Cruise megaliner Explorer of the Seas to be biggest ship ever based in Australia

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In 2015, the ship will spend the northern summer in Southampton, England on its first European deployment before making its journey to Singapore in October.

From there, Explorer of the Seas will tour western and southern Australia, making maiden port stops at Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and New Zealand. It will then make its way to Sydney.

The cruise ship will join its slightly smaller sister ship Voyager of the Seas, making it the second megaliner for the cruise line in Australia.

Together the two ships include several innovative features, including a FlowRider surf simulator, an ice-skating rink and 10 pools and whirlpools. The Royal Promenade, an interior boulevard that runs almost the length of the ship, features restaurants, lounges and boutiques. Parades and evening dance parties are also held in the Royal Promenade.

Radiance of the Seas completes Royal Caribbean International’s three-ship fleet in Australia for the 2015-16 season.

All three ships will feature the “Royal Advantage” fleet revitalisation program, which involves “bow-to-stern renovations” as well as the addition of new amenities, including speciality restaurants, a nursery, a poolside movie screen, new shops and lounges.

Cruising is booming in Australia, with a record 260 passenger ship visits to Sydney Harbour in the past summer season. The cruising scene in Australia has seen extraordinary growth in recent years, with close to 700,000 trips taken by Australians in the 2012-13 season. The figure is estimated to hit 1 million by the 2016-17 season.

Royal Caribbean International expects Rhapsody of the Seas’ farewell summer 2014-15 season to be in high demand as passengers bid adieu to one Australia’s most popular cruise ships.

Rhapsody of the Seas will be based in the Mediterranean from May to October 2015.

The 2015-16 Australia and New Zealand cruise season will go on sale in late April 2014.