Cruising from Australia with Royal Caribbean
As the old saying goes, “getting there is half the fun”. Now, that may not necessarily be the case if you’re heading to Yorke Peninsula at Easter, but on a Royal Caribbean cruise it certainly holds true.
In fact, on sister ships Ovation of the Seas® and Quantum of the Seas®, getting there could be at least half the fun – maybe two thirds. Imagine enjoying some of the favourite features of your holiday destination while you’re on the way there. So, what’s on board?
Dining, bars and lounges
When it comes to onboard dining, it’s all about choice. Enjoy complimentary meals at the main dining room and the all-day Café Promenade. Treat your taste buds at one of the specialty restaurants, including Izumi Japanese restaurant, Chops Grille℠ steakhouse, Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver and La Patisserie café. The Chef’s Table is a five-course gastronomical adventure, with dishes like lobster salad, scallop carpaccio with yuzu vinaigrette, grilled filet mignon served with truffle potato puree, and more. Each course is paired with a glass of red or white wine. Still hungry? Head for the seaside Fish & Ships for some British-y seafood treats, or embrace the quirkiness of Wonderland’s inventive cuisine.
Got kids? Though they’ll enjoy the delights of the main dining room – and the odd specialty restaurant feast – sooner or later they’re likely to want fast food. Maybe they’re not alone. The complimentary Dog House has a range of hotdogs, complete with a selection of condiments, toppings and sides. Located in an al fresco, Italian-style setting, Sorrento’s serves up tasty pizza until late at night.
If you plan to try a new bar/lounge every day, you’ll need to be at sea for at least a week. Tired of humans mixing your martinis? The Bionic Bar employs robot bartenders to do the job. They may not be big on conversation, but they can whip up a cocktail, mocktail or drink of your choice in a mechanical flurry.
There’s also the nautical-esque Schooner Bar, the Latin-themed Boleros, the poolside Sky Bar, the outdoor North Star bar, Vintages wine bar, and the Sunshine Bar in the adults-only solarium. In the daytime, the aptly named Two70® venue is a comfortable lounge bar offering 270-degree views from the rear of the ship. In the evening, the vast windows become a 30m wide, floor-to-ceiling screen displaying dazzling, ultra-HD imagery as a backdrop to exciting live shows.
Onboard entertainment
Few ships have as much fun stuff to do onboard as Quantum and Ovation. There are bumper cars, a 12m-high rock-climbing wall, roller-skating and the RipCord® by iFLY® skydiving simulator. If you’re still not tired, hit the surf on the FlowRider®, take a dip in one of the swimming pools, or try your luck in the video arcade.
For more sedate pleasures, hone your skills at jewellery-making and scrapbooking classes, or head to the Vitality℠ Spa for a body-melting massage. Or maybe this is the year you take that dance class and learn the moves of salsa, hip hop, swing or ballroom.
Kids might want to head for Splashaway Bay℠ for an afternoon of waterslides, fountains, whirlpools and wearing themselves out. There’s also a range of supervised activities in the award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Programme, designed for three-year-olds through to late teens – all at no additional cost.
Nightlife
In the evening, take in a family flick on the big screen at a poolside film night, or head to Two70® for a show. Kidless cruisers can try their luck at the casino or dance up a storm to live music at the Music Hall, or simply kick back to some quiet tunes at a mellow bar.
Thanks to COVID-19, ocean cruising has itself taken a bit of a holiday. But the ships will return, and with the introduction of enhanced health and safety measures, the wellbeing of passengers will continue to be the top priority for Royal Caribbean. On occasions, some of the activities mentioned here might not be available due to evolving health protocols, but there’ll always be plenty to do.
So, get ready to set sail for the seascapes of Australia’s east coast, the chilled-out beach life and friendly faces of the South Pacific, or the fiords and snow-capped peaks of the Land of the Long White Cloud. And think of all the fun you’ll have getting there.
Health and safety protocols, guest conduct rules, and regional travel restrictions vary by ship and destination, and are subject to change without notice. Due to evolving health protocols, imagery and messaging may not accurately reflect onboard and destination experiences, offerings, features, or itineraries. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice.