An Exciting Announcement From RCI Australia ???

[MicCanberra]

Not really. Coming here in our Summer suits them as it's a quiet time for their ships otherwise.

 

Alaska is still a big destination that they need to serve - but they can't serve it year round.

 

Off peak there, they used to go to the Caribbean - but have more ships there now anyway.

 

They're not sending ships here because of trying to suit our market, but that it fits with them getting higher volume throughout the year.

 

While I do not think it likely, it was a wish list.:D

[Brossy]

Of all the suggestions so far, Rhapsody being based here all year is the only one that interests me. Mariner coming is no big deal, it's a sister ship to Voyager anyway. Same ship......different name. That's what irks me about Princess & Carnival too. Sea, Dawn & Sun Princess.......same ship. Carnival Spirit & Carnival Legend....same ship. If you're gonna give us a new ship.......GIVE US A NEW SHIP!!!:p

 

 

Actually i thought the same as you Karen but was really surprised at the differences between the two ships even though the ships are the same . Voyager has a water slide on the aft deck, Mariner does not. All the pubs, nightclubs, lounges etc have different names, themes, layouts, designs etc. Each production show is unique to that ship eg the ice show. personally i preferred the Mariner over Voyager. They are now renovating the Mariner to suit the Asian market. I remember reading they were removing the pub and replacing it with high end shops and extending the casino as well so I doubt she will be coming to Australia.

 

I do hate that on P&o they have renamed and made all the bars the same eg the Orient. I liked it before when they all had their own unique bars. They are also duplicating the shows on the ships too. Both Jewel and Dawn have the show "Life as we know it", both the Pearl and Jewel have the same pirate and circus shows. All 3 ships have the same laser shows.

 

 

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[Royalty X]

Actually i thought the same as you Karen but was really surprised at the differences between the two ships even though the ships are the same . Voyager has a water slide on the aft deck, Mariner does not. All the pubs, nightclubs, lounges etc have different names, themes, layouts, designs etc. Each production show is unique to that ship eg the ice show. personally i preferred the Mariner over Voyager. They are now renovating the Mariner to suit the Asian market. I remember reading they were removing the pub and replacing it with high end shops and extending the casino as well so I doubt she will be coming to Australia.

 

I do hate that on P&o they have renamed and made all the bars the same eg the Orient. I liked it before when they all had their own unique bars. They are also duplicating the shows on the ships too. Both Jewel and Dawn have the show "Life as we know it", both the Pearl and Jewel have the same pirate and circus shows. All 3 ships have the same laser shows.

 

 

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I actually like that they're making all the P&O ships similar. They're not identical but the fact they have similar facilities means you'll always know what to expect.

I'm very excited about this announcement. Any new cruising experience is a good experience. :)

[The_Big_M]

While I do not think it likely, it was a wish list.:D

 

Nothing wrong with a wish, but it was said that it makes more sense - but it doesn't.

[The_Big_M]

I'm very excited about this announcement.

 

Their post has had the desired effect. :D

[shipfriend_max]

When we were on the Voyager, we also heard that the Mariner was coming to Sydney. We have also heard that the Rhapsody is going to stay down here and we have also heard that the Radiance wouldn't be coming back after 2014 - but it is:D

 

Cheers

Di

 

That would mean that Rhapsody could be the only ship visiting Hawaii in Sep 2015...:mad:

 

So, do I understand it right? Voyager, Mariner and Rhapsody will be sailing soon from Sydney??

 

Maybe Mariner comes to Alaska in summer 2015!! Could that be?? :)

[MicCanberra]

Nothing wrong with a wish, but it was said that it makes more sense - but it doesn't.

 

It makes more sense to Gaechann though.:D

[MicCanberra]

I actually like that they're making all the P&O ships similar. They're not identical but the fact they have similar facilities means you'll always know what to expect.

I'm very excited about this announcement. Any new cruising experience is a good experience. :)

 

I suppose they are targeting for a particular demographic of cruiser.:D

[Esilef]

RCI have just announced that they have decided to launch Quantum of the Seas in Australia.

[Esilef]

Wondering if anyone will believe me??????

[karmac]

Wondering if anyone will believe me??????

 

I don't think so lol:D

[The_Big_M]

It makes more sense to Gaechann though.:D

 

Apparently, but the point of the post was it doesn't to the business. :D

[The_Big_M]

I suppose they are targeting for a particular demographic of cruiser.:D

 

Most lines try to make ships very similar e.g. RCL have similar approaches and fitouts e.g. rock walls where possible, and Celebrity have 'Solsticized' old ships to again make them similar - and increase revenue.

 

So I suppose they are all targeting a particular demographic of cruiser. :D

[Cruise ship fan]

Wondering if anyone will believe me??????

 

If they do it, it would make a lot more sense, then bringing the Mariner or any ship bigger then the Radiance of the Seas out here. The issue all their ship classes built after and including Voyager class (with the exception of the Radiance class) is that none of them can tender as they were built to sail in the Caribbean, however out here there are not many suitable docking ports, so tendering is important. One of the things that they focused on early on in the Quantum class promotions was the ships ability to tender. Basing these ships (well one is ok, but more the one not so much) in the Caribbean would be straight out stupid. So with our growing market so one of them may come here. But even still its wishful thinking. They will more then likely make the dumber decision and bring out a ship that has trouble getting into ports just like the Voyager, and severely limiting themselves.

[springaussie]

That would mean that Rhapsody could be the only ship visiting Hawaii in Sep 2015...:mad:

 

So, do I understand it right? Voyager, Mariner and Rhapsody will be sailing soon from Sydney??

 

Maybe Mariner comes to Alaska in summer 2015!! Could that be?? :)

 

Celebrity Fan we are just speculating what the "Exciting Announcement" could be by Royal Caribbean on Thursday.

It could be nothing do with Australia getting another ship.

[springaussie]

Another Theory

Royal Caribbean say "Exciting Announcement".

Exciting and Explorer?

It could be the Explorer of the Seas making a visit to Australia in 2015. Explorer of the Seas has no cruises to book after 9 January 2015.

It is possible it will be relocated from Port Canaveral to Asia via Cape Horn and Sydney. Royal have said they want to increase capacity in Asia. Going via Suez Canal to Asia from Florida is not as attractive now since the Egypt situation has worsen.

Explorer of the Seas currently sails out of New York area and will be replaced by the Quantum of the Seas in November 2014.

Explorer, Mariner and Voyager are all Voyager Class Ships.

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

I'm thinking it will be Rhapsody that they keep as an all year ship here. She was the first ship to cruise our waters and has been deployed here every year since. Australia and New Zealand are very lucrative markets for RCCL.

 

I would prefer Voyager against Mariner as it seems Mariner has been very "Asianized' whereas Voyager was, a little but not to the extreme Mariner has. Radience I don't think will be considered to remain here at all.

 

Then of course Celebrity might be looking at Millenium or Century being based here.

 

I don't think RCCL will change it's Loyalty levels as they were only changed about 18 months ago. They may remove the Double points for cruising in December deal they currently offer.

 

Whatever the case, I'm sure we can fill them up?? These are only my personal thoughts.

 

Jill:)

[springaussie]

 

Whatever the case, I'm sure we can fill them up??

 

Jill:)

 

I agree.

I was at the Brisbane Cruise Show today and what a massive line to speak to the Royal Caribbean staff considering no ships based here in Brisbane.

[Esilef]

Maybe they will announce that they are going to base a ship out of Brisbane?

[MMDown Under]

Maybe they will announce that they are going to base a ship out of Brisbane?

 

That would be popular with Queenslanders, as long as they have interesting itineraries. Americans can catch a direct flight on Qantas from Dallas to Brisbane.

[gbenjo]

Just looking at the Sydney Ports schedule up to 2017 and there are no other RCI or Celebrity ships scheduled other than the usual. Thats not to say it will not change of course but as it stands at the moment the announcement will be about something else. I believe Celebrity are introducing a couple more loyalty levels so maybe RCI might be doing something similar????

[Royalty X]

Just looking at the Sydney Ports schedule up to 2017 and there are no other RCI or Celebrity ships scheduled other than the usual. Thats not to say it will not change of course but as it stands at the moment the announcement will be about something else. I believe Celebrity are introducing a couple more loyalty levels so maybe RCI might be doing something similar????

I don't get how that would be exciting for just Australia and NZ though. And if the announcement involved Celebrity, I'm sure the Celebrity Australia & NZ facebook page would've carried the announcement rather than the RCI Australia & NZ page. Who's to say if any future ships would be based in Sydney? A ship like Mariner could do Indonesian and Asian itineraries out of Perth (well, Fremantle) before returning to Asia for a season.

[Pushka]

But the loyalty stuff wouldn't be released by RCL Australia?

[Gold Coast Cruisers]

But the loyalty stuff wouldn't be released by RCL Australia?

 

 

They are linked though. Quite often if I call RCL about something and if the telephones are busy in Sydney it automatically switches me through to an Agent in the USA no matter what the time is in the USA. They will do a booking or answer Australia questions for anything RCCL.

 

Jill:)

[Pushka]

Yes. True. I hope it isn't a loyalty thing. It isn't something I'm into all that much. If anything it would be with the Carnival lines because of the share OBC.