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.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas just got a new FlowRider surf simulator added to her as part of an $80 million refurbishment and it's now passed its first test.

Pro surfer Paige Hareb boarded Voyager of the Seas to try out the new FlowRider while the ship was in Auckland, New Zealand.

Hareb gave it a try and commented on her experience, "I didn't know what to expect. I had heard a lot about it being completely different from other sports and from surfing and so I was a little nervous."

After getting the hang of the FlowRider, Paige showed off her surfing skills to others in attendance.

"I have been doing surfing for such a long time, so I guess it comes easy to me now."

Royal Caribbean has just completed its refurbishment work on Voyager of the Seas, which has breathed new life into this ship as well as offered a number of new upgrades. After receving lots of questions related to how where the changes are onboard the ship, we've compiled a list of the changes coming visually.

Deck 2

• Coral Theatre has been renamed La Scala Theatre
• Board Room converted to new staterooms (2246, 2244, 2242, 2240)

Deck 3

• Coral Theatre has been renamed La Scala Theatre
• Added staterooms (3620, 3622, 3624, 3626, 3628)
• The Vault removed and replaced with Category Q inside staterooms (3021, 3025, 3029, 3035, 3039; 3023, 3027, 3031, 3037; 30011, 3003; 3019, 3017, 3015; 3005, 3007, 3009, 3011, 3013)
• Photo & Art Gallery removed and replaced with Category I ocean view staterooms (3700, 3702, 3704, 3706, 3708, 3710, 3712, 3714, 3716, 3718, 3720, 3722, 3724, 3726, 3728)
• Focus added
• Carmen Dining Room renamed Sapphire Dining Room

Deck 4

• Coral Theatre has been renamed La Scala Theatre
• The Vault replaced with Giovanni's Table
• Aquarium Bar replaced with The Tavern
• Aquarium Bar replaced with Art Gallery
• La Boheme Dining Room renamed Sapphire Dining Room

Deck 5

• Cleopatra's Needle has been renamed Star Lounge
• Conniusseur Club renamed The Golden Room
• Ben and Jerry's now called Ice Cream Parlor 
• Champagne Bar replaced with R-Bar
• Magic Flute Dining Room renamed Sapphire Dining Room

Please note deck plans show Royal Promenade shops no longer on plans but we believe they are still there

Deck 6

• Stateroom 6137 added
• Business Services replaced by Next Cruise desk

Deck 7

• Stateroom 7139 added

Deck 8

• Stateroom 8237 added
• Royal Caribbean Online renamed RC Online

Deck 9

• Stateroom 9237 added
• Inside staterooms converted to virtual balcony staterooms

Deck 10

• Stateroom 1233 added
• Stateroom 1557, 1671, 1677 converted from Category L to category K
• Category L staterooms converted to Category J virtual balcony staterooms

Deck 11

• Bridge Overlook renamed Peek-A-Boo Bridge Overlook
• Day Spa & Fitness Center renamed Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
• Outdoor movie screen added
• Portofino replaced with Chops Grille
• Island Grill removed
• Florist removed

Deck 12

• Staterooms added around bow area of ship
• Day Spa & Fitness Center renamed Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
• Video Arcade added
• Optix Teen Disco renamed Teen Disco
• Adventure Beach renamed Outdoor Youth Area

Deck 13

• In-line track replaced with FlowRider surf simulator

Deck 14

• Cloud Nine and Seven Hearts rooms replaced with Izumi restaurant
• 19th Hole replaced with Diamond Club

Deck 15

• No changes

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas has finished her month-long $80 million refurbishment that has upgraded much of the ship from stem to stern.

Voyager of the Seas received a number of upgrades including

• FlowRider surf simulator
• Virtual balcony staterooms
• 3D movie theater
• Wayfinder digital signage
• New Diamond Club 
• New Restaurants
  • Izumi
  • Giovanni's Table
  • Chops Grille

The work done to Voyager of the Seas was completed by Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore and was the largest revitalization project ever completed in Singapore.

Voyager of the Seas is now sailing to Sydney, where she will begin her 2014/2015 winter-spring season. She will then return to Singapore next April to feature a 10-night cruise to Tokyo calling at Nha Trang, Hong Kong, Taipei (Keelung) and Nagasaki. The ship also will homeport in Hong Kong from June to October 2015 with 22 roundtrip sailings ranging from three- to 10-nights and visit ports-of-call including Okinawa, Nagasaki, Japan; Jeju, South Korea; Sanya, China; Ho Chi Minh and Hue/Danang (Chan May), Vietnam.

Royal Caribbean has selected Metso to modernize the complete vessel-wide automation system on Voyager of the Seas.

The system controls and monitors all vital machinery on the ship, such as diesel generators, power management and air conditioning. The new upgrades will keep Voyager of the Seas running reliably and safely as well as allowing Royal Caribbean to save energy and support sustainability.

The upgrade will take place in September 2014, and startup is scheduled for October 2014 after total vessel revitalization in dry dock in Singapore. The order has been included in Metso's second quarter 2014 orders received.

The value of the deal was not disclosed.

Metso already has deals in place to provide similar systems to the third Oasis-class cruise ship as well as Quantum of the Seas.