Royal Caribbean is to withdraw Rhapsody of the Seas from Australia after eight years as the cruise line continues to bring larger, newer ships to local waters.
Rhapsody will be replaced by the 3,835 passenger Explorer of the Seas for the 2015/16 season. The 14/15 season will be Rhapsody’s last Down Under having made its debut in 2007.
Explorer will reposition from Southampton to Singapore in a month-long voyage from where it will undertake a grand tour of western and southern Australia, including maiden calls in Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and New Zealand, before arriving in Sydney on November 28, 2015.
The ship will rendezvous with Voyager of the Seas in Sydney Harbour.
"We are thrilled to introduce Explorer of the Seas as the latest world-leading cruise ship to Australia, a major milestone that reinforces Royal Caribbean International's position as Sydney's biggest cruise line," regional vice president 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."
The reshuffle was confirmed in an email – sent prematurely – to loyalty club members. The announcement was to have been made tomorrow morning when Royal Caribbean launches its 2015/16 program.
Explorer will join the 3114-passenger Voyager of the Seas in Australia. Both are Voyager class vessels and are newer and larger than the 2435-capacity Rhapsody, one of Royal Caribbean's Vision-class ships.
Explorer's maiden voyage was in October 2000, one year after Voyager.
Rhapsody, meanwhile, embarked on its maiden cruise in May 1997.
