News Archive
2012
2011
Australia's beloved Rhapsody of the Seas next in line for a multimillion-dollar makeover
Thursday July 14, 2011
July 12, 2011 - One of Australia's favourite superliners, Rhapsody of the Seas, which has been based here for the summer cruise season since 2007, is scheduled for an extensive revitalisation in March 2012. Royal Caribbean International has announced that Rhapsody of the Seas will dry dock in Singapore, where a multimillion dollar project will see her refitted with a host of new amenities and upgrades – including features from the ground-breaking Oasis Class superliners. New specialty dining venues and additional cabins will be added, whilst all existing cabins and suites will enjoy an extensive refresh.
Rhapsody of the Seas will be the first of three ships to undergo enhancements in 2012 as part of Royal Caribbean';s 'Royal Advantage' initiative - a commitment to provide guests with the industry';s most innovative, contemporary cruise ships, exciting destinations and to raise the standards of guest satisfaction through superior service. Other ships scheduled for revitalisations in 2012 are Grandeur of the Seas in May 2012 and Serenade of the Seas in November 2012.
According to Gavin Smith, managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Australia, the latest move proves yet again how much the company values Australia and New Zealand as a vital cruising market.
"We';re fully committed to 'raising the bar' by heavily investing in our growing Australasian fleet and delivering a superior product to the local market - either by introducing new ships or by revitalising existing ones. Rhapsody of the Seas is already a tremendously popular ship and now we will invest in making her even better."
In summer 2012-13, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises' local fleet will includes two megaliners, Voyager of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice - bringing features and facilities never seen before in this part of the world, such as an ice skating rink and a lawn club - with a further three superliners (Radiance of the Seas, Celebrity Millennium and now Rhapsody of the Seas) all having benefitted from multi-million dollar revitalisations in 2011 or 2012.
Rhapsody of the Seas will now undergo an extended 28-day dry dock in Singapore in March 2012, having extended its scheduled dry dock from 14 days. Four cruises from Sydney were cancelled as a result of this extension, however Australians now have a chance to experience two very special one-way cruises to/from Singapore. These are a 14-night cruise from Sydney to Singapore departing February 16, 2012 and a 15-night cruise departing Singapore on 29 March and sailing to Sydney. Both of these sailings call at destinations in Australia and Asia including Bali, Darwin, Cairns and the Whitsundays. Prices start from only $1385 per person for 14 nights.