The largest cruise ship ever seen in Australia will join Royal Caribbean International’s local fleet in November next year.
The 3800-guest, 138,000-ton Explorer of the Seas will join its smaller sister ship Voyager of the Seas for the 2015-16 Australian cruise season, replacing Rhapsody of the Seas.
Its maiden local cruise season will see it visit ports across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
“We are thrilled to introduce Explorer of the Seas ... to Australia,” Royal Caribbean International regional vice president for the Asia-Pacific, Gavin Smith, said.
“Our local fleet represents the largest investment made by a cruise line in Australia and demonstrates our absolute commitment to the local cruise market.
“We also bid a fond farewell to the much-loved Rhapsody of the Seas, the founding ship of our local operation which has provided over 300,000 Australians with unforgettable holiday memories since 2007.”
Launched in 2000, the 310m-long cruise liner features an on-board ice-skating rink, 10 pools and whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, basketball court, jogging path, inline skating track, nine-hole minigolf course and golf simulator.
Other features include 15 bars, clubs and lounges and a wedding chapel.
Prior to its arrival Down Under, Explorer of the Seas is also to undergo a multi-million dollar revamp which will add a FlowRider surf simulator, a 3D movie theatre and new restaurants and rooms.
The solarium aboard Explorer of the Seas, which is set to undergo a multi-million dollar revamp ahead of its arrival in Australian waters. Source: Supplied
Currently based in Cape Liberty, New York, Explorer of the Seas will spend the 2015 northern summer in Europe before heading to Australia via Singapore.
It will visit Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and New Zealand for the first time before arriving in Sydney on November 28, 2015.
The smaller 2400-guest Rhapsody of the Seas will leave the local fleet in April 2015 after eight successive seasons.
By Herald Sun
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