MIAMI, Oct. 16, 2006 – Royal Caribbean International is combining its signature active cruising experience with crocodiles, kangaroos and koala bears, when the cruise line returns to the land of ‘down under’ for the 2007/8 season. Rhapsody of the Seas will sail a series of new itineraries to the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand as she heads for her recently announced Far East adventure.
Three out of the five new itineraries on Rhapsody of the Seas, sailing September 28, October 15 and November 24, 2007, have been chartered by Cruiseco, a consortium of more than 120 cruise specialist travel agencies in Australia. On Sept. 28, Rhapsody departs Honolulu for Sydney on a 16-night sailing, stopping in Maui, Hawaii, before she visits the distinctive and captivating island destinations of Papeete, Moorea, and Bora Bora, French Polynesia; as well as Lautoka in the Fiji Islands. On Oct. 15, Rhapsody will sail on a 12-night South Pacific cruise from Sydney calling on the exotic ports of Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia; Suva in the Fiji Islands; and Vila in Vanuatu, where visitors can discover the quaint French and English colonial architecture. On Nov. 24, she will depart on a 15-night cruise to Singapore, calling on Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns and Darwin in Australia and Bali, Indonesia.
On Oct. 27 and Nov. 10, Rhapsody of the Seas offers 14-night roundtrip cruises from Sydney to New Zealand, cruising through Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and calling on the ports of Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga and Auckland. These sailings will be available for sale through travel agents in all global markets except for Australia where bookings for the New Zealand sailings will be sold exclusively through Cruiseco.
For guests wanting to enhance their cruise vacation with a land-based experience, Royal Caribbean offers some exciting cruisetour packages out of Sydney. Adventurers can take a charter flight to Cairns - the best place to see crocodiles and native wildlife in Tropical North Queensland - and experience the “Quicksilver” boat tour, which enables guests to participate in various marine adventures at the Great Barrier Reef, including swimming, snorkeling, diving or exploring the Reef from an underwater observatory. At the Olgas, vacationers have the opportunity to discover ancestral secrets of the desert land during the aboriginal Liru tour or visit the vividly colored dome rocks rising from the plains.
Exotic New Offerings In Asia
Royal Caribbean International announces exciting new itineraries confirmed since the cruise line’s recent announcement of Rhapsody of the Seas’ introduction to Asia. In January 2008, Rhapsody of the Seas will offer three 12-night open-jaw sailings between Singapore and Hong Kong calling on Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Bangkok, Thailand; and the exotic ports of Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hue and Hanoi in Vietnam - a destination steeped in rich culture and art.
“Royal Caribbean’s expansion into the South Pacific and Asian regions is part of our international business development and global expansion strategies,” said Adam Goldstein, president of Royal Caribbean International. “Additionally, we are pleased to be working with Cruiseco to bring the option of an active cruise vacation to Australians.”
“We are extremely delighted to have Royal Caribbean International return to the region for the 2007 season,” said Kevin Dale, chairman of Cruiseco P/L. “Our agents are the leading cruise specialists in Australia, renowned for providing the best knowledge and access to the best products. Our team looks forward to marketing Royal Caribbean’s award-winning brand to our Australian clients.”
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