Jamesszy94

When will cruise lines realise that there's a market for cruising in Australia (at least in Sydney, probably Brisbane too, if they changed up the itineraries or went to more exotic ports from Brisbane) and have better destinations/send better ships/send more ships/dock here year round. It's just P&O and Carnival that we're stuck with year round... P&O is a bit yikes to say the least and don't even get me started on Carnival, but then if we want to sail on any of the other cruise lines (Royal, Princess, Celebrity, Disney etc) we have to spend even more money to fly!! (During the southern autumn/winter season)

I would have tried Virigin, if she sailed from Sydney and if they did weekend cruises - Friday - Monday and went to more exotic locations. But their locations are just like every other cruise line that operates in Australia - New Zealand - Some combination of Adelaide/Tasmania/Melbourne/Brisbane/Eden But alas, 95% of their cruises left from Melbourne, but it also doesn't help that most of their cruises were one way and not a round trip.

Where are you hearing this rumor? I mean... it doesn't help that most of their sailings leave from Melbourne.

IIRC (I could be wrong)- Most of the Enchantment sailings were Sydney > Adelaide > Hobart > Sydney (or some combination of this) or to the South Pacific. I guess it makes sense that she was bad for Alaska and had to be replaced. I feel so bad for the Vision class ships... it's like when a parent plays favourites. Royal is focusing all their attention on Oasis and Icon and basically feels like they're abandoning the others. (Vision and to some extent Radiance and Voyager class) Imagine if Royal ever sent Grandeur or Rhapsody to Australia and were like "take it or leave it"

I know Enchantment was supposed to come to Sydney during the 2023-2024 cruise season but she was replaced with Brilliance, did Royal ever say what the reason for that was? But let's say *hypothetically* Voyager goes to Brisbane instead, what would Sydney get?! Utopia? Star? Wonder? Allure?! (I wish! But let me cope) How likely are they to send us Anthem (since they seem dead-set on only giving us QN class and they'd never give us Spectrum or Odyssey!) or a Freedom-class

We've had Voyager in Sydney before right? I remember looking at cruises many years ago and Voyager of the Seas was one of the options.

Probably just a COVID thing but maybe also a size thing? The P&O ships are significantly smaller than Ovation and Quantum and I know they sail to Dravuni Island and Lautoka. Likewise. It would be a nice change of itineraries. I remember on my last cruise asking the NC person why all the itineraries are the same - Tasmania/Adelaide - New Zealand - South Pacific And she said it's just whatever Royal decides which make sense, but she also said she agreed with me and wishes Royal would change up the itineraries. I really do hope Royal does go to more exotic ports. Maybe over to Perth, up to PNG, Solomon Islands, Norfolk Island. I guess it's hard for the bigger ships though Maybe we'll finally get more exotic ports when Voyager comes?returns? to Australia

Hopefully she and the other's that missed their amplifications will get them soon... (Adventure, Allure, Explorer and Liberty)

Yikes.. Unnamed Vessel, okay then. I guess Australia will forever be stuck with Quantum ships... until a bigger terminal is built for an Oasis-class. Hopefully they're not all just South Pacific cruises... I wonder if Royal ever sent us an Oasis class ship if there'd be more bookings from Brisbane...

Maybe they want people talking about Icon and they want all the focus to be on Icon right now. At least that's my guess

So Quantum/Anthem for Sydney? Radiance for Brisbane and Sydney Voyager for Brisbane only?

To me it sounds like they're going with a theme. Icon is like a thing or person that people know, a Star is also similar to that My bet for Icon 3 is something along the lines of Fame of the Seas or something Idol of the Seas?

What do we think they'll name Icon 3? One of the 24 trademarked ones? Or something new?

Maybe Ovation is finally heading back to Asia? And they'll finally send us a new ship? (Spectrum? Allure?... one can hope) Or.... Ovation of the Seas World Cruise

Thanks for blogging this incredibly ICONic inaugural sailing on Icon of the Seas @Lovetocruise2002 @AshleyDillo and @SpeedNoodles and everyone else! Looks like I'll live vicariously through anyone else who sails on Icon - I would like to try Icon class eventually - maybe in 10 years time when the prices have dropped WAY down to Freedom, Voyager or QN class prices

This sailing is in 11 days, and there's still a whole heap of Balcony cabins available. They'll probably still sail with a bunch of cabins empty.

Don't forget to photoshop in @Matt too!

At least my personal opinion anyway.

Regardless, Icon looks ugly imo, like I get she's supposed to be the latest and greatest. But she actually doesn't look nice. I daresay even the Radiance class ships look prettier.

From what I've read here and seen in videos, it seems Royal was being a bit too ambitious with the Icon class, I can see why a lot of people have mixed thoughts about her.

two70 is the only place I found myself going back to for on the go meals and just a nice place to sit and relax when there weren't any shows/events happening in the two70 theatre.. I never bothered with the other places, except maybe the Solarium

I would assume your second sailing they'd honour your Diamond status, since it's technically a *different* sailing.

So Carnival of the Seas?

Dystopia of the Seas - where everything is in disarray and people go wild and do whatever they want!!!

That theatre? Looks a bit small.... I'm sure they're absolutely spewing right now that they couldn't sail with you guys on Icon! Those crepes look so good!!