hero media

Royal Caribbean announces 3 ships for Australia’s 2027 summer – and it goes on sale in 5 days

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
It’s time to start planning your 2027/2028 summer adventure.

In the mood to cruise into summer? Royal Caribbean has just announced its biggest summer cruise season in Australia, bringing three ships for the 2027/2028 summer season departing from either Brisbane or Sydney. And it goes on sale August 19.

What to expect onboard each ship

Ovation of the Seas

ovation fo the seas
Step onboard this groundbreaking mega-ship.

Sailing from Brisbane, Ovation of the Seas is a groundbreaking Quantum-class mega-ship. Expect plenty of industry-first entertainment onboard, including the North Star observation capsule that rises 90 metres above the sea, RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, robotic bartenders at the Bionic Bar and a versatile indoor SeaPlex activity space (complete with a full basketball court, bumper cars and roller skating).

Anthem of the Seas

anthem of the seas in sydney harbour
Holiday on this high-tech amusement park at sea.

Want a high-tech amusement park on the water? Anthem of the Seas is for you. This is another ship featuring Royal Caribbean’s ‘first-at-sea’ experiences, including the North Star, RipCord by iFLY skydiving simulator, the FlowRider surf simulator and SeaPlex. Plus an incredible line-up of entertainment and dining. Discover more with our full ship review.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

Voyager of the Seas

voyager of the seas
Enjoy a lot of ‘firsts at sea’.

Voyager of the Seas features many ‘firsts at sea’. It was the first ship in the world featuring an indoor Royal Promenade shopping boulevard (a multi-deck indoor “main street" running down the centre of the ship, lined with duty-free shops, cafes and pubs), an on-board rock-climbing wall and even a true ice-skating rink.

Which cruise would suit you?

Extended weekender:

airlie beach
Sail into Airlie Beach. (Credit: Nicolas Weldingh)

Jump aboard Ovation of the Seas in Brisbane for one of two long weekends of a lifetime on the four-night Whitsundays getaways to Airlie Beach. Enjoy the best of Queensland off ship, with all the entertainment onboard.

Really want to keep it short and sweet? Join Voyager of the Seas for a three-night Sydney escape, with two nights at sea so you can fully immerse yourself in cruise life. Or Ovation of the Seas for three nights from Brisbane.

Multi-gen trip:

Voyager of the Seas in darwin
Sail into Darwin. (Credit: Renato Marzan)

With activities that cover the needs of every member of your family, from the most energetic to the most in need of pampering, Royal Caribbean ships always tick all the boxes for a multi-gen holiday.

In the 2027/2028 summer season, kick it up a notch with the new 15-night itinerary onboard Voyager of the Seas from Sydney to Singapore via Airlie Beach, Darwin and Lombok and Celukan Bawang in Indonesia.

Or Anthem of the Seas’ 17-night adventure from Honolulu, crossing the Pacific and making gorgeous stops in French Polynesia along the way.

Want to see more of New Zealand? This ship will also feature nine- to 12-night sailings to iconic destinations including Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Milford Sound, with more ways to experience the country’s landscapes, culture and cuisine.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Family cruise:

Make the family Christmas particularly special by taking the family on Anthem of the Seas’ nine-night South Pacific Christmas holiday. Find a particularly festive atmosphere onboard and enjoy stops in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and exclusive regional beach escapes.

Visit Royal Caribbean for full details on the 2027-28 itineraries.

International itinerary highlights

Be amongst the first to experience Royal Caribbean's new and exclusive Lelepa Island
Be amongst the first to experience Royal Caribbean’s new and exclusive Lelepa Island.

Want to extend your summer holiday to the South Pacific? Be amongst the first to experience Royal Caribbean’s new and exclusive Lelepa Island – the first private island cruise destination in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, the aim is to give an authentic taste of its Vanuatu South Pacific location and culture. Think stunning nature, water activities and local flavours.

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
View profile and articles
Perseids meteor shower
Australia

The lucky few cities that’ll catch the Perseid meteor shower this week

Get ready – the Perseid meteor shower is just around the corner.

Read more
jetstar carry-on luggage fees
Australia

Jetstar to charge for overhead carry-on baggage, a move that’s illegal overseas

In a controversial overhaul of its carry-on policies, Jetstar will charge fees from $25 for carry-on luggage stored in the overhead lockers from 2027.

Read more
Shinju Matsuri, Broome WA
Australia

What’s on around Australia in August 2026

Your go-to guide for farewelling winter.

Read more
Pumphouse Point in Tasmania
Australia

Forget vitamin D, psychotherapists say rainy holidays are better for your brain

What if rain was the secret to a better holiday?

Read more

How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan Arkinstall Megan Arkinstall
    Continue
    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.