Your Cruise Your Way Cruise Blog

Beginning in the winter of 2008, Royal Caribbean International today if offering 14 Australia cruises and two transpacific voyages aboard Rhapsody of the Seas. Choose between cruises ranging from seven to 15 nights, and offering more sailings to the continent made famous by its awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef, rugged Outback, unique wildlife, and diverse population. Even though it’s been around for years, Australia is a new frontier unto itself. And Royal Caribbean is offering a host of opportunities to witness it, and be a part of the local cultures.

“Vacationers have a greater breadth of choices for Royal Caribbean adventures to the great land ‘Down Under’ in 2008-09,” said Alice Norsworthy, senior vice president, Marketing, Royal Caribbean International. “Rhapsody’s deployment to the region for the entire season will help meet travelers’ demand for our innovative ships and unique style of cruising to more destinations around the world.”
Five roundtrip voyages from Sydney to the Coral Sea will take Rhapsody’s guests to New Caledonia, Vanuatu Islands, and Society Islands. A 13-night itinerary, departing October 19, 2008, includes calls at Noumea, Poum, and the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia; Luganville and Vila, Vanuatu; and Ouvea (Wadrilla) and Lifou in the Loyalty Islands. A shorter 10-night itinerary, departing November 1, 22 and December 13, includes calls in New Caledonia and at Vila, while an 11-night sailing on April 2, 2009, includes Luganville.
Rhapsody also will offer two Barrier Reef adventures on November 11 and December 2, 2008. On the 11-night roundtrip voyages from Sydney, you will cruise by Willis Island and call at Cairns (Yorkey’s Knob), Port Douglas, Cooktown, Brisbane, and Hamilton Island (among the Whitsunday Islands) in Australia.
Still need more? How about a seven-night Tasmania voyage on January 6, 2009, will sail roundtrip from Sydney, and take guests to Burnie, Port Arthur and Hobart in Tasmania; and Melbourne.
If New Zealand is a must see port for you, you can choose among four roundtrip sailings from Sydney for an exciting 14 night New Zealand adventure. Rhapsody of the Seas will visit at Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, as well as cruise through Dusky, Doubtful and Milford sounds in Fjordland National Park. On voyages departing December 23, 2008, and January 27, 2009, you can also visit Napier, while those on the January 13 and February 10 sailings will enjoy a scenic cruise past volcanic White Island.
If you are lucky enough to have a long vacation, or you’re just enjoying your retirement, you can combine two spectacular sailings for a 35-night “Down Under” exploration cruise to the four corners of the Australian continent. On the 17-night voyage, sailing on February 24 from Sydney, you can cruise the Coral Sea to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, and sail to cities along the northern Australian coast to Perth (Fremantle). On the following 18-night voyage, sailing on March 13 from Perth to Sydney, you will call at cities on the southern Australian coast and the Island of Tasmania, and cruise the Tasman Sea to New Zealand and its beautiful fjordlands.
If that’s not enough to whet your cruise appetite, you can choose one of two sailings on Rhapsody’s eastward transpacific crossing. The 16-night sailing on April 13 from Sydney to Honolulu will take you across the International Date Line to call at ports in the Society Islands of the Pacific and Maui. The following 10-night sailing, departing April 28, will spend five days among the Hawaiian Islands before continuing on to Vancouver, British Columbia.