together, the vessels will offer a total of 44 cruises in the region, including two- to 18-night itineraries to the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia, sailing between November 2025 and April 2026.

Following a repositioning cruise from Hawaii, the Anthem of the Seas will offer 24 departures from Sydney.

The program of the 4,100-guest ship features short coastal cruises, in addition to five-night cruises to Tasmania and nine- to 18-night itineraries to the South Pacific islands and New Zealand.

Ports of call being visited include Noumea, Dunedin, Bay of Islands, Port Vila, Mystery Island, Airlie Beach and Hobart.

Debuting in Brisbane, the Voyager of the Seas offers a total of 20 cruises to destinations in Australia and the South Pacific.

Itineraries include seven- to nine-night cruises to Noumea, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, as well as four, six, and seven-night cruises to Airlie Beach and Cairns on Australia’s Queensland coast.

The Voyager’s program is highlighted by the introduction of a new destination to Royal Caribbean’s lineup in the region: Luganville in Vanuatu.

Before starting its 2025-26 season in Australia, the 1999-built ship also offers a repositioning cruise from Singapore.

The 12-night cruise sails to Brisbane and features visits to destinations in Indonesia and Australia such as Bali, Darwin and Yorkeys Knob.

For the 2024-25 season, Royal Caribbean International is also deploying two ships in Australia, including the Quantum of the Seas sailing from Brisbane and the Ovation of the Seas sailing from Sydney.

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Search suspended for cruise ship passenger who fell overboard off Hawaii

Coast Guard crews have suspended the search for an Australian cruise ship passenger off the coast of Hawaii following a report of a person overboard, officials said Thursday.

“After reviewing all relevant information of the case and discussing it with the next of kin, the Coast Guard has made the difficult decision to suspend the active search for the passenger aboard the Quantum of the Seas,” said Kevin Cooper, a search and rescue mission coordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu. 

The cruise ship Quantum of the Seas reported a person overboard at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday local time to the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu, the Coast Guard said in a news release Wednesday. 

“The crew of the cruise ship remained on scene to search for approximately two hours, deploying six life rings,” the release said. 

On Wednesday, an air search with the Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point C-130 Hercules aircrew launched at 7 a.m. and arrived on scene at 9 a.m. local time, searching about 500 miles south of Kailua-Kona, Big Island.

After six hours the crew returned to the air station for fuel replenishment. Officials said said Thursday that the search had been suspended.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean confirmed that a passenger went overboard.

"The ship’s crew immediately launched a search and rescue operation and is working closely with local authorities," the spokesperson said.

The sprawling cruise ship has 16 decks and fits 4,905 guests and 1,500 crew members, according to its website . 

Quantum of the Seas departed Brisbane, Australia, on April 12 and is scheduled to arrive in Honolulu on Friday.

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WONDERS DOWN UNDER

Australian cruises.

From urban verve to outback wilderness, Australia is a year-round sunny paradise.

A large island nation, Australia delivers the best of both the city and the country, the beach and the bush. The locals here are a laidback and friendly bunch, with a dry sense of humor and their own slang language. Explore cosmopolitan Sydney, home to Bondi Beach's turquoise waters and the architecturally unique Sydney Opera House. Cruise to Australia and visit Queensland to experience the Whitsunday Islands, where you can snorkel to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest living organism. For an authentic Australian adventure, head to the outback: Check out Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with its red dome known as Ayers Rock.

From The Bush To The Beach

From urban verve to outback wilderness, Australia is a year-round sunny paradise

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Join the throngs of sun-kissed Australian surfers and catch some of the world's best waves on Australia's beaches.

SWOON OVER SYDNEY

Visit Australia and tour Sydney's urban attractions like the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Taronga Zoo. For outdoor fun, nap on the white sands of Bondi Beach or scale the magnificent rock formations of the Blue Mountains.

MEET MELBOURNE

Melbourne is a hipster haven and Australia's culture, coffee and sports capital. Grab a flat black (the Australian version of an Americano, with espresso and hot water) at Patricia on Little Bourke Street, then rent a car and start off on the Great Ocean Road, which will take you along sweeping views of Australia's southern coast.

HEAD TO THE OUTBACK

In the remote Northern Territory, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: See the famous dome-shaped red rock rising out of the Central Australian Desert. Or check out Kakadu National Park, where you can see ancient rock art at Nourlangie or hike to the hidden waterfalls at Motor Car, Twin or Jim Jim Falls.

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Get to know the different sides of Australia, from vibrant, modern cities to wild, untamed wilderness.

KING AMONG REEFS

Snorkel, dive and swim along the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef — you can even charter a glass-bottomed boat to stay dry while seeing the only living organism visible from outer space. The reef is accessible from places like Cairns, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Port Douglas in Queensland.

In Queensland, take a day trip to the surrounding tropical islands: Check out Fitzroy Island and its National Park, where you can laze on the white sands of the coral beach or go bird-watching for for emerald doves and white-bellied sea eagles. See the colored sands at postcard-perfect Fraser Island, or explore the wild island state of Tasmania during your vacation.

PICK A BEACH

Explore Western Australia's Cape Le Grand National Park, which offers stunning coastline set against rolling heathlands filled with kangaroos. Check out Queensland's Gold Coast, where you'll find local favorite Nobby Beach (known colloquially as "Nobby's"). Or get lost in Tasmania's Freycinet National Park, where pink granite cliffs overlook white-sand beaches and clear blue waves.

EXPEDITIONS DOWN UNDER SAY "G'DAY" TO AN OUTBACK ADVENTURE

Choose your Australian vacation adventure: Relax on a tropical island or one of thousands of beaches, hike in a remote national park or venture into the vibrant city.

SAMPLE SYDNEY

A sampler cruise from Sydney is a great way to experience both Australia's biggest city and an exciting cruise.

BE TANTALIZED BY TASMANIA

Tasmania is an underrated Australian state that's home to Cradle Mountain, the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site and the eccentric Museum of Old and New Art among other things to do.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Arriving in Australia

The best time to visit Australia depends on where you want to go. The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and the Northern Territory are best explored during dry season (May to September), while summer is the optimal time to visit southern states like Victoria and Tasmania.

Weather-wise, northern Australia enjoys an endless summer, but it does get cold in Victoria and Tasmania during winter. Meanwhile, Melbourne is known for displaying four seasons in one day, so always have a jacket and umbrella on hand, just in case.

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In northern Australia, be aware that stingers (dangerous jellyfish) swarm the seas in the summer, from approximately October to March.

Tipping is not customary in Australia.

The universal phone number for taxi services across the country is 131008.

HOW TO DINE DOWN UNDER

"Fair dinkum" — Aussie slang for "authentic" or "genuine" — Australian cuisine has been influenced by England, New Zealand and even Italy. However, there's nothing more Australian than throwing some steak and snags (sausages) on a barbie (barbecue) — no shrimps allowed.

POPULAR PUB GRUB

There are two dishes to order at an Aussie pub: a chicken parmigiana (called a parmi Down Under) or a burger, which will usually come topped with Australian specialties like beetroot or pineapple. Of course, you can always go for a classic steaks: Porterhouses are popular in Victoria, while rump steaks are particularly beloved in New South Wales.

THE REAL BISCUIT

Australia has some delicious sweet treats, but it's perhaps best-known for perfecting the biscuit. Try Anzac biscuits with oats and golden syrup, lamingtons — a sponge square covered in chocolate and coconut — and Tim Tams, the local favorite brand of chocolate-covered biscuits.

IT'S PIE TIME

Meat pies — with a flaky pastry crust baked around a savory filling of ground meat (typically beef or lamb) and spices — are a traditional Australian lunch or snack found in bakeries across the country. Another favorite is the Chiko Roll, similar to a large spring roll but filled with the signature Aussie ingredients of mutton, celery, barley, rice, carrots and spices.

Related Ports

The Australian coast is dotted with beautiful ports, like Esperance, to explore. In Queensland, Cairns and Airlie Beach are both gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. Meanwhile, Darwin is a gateway to the Northern Territory's rugged natural sights, including Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, and Uluru.

Brisbane, Australia

Adelaide, Australia

Airlie Beach, Queensland

Cairns (Yorkeys Knob), Australia

Darwin, Australia

Esperance, Australia

Geraldton, Australia

Hobart, Tasmania

Melbourne, Australia

Newcastle, Australia

Perth (Fremantle), Australia

Port Douglas, Australia

Port Hedland, Australia

Sydney (White Bay), Australia

Sydney, Australia

Willis Island (Cruising), Australia

Wollongong (Port Kembla), Australia

Eden, Australia

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Cairns, Australia

Penneshaw, Australia

Gladstone, Australia

Exmouth, Australia

Albany, Australia

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Australian Cruising News.com.au

Welcome to Australian Cruising News.com.au

This web site was created by Brian Gaskin who is a Cruise Expert and who has now been on 70 Cruises . I have done inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins on various different ships that have cruised throughout the world. My experience’s to me are very important and I want to share these with you the Australian cruising public.  

I have also done many ship inspections to help me understand better at what a specific cruise ship or cruise line has to offer to a client [potential customer]. To me this is the number one priority and that is why Im here to help educate the Australian cruising public on what ship and cruise might be right for them,  I want help you anyway I can.

My focus is to provide you with the best information on the cruise ships that are based and homeported here in Australian waters every Australian cruising season.

If you are cruising in the future I want to be able to help you by getting the most out of your cruising holiday. I strive to be different from all the other News/ Media outlets and want to provide you with an information source you can rely on.

About my Audience.

I have over 244,000 followers on my website with over 40,000 people who click on and like my website every week. Those who click on my website spend over 6 minutes on the site per visit. I also am a member of 10 major cruising groups on Facebook who have members totalling 4000 members each and I am also a contributor to those sites. I then have my own face book page for my business totalling 4500 members with a weekly engagement reach of over 80,000 people.

My engagement on my facebook site alone has 80,000+ readers per week.

My Audience location as of August 2021 is :

Australian 93% followed by New Zealand 2%, United States of America 2%, United Kingdom 2% then South Pacific 1%

My Audience is made up of 61% of women aged between 25 -55 and 39% men aged between 30-60.

As of April 2020 my return rate on my website is 60% new visitors and 40% returning visitors.

What people say about me?

Chris Frame * Brand, Marketing & PR Professional. Maritime Historian & Author.

*Brian is an expert in cruising with a deep knowledge on passenger ships operating today, cabin types, cruise ship offerings and back up this knowledge with excellent photographs.

John Pond * Editor, Publisher, Travel & Lifestyle Writer. At Various Magazines and Papers.

*Brian has a great deal of cruise knowledge and is a pleasure to work with.

Sanjay Bhasin * CEO at Culture Holidays India Pvt Ltd.

*Brian Gaskin is a true professional who takes the time and effort to ensure that his clients get the very best resources. He knows the ins and outs of cruising & can offer advise that is priceless. Drawing on a breadth of knowledge and experience, he knows the cruise lines, the ships, and the destination through and through. Brian is also an excellent, conscientious & a creative Writer. He is a consummate professional. His work is consistently excellent and on time. A nice bonus is that he is also a very skilled photographer, with a large sales expertise. He is a great photographer and pays attention to small details.

Video’s made while being in the Cruising Industry.

I was the Interviewer with the Film crew from Cruise News TV.

I have also interviewed Ann Sherry in regards to the P&OEdge and John Sharpe the creator of the P&OEdge video attached: https://youtu.be/TkLAkw7bBFQ

I also interviewed David Jones the Cooperate communications manager of Carnival in regards to the 5 Sydney based ships in a salute the Royal Australian Navy : https://youtu.be/mlKQrEy5vp8

The last video shows me interviewing Meg Koffel, Princess Cruises Public Relations Manager in relation to what makes Princess cruises stand out from the rest. : https://youtu.be/SY7YW-eWBKQ

Australian Cruising News has also been approached by Channel nine in Sydney, Australia to comment on the state of the Australian Cruising Industry, we have also been interviewed on several occasions by A Current Affair and have done several stories in relation to the Australian Cruising Industry.

Australian Cruising News also has international reach and we also comment on the state of the Australian Cruising Industry on the International cruising platform www.cruisecrazies.com    Cruise News, Forums, Packing List, Travel Agents, Groups, Blogs and Planning Resources - CruiseCrazies

I was also involved as the official photographer for the Inaugral Jelly Bean Cruise on board Celebrity Solstice on the 23rd of October 2014 supporting the Danii Meads-Barlow Foundation.

The DANII Foundation was formed in 2012 after the tragic unnecessary death of Type One Diabetic (T1D), Daniella Meads Barlow at the age of 17 as a result of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, Dead in Bed Syndrome (DBIS). DANII is Australia’s pre-eminent foundation for the prevention of life threatening Dead in Bed Syndrome (DIBS) and the only organisation dedicated solely to the improvement of the safety and quality of the lives of T1D’s.

As a result of this focus DANII has established an Australia wide consumer campaign to make life-saving remote alert technology for T1D’s affordable and as a result reduce unnecessary complications and complex morbidity associated with poorly managed T1D.

For a video of the Inaugral Jelly Bean Cruise watch here : https://youtu.be/G0oDbwYfe_M

Australian Cruising News.com.au  are proud to be the only dedicated Australian website to promote the Australian Cruising Industry and the ships that are based and homeported here in Australian waters every Australian cruising season, our point of difference is to provide you with fresh local content and we are constantly updating our website to bring you the latest information.

We are aiming to achieve this by using our http://www.australiancruisingnews.com.au  web site which shows you the different ships that are available to Australians throughout the Australian cruising season.

We also have a dedicated Facebook page that also promotes the Australian Cruising Industry called  http://www.facebook.com/AustralianCruisingNews.com.au which also promotes the cruise ships that are based and home ported here every Australian cruising season. You can also catch us on Instagram at : http://www.instagram.com/australiancruisingnews.com.au  , Pinterest : http://www.pinterest.com/auscruisingnews  and Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/AusCruisingNews

Here at Australian Cruising News.com.au we look for to working with you on many exciting projects. We are the HOME Of Australian Cruising!

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A woman was left baffled after she came across a large, bubbling hole on a popular Queensland beach during her morning stroll to work.

Carolyn Evans spotted the two-meter hole just a short distance from the shore on Main Beach on the Gold Coast.

It looked to have water erupting from it with Ms Evans immediately contacting her local council due to safety concerns.

“A bit crazy this morning,” she said in a Facebook post.

“I couldn’t believe it, I have never seen anything like this before. I spoke to some tradesmen working nearby and they were also quite shocked.

“I contacted my local councillor Darren Taylor to let him know about the hole.

“I was more concerned about safety.”

A City of Gold Coast spokesperson told news.com.au the hole was caused due to works the council is currently undertaking.

“The Surfers Paradise Sand Backpass System, which will help nourish and protect our northern beaches from erosion, is currently undergoing testing for operation in July,” the spokesperson said.

“Routine pressure testing of the system on Tuesday identified a small leak which caused the incident in the sand at Main Beach.”

The spokeserson said the leak was quickly identified and subsequently repaired that day and the affected area was backfilled with sand.

“Testing of the system is continuing through this week with the inaugural sand pumping campaign anticipated to get underway next week.”

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The Top Cruise News Stories of June 2024

Posted: June 28, 2024 | Last updated: June 28, 2024

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Australia's newest warship HMAS Stalwart breaks down, undergoing emergency mechanical repairs

Australia's newest warship is undergoing emergency mechanical repairs to address "engine defects", at the same time the navy's only other supply class vessel remains out of service.

The ABC can reveal HMAS Stalwart, which was commissioned into service less than three years ago, has extended a port visit to Darwin as Defence investigates the extent of problems on board.

HMAS Stalwart is the second and final Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ship built in Spain for the Royal Australian Navy, and is supposed to carry fuel, ammunition and other supplies for deployed combat forces, as well as providing logistics.

Last year the ABC revealed significant mechanical problems had also been discovered on board her sister ship, HMAS Supply, which was taken to Sydney's Garden Island naval base to be repaired under warranty. 

During a Senate estimates hearing earlier this month, senior navy figures revealed that HMAS Supply could remain out of service for another year despite already being sidelined for 14 months.

"I do not want the committee to get the wrong idea, I am not satisfied with the availability of this ship," Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said when questioned about the AOR ship built by Spanish company Navantia.

"This is a complex defect. Navantia have written to the department accepting liability, it will be repaired under warranty," the navy chief confirmed during his evidence on June 6.

Following questions from the ABC this week, the Defence Department has now confirmed that HMAS Stalwart, which was commissioned into service seven months after HMAS Supply in November 2021, is also experiencing problems with its engine.

"HMAS Stalwart has extended a port visit to Darwin to investigate engine defects that emerged on passage to Darwin. The crew are supported by contractors," a Defence spokesperson told the ABC.

"The extent and cause of the required repairs are under investigation," the spokesperson added.

Defence figures familiar with the situation claim HMAS Stalwart is experiencing "massive engineering issues" and could be in as "bad shape" as HMAS Supply.

"It's having to undergo emergency repairs to allow it to limp back to its home port in Perth," one Defence source told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Spain's Navantia is one of several international defence companies shortlisted to supply Australia's new $7-10 billion fleet of general purpose frigates for the navy.

The Spanish shipbuilder has previously supplied the navy's three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, as well as the two Canberra-class landing helicopter docks, which have also faced long-running problems with their propulsion systems.

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Search and rescue efforts for cruise passenger who went overboard off Sydney

A man on board a nearby ship where search and rescue efforts are underway to find a missing passenger described the scene is “scary”.

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As search and rescue efforts are underway to find a passenger believed to have gone overboard off Sydney, passengers on board a nearby ship said the scene at sea was “scary” as waves swirl and police boats take over the water.

A large-scale search is underway off Sydney after a cruise ship passenger went overboard .

P&O’s Pacific Adventure was due in Sydney Harbour before 6am but as of 7am, remains in waters off the Eastern Suburbs.

Carnival Splendor, which was also due to dock at 6.30am at Circular Quay, remains anchored outside the heads and unable to move while the frantic search continues.

Speaking to news.com.au, a passenger on board the Splendor cruise ship said police boats were circling the waters.

“We’re docked out at sea and aren’t allowed in yet due to the search and rescue,” he said on Monday.

“An announcement came out for us at 7am saying that an emergency rescue operation was being conducted and we weren’t allowed to enter the channel into the harbour.

“We are maybe 20km out from land and will stay here until we get permission to head back in.”

The passenger said while the overboard passenger wasn’t from his ship, the Carnival Splendor, the vibe on board was still “scary”.

“A police board recently rocked up,” he said.

“I don’t think many people know that there is a passenger overboard nearby. We had heard a rumour.”

It is understood that the Splendor was on standby to assist in the search but is now heading to port and is expected to arrived around 10.30am on Monday.

Just before 8am, P & O confirmed the search to news.com.au, revealing staff are consoling the missing passenger’s family.

“Pacific Adventure is currently undertaking a search and rescue operation off Sydney after a person overboard alarm was raised at 4am,” a spokesperson said.

“Since this time, the ship carrying more than 2,600 guests, has been onsite searching along with other nearby vessels deployed to the area by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.”

“The family of this guest is being cared for by our on-board team while every effort is being made to find them.”

Pacific Adventure’s arrival into White Bay Terminal this morning has been delayed while the search continues.

One man who was supposed to pick up passengers from the Pacific Adventure told 2GB he was told “don’t rush” because “the ship’s stopped outside the head and somebody’s gone overboard.”

The Bureau of Meteorology said a ‘strong wind warning’ was in place for Sydney and parts of the east coast, causing swells of around 2.5 metres at sea.

Southeasterly 20 to 30 knots winds were likely throughout Monday, decreasing to 15 to 25 knots in the late evening.

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