Royal Caribbean’s big South Pacific splash

Royal Caribbean International has released a 32-page brochure for Rhapsody of the Seas’ 2008/09 programme in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The 78,491gt ship, which sailed from Sydney for Singapore last Saturday after operating a cruise to the South Pacific and two round voyages to New Zealand under charter to Cruiseco, returns next year for RCI’s biggest presence in the region.

The Vision-class ship, which features the company’s signature rock-climbing wall and carries 2,435 passengers, will make a 13-night round cruise from Sydney to Noumea, Poum, Luganville, Vila, Ouvea, Isle of Pines and Lifou on October 19, 2008.

This will be followed by another round cruise from Sydney to the South Pacific on November 1 and 11-night cruises to the Great Barrier Reef on November 11 and December 2. She will cruise again to the South Pacific from Sydney on November 22 and December 13, 2008 and April 2, 2009.

On December 23, 2008, Rhapsody will make a 14-night Christmas and New Year round cruise from Sydney to New Zealand’s north and south islands, including a call at Bay of Islands. She will operate three more round cruises to New Zealand from Sydney on January 13, January 27 and February 10, 2009.

On January 6, 2009, Rhapsody makes a seven-night round voyage from Sydney to Tasmania and on February 24 she departs Sydney on a circumnavigation of Australia.

She departs Sydney on April 13, 2009, for a 16-night cruise to Honolulu via Rarotonga, Bora Bora, Moorea, Papeete and Lahaina and on April 28 she leaves Honolulu on her repositioning voyage to Vancouver

Story From Seatrade Insider (Submitted by PRC)