rekkie

That is astonishingly awesome. 

Are you looking to adopt a 32 year old son?

We have just completed a 33 night Circumnavigation of Australia that took in the NZ South Islands and Sounds as well as Bali... So we are saving up our vacation time again to head to the USA in 2016 and do an Alaskan Cruise, a cruise on Quantum out of New York and then cruise back to Sydney from Hawaii. It will be our biggest adventure yet.

Just booked another B2B.. Explorer OTS Repositioning Cruise Singapore to Perth, then Perth to Sydney via NZ South Island (26 Nights in total)... Bring on 2015 :)

Just booked another B2B.. Explorer OTS Repositioning Cruise Singapore to Perth, then Perth to Sydney via NZ South Island (26 Nights in total)... Bring on 2015 :)

It was aboard Radiance of the Seas... It was awesome I have to say and I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime in the future. The highlights for us was the sounds in NZ (Doubtful, Dusky and Milford Sounds). Milford sounds was truely amazing. It was pouring with rain and literally 10 waterfalls every 500 metres, just stunning.
 
The other highlight for me was Darwin. We did a "Jumping Crocodile" tour. I am still amazed that we just drove up to this river, got on a boat and these 5m monsters were just swimming about in the river, scary stuff. The Great Barrier Reef was also lovely, but had been there before so we chose on this day to stay at a resort for the day. There were so many other great sights. I might upload some photos over the weekend for you.

Rekkie point that RC INTERNATIONAL is the point. Let's buy a ticket, fly to Hong Kong, enjoy Quantum, enjoy the World. It will be a uniquely different World experience than FLL & 7 days Western.

Being that it is Royal Caribbean International I am very happy to see them mixing it up finally and sending their premier ships to all corners of the world and not just the USA. Great decision for cruisers, great decision for RCI and I look forward to maybe one of these beauties visits Australia in the near future.

Being that it is Royal Caribbean International I am very happy to see them mixing it up finally and sending their premier ships to all corners of the world and not just the USA. Great decision for cruisers, great decision for RCI and I look forward to maybe one of these beauties visits Australia in the near future.

I want to sail on the Quantum class, but obviously won't be able to sail on Quantum of the Seas this or next year. But Quantum will most likely return, so I'm not too upset about it. China is an emerging cruise market, and Royal Caribbean is smart in sending their most technologically advanced ship to one of the most technologically advanced parts of the world. Obviously if things don't go as planned, Quantum will high tail it back to the US.  ;)

Well, being in Australia, it's closer to me than New York, so that makes me happy. I don't see why the U.S. or Europe should get the new ships all the time, so I think it's a great move on RCI's part.

Great question Michelle.  I would love to see RC sail more overnights in ports they already go to.  Overnights really make port stops more interesting since you have significantly more time.

I think the new dining is awesome. It's different and that's what being on vacation is about. I've always loved the speciality restaurants and think this is a fresh and exciting new arrangement for dining. 

Now if only they would do a Sydney -> New Zealand -> Tahiti -> Sth Pacific -> Sydney Itinerary and one up to PNG they would have the entire market covered, almost :)

2015-2016 deployments announced officially: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/04/08/royal-caribbean-announces-australia-and-south-pacific-cruises-2015-2016

quantum-of-the-seas-floated-out
 

Next year will be our third year in a row sailing on Independence of the Seas for spring break. It also marks a milestone birthday for my friend with whom I've been cruising.
 
Last year, we had the Ben & Jerry's "Sweet" which was fun. For those who don't know, it's a unique Promenade cabin (6305) that's above the Ben & Jerry's shop on the Royal Promenade. It's only on the Freedom class ships.
 
Because of the cows that overlook the shop on the Royal Promenade, you have an obstructed view from the cabin's window that overlooks the Royal Promenade (you get to look at cow butts!). In exchange, you get a room that's decorated in a cow theme, free Ben & Jerry's ice cream for the cruise, plus access to the "Cow-cierge" Lounge.
 
I'm glad that we managed to get it again next year. It's a lot of fun, and Concierge Lounge access is pretty cool, too.
 
You can see a YouTube video tour of the cabin that I made last year here: Ben & Jerry's "Sweet" - Independence of the Seas (March 2013).

OMG I love Izumi.....on our last cruise we ate there 6 times hahahaha Addicted very, but you're hard pressed to find anything comparable on land.

Thanks Stan it was wonderful. Unfortunately it ended way too soon.

Just thought Id post links to our photos for the cruise we just did. It was a 33 night circumnavigation of Australia. The cruise also took in New Zealands South Island and Bali.
 
Bottom End (17 Nights)
Sydney - Picton - Wellington - Akaroa - Dunedin - Dusky/Doubtful/Milford Sounds - Melbourne - Adelaide - Esperance - Albany - Perth
Gallery
 
Top End (16 Nights)
Perth - Geraldton - Port Hedland - Benoa - Darwin - Airlie Beach - Brisbane - Sydney
Gallery
 
The photos are best viewed in full screen mode... 
 
2 Ports were missed
 
Admins: If this isn't the best place to post this feel free to move it.

The dress code isnt enforced regularly so you will see someone wearing shorts one night whereas on another night someone wearing shorts would be denied entry to the MDR. The inconsistencies are frustrating.

Very nice photos! Thanks for sharing them with us. :)  :)

OMG LOVED the photo with all the candy on the bed! Great shots.
 
I actually sat at the table NEXT to the table where your servers were serving when I was on Radiance OTS in Alaska Aug. '13. How funny that I recognized them and they weren't even our servers!

Love the photos, thank you for posting!

Just thought Id post links to our photos for the cruise we just did. It was a 33 night circumnavigation of Australia. The cruise also took in New Zealands South Island and Bali.
 
Bottom End (17 Nights)
Sydney - Picton - Wellington - Akaroa - Dunedin - Dusky/Doubtful/Milford Sounds - Melbourne - Adelaide - Esperance - Albany - Perth
Gallery
 
Top End (16 Nights)
Perth - Geraldton - Port Hedland - Benoa - Darwin - Airlie Beach - Brisbane - Sydney
Gallery
 
The photos are best viewed in full screen mode... 
 
2 Ports were missed
 
Admins: If this isn't the best place to post this feel free to move it.