A group of breast cancer survivors from the US, UK and Singapore led by US-based non-profit organization Send Me On Vacation, was invited by Royal Caribbean International’s Asia Pacific office to sail on a three-night cruise from Singapore to Penang over the weekend, on its ship Voyager of the Seas. As part of the group’s activities onboard, they were dressed up in mermaid costumes for a special photoshoot by the poolside, as they enjoyed their holiday at sea.

This is the second time for Send Me On Vacation recipients on sail with Royal Caribbean in Asia. The organization’s mission is to provide much-needed vacations to breast cancer survivors who need to rejuvenate and heal their minds, bodies and spirits. It empowers survivors to reconnect with themselves on a rejuvenating vacation.

Ms Cathy Backus, founder of Send Me On Vacation who sailed with the group said, “Our recipients transform into mermaids to reconnect to their inner beauty, strength and grace. The photo therapy or photoshoot that we conduct visually shows each women that they are beautiful inside and out. Experiencing a vacation after fighting breast cancer ignites the spirit and restores joy and happiness back into life after the fight.” 

“Royal Caribbean has a complimentary synergy to Send Me On Vacation in the way it fosters diversity, human kindness and inspires people to look beyond the now and ask themselves what if this vacation can take me to places I never thought I could see in my dreams, and what if I could heal because love and happiness have been restored into in my life again,” she added. 

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas made her first visit ever to the capital of the Philippines this past weekend.  Voyager is one of the largest ships to call at any Filipino port.

Photo by Royal Caribbean International

To celebrate the maiden call at Manila, a traditional plaque exchange ceremony was held onboard between Voyager of the Seas’ Captain Sindre Borsheim and local officials namely Mr Francisquiel Mancile, Port Manager of Philippine Ports Authority and Mr Patrick Chan, Vice President for Operations of Asian Terminals Inc.

Voyager of the Seas' visit to Manila was part of a 4-night sailing from Shenzhen.

"Royal Caribbean strives to provide every traveler with the vacation experience they deserve," said Ms Marilen Yaptangco, International Representative of Royal Caribbean International in the Philippines. "This quick stop on Philippine shores is an opportunity for us to showcase the world-class offerings of Voyager of the Seas to Filipinos."

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas arrived in Singapore to begin her longest-running Southeast Asia cruise season ever.  Voyager of the Seas will call Singapore home from April 2018 through June 2019.

She will be offering as many as 90 sailings of 3 to 9 nights from Singapore to a variety of popular regional destinations.

Voyager of the Seas’ itineraries that start from Singapore for this period include:

• 3-night weekend cruise to Penang/ Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang)
• 4-night cruise to Penang/Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) and Phuket
• 5-night cruise to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket
• 5-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) with an overnight stay
• 7-night cruise to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang, Langkawi and Phuket (with an overnight stay)

Royal Caribbean has altered the itinerary for Voyager of the Seas due to the anticipated path of Tropical Cyclone Cook.

Cruise Critic is reporting Voyager of the Seas skipped a stop at Isles of Pines in New Caledonia on Monday, and instead took a sea day to avoid the path of the storm.

Voyager of the Seas is on a 13-night South Pacific and Fiji cruise, but the path of the Category 3 storm required a change in the cruise.

Royal Caribbean fans down under can look forward to two Voyager-class ships offering cruises to the South Pacific this summer on Explorer of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

Both ships where revitalized recently from bow to stern, costing a total of $180 million, and will offer 2016/2017 summer cruise itineraries to destinations like Mystery Island and Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Noumea, Isle of Pines and Lifou (Loyalty Islands) in New Caledonia.

In addition, both ships will offer more stops than ever to Fiji, which has proven to be a real favorite port of call. Royal Caribbean will more than double the amount of Fiji calls year on year, with 34 visits across the season to two destinations, Suva and Lautoka. There will even be two Fiji overnight calls, when Explorer of the Seas stays the night in Suva during her repositioning voyages between Australia and Seattle.

Royal Caribbean Managing Director for Royal Caribbean International in Australia and New Zealand, Adam Armstrong, thinks these two ships will offer guests a lot of fantastic cruise options, "Since we arrived in Australia some eight years ago, we have been delivering Australians with the style of cruising they had previously been traveling overseas for. With two Voyager Class megaliners now sailing from Sydney, there’s double the opportunity to cruise on Australia’s most feature-packed ships, and double the fun."

Fares for a seven night roundtrip sailing on Voyager of the Seas start from AUD$1,009 for the first guest and AUD$549.50 for the second, when booked before 30 July 2016. The cruise departs Sydney 1 November 2016 and includes calls to Noumea and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia.

Two Royal Caribbean ships met for the first time in Sydney harbor for the first time recently.

Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas arrived to her new home in Sydney over the weekend, where she was "welcomed" by sister ship Voayger of the Seas.

The two ships brought almost 10,400 passengers and crew and almost $1.6 million into the Sydney economy in passenger spend on this one day alone.

“With over 10,000 people on board the two ships, it’s the equivalent of having the entire population of Byron Bay out on the harbour at one time,” said Adam Armstrong, commercial director, Royal Caribbean International.

Explorer of the Seas arrived in Sydney, concluding a 16-night epic Australia and New Zealand voyage from Fremantle, with guests from more than 30 countries onboard eager to witness the new ship’s maiden Sydney arrival. While Voyager of the Seas departs Sydney on a seven-night Tasmania sailing bound for her first port, Melbourne, on Monday.

“We’ve invested US$160 million in makeovers on both ships in recent years and the result is two spectacular cruise ships offering the biggest choice of incredible Australian-first features including ice skating rinks, exceptional dining options, Broadway-style shows, 3D cinemas, completely refreshed public spaces and staterooms, rock climbing walls, full size sports courts and the Royal Promenade - an indoor street running the length of the ship with shops, a cafe and bars.”

At 138,194 gross tons, 311 metres long and 38 metres wide, Explorer of the Seas takes the crown of Australia’s largest cruise ship from twin sister ship Voyager of the Seas.

During her five month season Explorer of the Seas will inject almost $44 million into the Australian economy including almost $41 million in Sydney in passenger spend alone.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas entered Victoria Habour earlier today in Hong Kong for the final time this cruise season.

From July to October this year, Voyager of the Seas has seen nearly 70,000 guests enjoy cruising on her during this season.

Voyager of the Seas will return for another season in Hong Kong in 2016. 

In Australia, Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas was featured in a prime time television show that showed off just what a cruise vacation on this ship is like.

The show, "Tom, Rach and Rosso Go Cruising", showcases what Voyager of the Seas offers and why a cruise vacation may be something you would be interested in.

Royal Caribbean invted TV personality Tom Williams, model Rachael Finch and radio personality Tim (Rosso) Ross onboard Voyager of the Seas to see what it was all about.

The three spent 12 nights on a South Pacific cruise and showed off the various things to do onboard the ship as well as the exotic ports they visited.  

Here's the full video of their adventure.

A tropical depression in the South Pacific has forced Royal Caribbean to change the itinerary of two of its cruise ships.

Cruise Critic is reporting that Rhapsody of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas will both skip a scheduled stop in Fiji to evade the path of the storm.

"Voyager of the Seas is on an 11-night cruise and departed Sydney on 5 March. Rather than sailing further towards Fiji, the ship is now taking a course towards Australia and will spend two nights in Hobart, before returning to Sydney as scheduled on 15 March," the cruise line said in a statement on Monday morning.

"Rhapsody of the Seas is on a 12-night cruise and departed Sydney on 8 March. As this ship departed only yesterday, it has been possible to make adjustments to its itinerary to keep the South Pacific flavour of the cruise, with six port calls planned in Vanuatu and New Caledonia."

Further itinerary changes are possible if the storm's anticipated path changes.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas completed her month long $80 million revitalization and we've got photos from inside the ship to show off some of the changes.

Photos by Royal Caribbean

DECK BY DECK CHANGES TO VOYAGER OF THE SEAS

Voyager of the Seas is currently sailing out of Sydney, Australia for the 2014/15 winter season.