Your Best First-Time Cruise Guide

Pick Your Perfect Itinerary

An epic sailing begins with the perfect itinerary. Royal Caribbean has a wealth of cruises departing from both Sydney and Brisbane, ranging in length from 2 and 3-night weekend getaway to 17-night Transpacific odysseys to or from Hawaii. So the first question before you book a cruise is: how long can you get away?

Once that’s settled, turn your sights on the destination. Are you dreaming of immersing yourself in the islands of the South Pacific, where stunning natural beauty and fascinating culture converge? Or maybe the land of the long white cloud is more your style, roaming New Zealand’s boutique wineries and towering fjords.

Then again, there is so much to soak up right in our own backyard! Like Tasmania, with its stunning scenery, friendly locals and great food and wine.. Or the awe-inspiring Great Barrier Reef, getting close and personal with neon-coloured fish, gentle sea turtles and other captivating marine creatures. Wherever you decide to go on your cruise from Australia, whether it’s Queensland or Tasmania or somewhere beyond, the holiday of a lifetime is at your fingertips!

Select A Sweet (Or Suite!) Stateroom

The next order of business on your cruise is selecting your stateroom: interior, ocean view, balcony or suite. No matter what you go for, you’ll experience tasteful, thoughtfully-designed accommodations, with such amenities as small fridges and tea/coffee makers. On some ships, like Quantum of the Seas® sailing from Brisbane, most interior staterooms boast virtual balconies, an over-sized high definition screen offering real-time views of the ocean and destinations. Of course, Royal Caribbean® has accessible as well as connecting staterooms for guests requiring special accommodations or travelling in larger groups.

If lavish surroundings, exceptional service and special perks pique your interest, take a look at Royal Suite Class. Offering three VIP levels – Sea, Sky and Star – this is luxury that makes for lifelong memories. And parents will applaud the Royal Genie, their private concierge and worker of magic when it comes to securing coveted dining reservations and the best seats at chart-topping shows!

Plan Like a Pro

The key to cruise bliss is familiarising yourself with the ship and its offerings before you sail, which you can do with the Cruise Planner, or better yet, by downloading the free Royal Caribbean App. Available in English, Spanish and simplified Chinese, the app is the tool-of-choice for seamlessly managing all aspects of your voyage, including expediting check-in, making dining reservations, booking shore excursions, accessing your onboard account and even chatting with friends and family.

Look over the deck maps, also available on the app, so that when you’re on your cruise you can readily steer your crew to the top hot spots. Both Ovation of the Seas® (cruising from Sydney) and Quantum of the Seas® (from Brisbane) are Quantum Class ships – and as such, share a number of guest-favourite activities and amenities. Like Royal Caribbean’s iconic FlowRider® surfing simulator, the gravity-defying RipCord® by iFly® skydiving simulator, and bumper cars at Seaplex®, to name a few. And both boast a total of 20 eateries, the majority of which are included in the price of your cruise.

A final tip to plan your trip like a pro (try saying that three times in a row!) involves considering purchasing a specialty dining or a beverage package when you book your cruise. Keep in mind that there are plenty of all-inclusive eateries onboard, from the delectable international buffet at Windjammer to elevated dining at the impressive multi-level Main Dining Room, and lots of fast-bites in between!

If you’re on a culinary crusade that involves sampling the many delectable speciality restaurants onboard, springing for a specialty dining package is the way to go. You’ll be able to treat your tastebuds to a meltingly delicious hand-cut steak at Chops Grille℠, savour sushi at Izumi Japanese Cuisine, twirl al dente fettuccine in Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, and much more. (Inspire yourself by browsing menus on the app!)

As for drinks, you’ll find options like filter coffee, tea, hot chocolate and lemonade included in the cost of your cruise. But if you’re a soft drink aficionado or fancy indulging in alcoholic beverages without keeping tab on costs, spring for a beverage package!

Reserve. Right Away

Your Royal Caribbean cruise is packed with bow-to-stern adventure and top deck experiences – most of which are all-inclusive. That means that onboard shows, concerts, parades, parties, along with non-speciality restaurants and most onboard activities are completely complementary. Even the award-winning Adventure Ocean® Youth Program our kids club for ages 3-17,  is included in the cost of your cruise. But all inclusive does not necessarily mean you don’t need reservations, especially when it comes to the hottest activities (like Bumper Cars, a classic indoor playground for the whole family to enjoy.), popular programs (like Adventure Ocean®) and peak mealtimes. Avoid missing out by making your reservations immediately after you book a cruise from Australia.

Now that you’re a cruise connoisseur, ready to take the seas by storm, we hope to soon welcome you onboard! Cheers to a fabulous first sail!.