Royal Caribbean announces winter 2021-2022 redeployment

Royal Caribbean updated its 2021-22 winter sailings with new cruise ship redeployments in the Caribbean and Australia.

The changes were made based on, "market research and valuable feedback from guests and travel partners around the world", which the cruise line claims will add variety in departure ports and itinerary length.

Australia & New Zealand

From October 2021 two Quantum class ships will be based in Australia for the first time ever. Along with Serenade of the Seas, the three ships will offer 67 cruises to 33 destinations around the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia – including Eden, Cairns, Adelaide and Darwin.

Three ships are expected to inject an estimated $165 million in passenger spend into the Australian economy during their 2021/22 season.

• Ovation of the Seas will remain in Sydney with all-new itineraries. The ship will traverse the Tasman Sea, sailing 9- to 12-night itineraries to New Zealand; 5- and 7-night itineraries to Queensland, Australia; and 6- and 8-night itineraries to Tasmania, Australia.
• Quantum of the Seas is will sail from Brisbane, Australia, offering a variety of cruises that range from 3-night weekday getaways to 7- to 9-night adventures throughout the South Pacific.
• Serenade of the Seas will make the voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia to Sydney, which will be her homeport through February 2022. Guests can choose to embark on 12- to 15-night cruises around the South Pacific to Fiji and New Zealand, or take a short break in Melbourne and around the east coast of Australia.

"The 2021/22 season will see us welcome the most technologically-advanced fleet to ever sail Australia, which includes two Quantum class smartships." says Gavin Smith, managing director, Royal Caribbean International, Australia and NZ. "We’re committed to providing the signature Royal Caribbean holiday our Aussie guests know and love."

Caribbean

• Allure of the Seas, previously set to make her Galveston, Texas debut, will now sail from Fort Lauderdale to offer 6-night Western and 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruises.
• Explorer of the Seas, originally scheduled to sail from Miami, will call San Juan, Puerto Rico home for the season and sail 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
• Freedom of the Seas will move from San Juan to the world’s cruise capital of Miami with more 3- and 4-night short Caribbean escapes to The Bahamas and the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Radiance of the Seas, originally planned to sail from Brisbane, Australia, will now embark on 5- and 9-night sailings from Miami.

Guests with confirmed bookings between October 2021 and March 2022 whose cruises are affected by these changes will be notified directly.