In a busy shipyard in the small German town of Papenburg workers are piece by piece putting together the plans for a revolution. A cruising revolution, that is. The biggest ship to ever come to Australia, the Ovation of the Seas, is under construction in the Meyer Werft shipyard and is due to arrive in Perth on December 6 next year.
Even though that seems a long way off, cruise passengers are already storming travel agents to make sure they get a berth on the equal fourth largest ship in the world that at capacity carries 4905 passengers and 1500 crew. The only ships bigger will be Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, all from the same Royal Caribbean International line.
"Ovation's entry to Australia is groundbreaking and signals the strong appetite Australians have for this growing travel segment," says Jarrod Pask, general manager Cruiseabout, with Ovation's arrival having driven record sales for his company's brand. "The launch of Ovation saw unprecedented levels of interest and sparked record sales for Cruiseabout.
"Previously, Australians had to go a long way to sail on a ship like Ovation, but now RCI's newest ship is coming to our waters creating a huge amount of excitement for Australian cruisers."
Sean Treacy, commercial director of Royal Caribbean International, Australia and South East Asia says his company knew Australians would be excited about Ovation of the Seas, especially since more than 20,000 people registered their interest when it was announced that she was to be home-ported in Australia.
The $1 billion Ovation of the Seas will be the third Quantum Class ship to sail away from the Meyer Werft shipyard, which started operations in 1795. Its sister ships. the Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, are already sailing in Europe and America so Australians have a good idea of what to expect when this class of mega-liner arrives on our shores.
Ovation of the Seas will take onboard experiences to a never-before-seen-in-Australia level offering skydiving, bumper cars, a robotic Bionic Bar and 18 restaurant concepts, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italian, his third with Royal Caribbean. Gavin Smith, regional vice president, Royal Caribbean, Asia Pacific, says Australians will get to experience not just the newest and largest cruise ship to sail our waters, but also the most technologically advanced. Ovation will offer an advanced technology package including high-speed internet. Internet offering on ships is not great, but Ovation guests will be able to live stream and make video calls as fast as they would onshore.
"The Quantum Class of ships truly are the most incredible cruise ships sailing the globe," Smith says. "I have been lucky enough to sail on both Quantum and Anthem of the Seas, and I can't wait for their sister, Ovation of the Seas to arrive in local waters so Australians can experience this totally re-imagined style of cruising.
"When she arrives, you'll see just what an incredible array of onboard experiences there are - from 18 distinct dining options including Jamie Oliver's first restaurants at sea, to transformative venues like the Two70 lounge, where 270-degree ocean views by day turn into an immersive, multimedia spectacular at night, fusing technology with entertainment, robotic video-screens, dramatic digital projection and high-flying aerial performers.
"The imagination that goes into these ships knows no bounds; the more adventurous can skydive at sea at Ripcord by iFly, go surfing on our signature FlowRider surf simulator, or my personal favourite, transport yourself to another world in the North Star viewing capsule. A robotic arm lifts this 360-degree glass viewing pod more than 90 metres above the ocean, for a true bird's-eye view."
But it's not just Royal Caribbean that's ruling the waves when it comes to mega-liners. In a bold statement showing just how fast the cruising market is growing, Carnival Corporation has announced it will build nine more "next generation" ships between 2019 and 2022 on top of those already in the pipeline.
The Carnival Vista, the plans for which were announced in March, will be Carnival Cruise lines' biggest ship to date. It will carry 3954 passengers. Carnival Vista, will home-port out of Miami, and has several new features for the brand including the world's first IMAX theatre at sea and an open-air suspended cycling experience called SkyRide.
Cruise lines are pushing hard to eclipse each other with eye-catching new onboard activities aimed at giving them a significant point of difference. The cruise ship industry is expected to carry 23 million passengers worldwide this year and stop at nearly 1000 ports throughout the world. A decade ago, just over 10 million people enjoyed a cruise.
Viking Ocean Cruises, sister company to Viking River Cruises, will launch three new ships in 2016-17. The company christened the Viking Star, which will carry just 930 passengers, in Norway in May this year. Richard Branson has also announced that his company will be joining the cruise market soon.
Norwegian Cruise Line will launch another three new vessels between 2017 and 2019. The Norwegian Escape, which will be launched later this year, will carry more than 4200 passengers. MSC Cruises has signed contracts to build four new ships by 2019. Each will carry 4000-plus passengers. The influx of new ships is good news for passengers looking to save money. The increased competition between brands and extra cabin capacity is expected to keep cruise prices down.
Until the arrival of Ovation, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 (151,400 tonnes) will remain the biggest ship to visit Australia during next summer's season. Yet at 168,666 tonnes, 18 decks high and 348 metres long, Ovation of the Seas in considerably larger. The other big ships of note from Carnival Australia's perspective next season will be Diamond Princess at 116,000 tonnes (2700 guests) and Golden Princess (on its maiden visit to Australia) at 108,000 tonnes (2600 guests). Golden Princess will be the biggest ship to be based in Melbourne and will start her deployment there on October 30 after her maiden visit to Sydney on October 18.
Princess Cruises senior vice president Australia and New Zealand Stuart Allison says his company pioneered the concept of "big ship cruising, small ship feel" but he doesn't support the theory that bigger is always better. "As the cruise industry continues to grow worldwide, we're seeing a greater diversity of ships on offer to cater for different types of travellers and itineraries," he says.
"Every ship has its own selling points and broadly speaking, a bigger ship does mean a wider range of features and activities. However, the size also presents other challenges in our region as many destinations around Australia and the Pacific are without the infrastructure you see globally.
"Taking Sydney as an example, only five of our 18 ships fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge; therefore a small to mid-sized ship can visit destinations that some of the larger ships can't. For some guests, there is also a preference for a more intimate ambience on board, which helps them feel the camaraderie of being part of a smaller group.
"That is not to say that you can't get this on our larger ships, as Princess pioneered the concept of "big ship cruising, small ship feel" to ensure our larger ships offer a great range of activities and entertainment, whilst delivering the individual attention and warm intimacy typically found on our smaller ships.
"In both instances, it really is not about being bigger or better, it is about catering to the wide range of travellers who are now enjoying cruising regularly. This is why we have a record five ships Down Under from October this year over the summer months - the grand-sized Golden Princess and Diamond Princess, along with the Sun, Dawn and Sea Princess."
Allison argues that delivering a variety of ships is the key to continued growth in the industry.
"Realistically, ships can't get bigger without the infrastructure to support them. In the Caribbean we are seeing facilities that have been designed around some of the mega-liners but the challenge comes when you try to then take these ships to other parts of the world without the same level of infrastructure. .
"Whilst I'm certain that bigger ships will be built, I don't think the industry will get to a point where every ship is super-sized as there are so many different groups of travellers that different brands appeal to. From the luxury traveller seeking a boutique experience, families wanting an onboard theme park on a larger ship, or the discerning globetrotters who want to see the world and meet fellow travellers, there will always be the need for ships of all sizes."
Tom Walley, executive general manager Flight Centre, says big ship cruising is extremely popular with the family sector. "Ovation is a true mega-liner with these ships offering cruisers a huge amount of choice and becoming the drawcard for customers where the ship is a destination in itself and days at sea are welcomed so passengers can experience all the ship has to offer.
"Families in particular are drawn to big-ship cruising where they know their holiday budget will stretch the furthest to include accommodation, activities, transport and entertainment, and there is more than enough on board to keep everyone entertained from kids-only activities to all-family fun."
Pask agrees that for passengers who view the ship as a destination, that bigger is better, especially since the average age of Australian cruisers is getting younger and with that, the expectations of what cruisers want from a cruise holiday are increasing.
These passengers want to be wowed by their cruise with cruise lines expanding the facilities and choice on their big ships to meet demand. There are also the experienced cruisers who want to do something new and see big-ship cruising as the next stage, particularly when it sails out of Australia.
"Never before has Australia seen a ship of this calibre being sent to our waters within the first year of it being built. This shows the significant level of confidence that cruise lines like Royal Caribbean now have in the Australian cruise market," Pask says.
"The appeal of cruising is its diversity, ranging from intimate holidays on a river cruise to blockbuster levels of entertainment on a mega-liner like Ovation. Bigger is definitely better for travellers who view the ship as a destination, are looking for endless options of food and entertainment and want the buzz and excitement of a big ship."
WORLD'S BIGGEST CRUISE LINERS
Harmony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 226,000 gross tonnage*
Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 225,282 GT
Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 225,282 GT
Ovation of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 168,666 GT+
Anthem of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 168,666 GT
Quantum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 167,800 GT
Norwegian Epic, Norwegian 155,837 GT
Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 154,407 GT
Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 154,407 GT
Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean 154,407 GT
Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line 148,528 GT
Norwegian Breakaway, NCL 146,600 GT
* Launching April 2016
+ Launching December 2016
OVATION OF THE SEA: THE WOW FACTORS
ABOVE ALL
The North Star observatory, like the London Eye, offers 360-degree views more than 90 metres above the sea. A robotic arm elevates the capsule with guests inside high into the sky. In Sydney Harbour, the North Star will reach higher than the pylons on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.The Ripcord by iFLY allows guests to simulate the experience of skydiving at sea.
BAR NONE
In the Bionic Bar guests will place a cocktail order via a tablet, before two incredible bionic arms create the perfect mix in tune to the resident DJ, shaking and stirring without human assistance.
IMMERSE YOURSELF
"Two70" is a multipurpose, transformative space; an expansive lounge boasting 270-degree ocean views by day becomes an immersive, multimedia entertainment spectacular at night, fusing technology with entertainment using robotic video-screens, dramatic digital projection and high-flying aerialists and performers.
KEY TO THE FUTURE
Radio frequency wristband technology does away with the need to carry a cabin key, and a dedicated app, Royal iQ, lets guests book onboard experiences from their own device, including making a booking at any of the 18 distinct restaurants.
SeaPlex will be the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea, offering bumper cars, a basketball court, roller skating, circus school and more.
CABIN FEVER
On average, staterooms are nine percent larger on Ovation of the Seas than on Oasis class ships. The 2090 staterooms include family-connected staterooms that are perfect for multi-generational families or groups of friends, new balcony and interior studio staterooms created for single travellers, as well as virtual balcony staterooms, which are interior cabins with large digital screens displaying real time views that ensure every room has a view.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR CABIN
Jarrod Pask, general manager Cruiseabout, offers some tips for choosing a cabin on Ovation of the Seas
1. This depends on your budget, but even the lower-priced inside cabins have a virtual balcony on the Quantum-class ships of which Ovation is one, so you have the illusion of seeing what's going on outside.
2. On large ships, a cabin in the mid-ship position is a good idea as it will be more easily accessible from both ends, potentially saving walking distance.
3. If you can, opt for a balcony cabin where you will get fresh air and a bit more space. Balcony cabins located at the front, back and lower decks tend to be a bit more affordable for those on a budget.
4. Balcony cabins on Quantum class ships like Ovation and Quantum of the Seas are incredible and definitely worth the splurge for luxuries like double-storey cabins where the rooms look over the ocean at the back of the ship. However, on a ship like Ovation you're probably not going to spend a huge amount of time in the cabin as there is so much to do.
5. The "guarantee cabin" option is a great one for passengers who know the category of cabin they're after, but are flexible as to where on the ship they will be located. Passengers pay more when selecting the exact location of their cabin – like on a specific deck or away from the lifts – but the guarantee option means you get the cabin type you are after and you might even score an upgrade.
See cruiseabout.com.au
TRIP NOTES
MORE INFORMATION
royalcaribbean.com.au/ovation
CRUISING THERE
Ovation of the Seas will offer four sailings from Sydney starting from December 15, 2016
A 15-night New Zealand cruise beginning with an overnight in Sydney on December 15, followed by calls at Hobart, the Milford Sounds region, Dunedin, Wellington, Picton, Tauranga and Auckland. A 10-night New Year cruise around New Zealand departing December 30, with calls at the Milford Sound region, Dunedin, Wellington, Napier and Picton.
A 14-night cruise during the January school holidays with visits to Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Auckland, Wellington, Picton, Dunedin, and the Milford Sounds region. Ovation of the Seas leaves Australia on January 23, 2017 with a 14-night Sydney to Singapore cruise visiting Brisbane, Darwin and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang).
