Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas

For the first time, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas will call Sydney home next cruising season.

Royal Caribbean’s Radiance-class ship, Brilliance of the Seas is set to sail into Sydney, and home port in the Emerald City this upcoming summer season. If you love thrills, world-class dining and spectacular entertainment, this is the ship for you. Highlights include a 12-metre rock climbing wall, the Adventure Ocean youth programme and nine delicious dining options. All aboard for an unforgettable adventure.

Key dates: Starting in October 2023, the ship will sail on voyages out of Sydney for the summer season. On April 12, 2024 Brilliance of the Seas will depart Sydney for Hawaii.

Capacity: Brilliance of the Seas is a 2,543-passenger ship.

Best suited to: families. There’s the complimentary Adventure Ocean Programme available for children aged three to 17. Kids (and adults too) will love the arcade where classics such as Pacman and table hockey sit side-by-side with Guitar Hero, Fast and the Furious Drift. There’s also an outdoor children’s area Adventure Beach on deck 12 featuring a waterslide and pool.

Where does Brilliance of the Seas sail from?

Brilliance of the Seas will be based in Sydney for the Australian summer cruise season.

the view of Sydney harbour at night, Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas — The Brilliance of the Seas will sail from Sydney Harbour. (Image: Destination NSW)

Where does Brilliance of the Seas sail to?

There are a number of itineraries sailing out of Sydney including voyages to Tasmania, to Melbourne, and to Adelaide. Add to this, sailings to the South Pacific, to New Zealand and an Australian voyage through Queensland, Darwin and Western Australia which also takes in Indonesia.

Salamanca market in Hobart — Experience Salamanca Market, one of Australia’s most loved outdoor markets, when in Tasmania. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Sustainable practices

In 2016, Royal Caribbean partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and has developed a series of programs and goals to help in the long-term health of our oceans and to protect some of its most iconic wildlife. WWF and Royal Caribbean’s work together focuses on three key areas: emissions reduction, destination stewardship and sustainable sourcing.

Some of these programs include 2,000 Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)-certified tours , and sustainable sourcing practices for coffee, tea and sugar – commodities with the highest environmental impact. Royal Caribbean is also working toward sourcing 90% of wild-caught seafood from Marine Seafood Council (MSC)-certified fisheries and 75% of farmed seafood from Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)-certified farms in North America and Europe.

the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas sailing at sea — Sail across Australia aboard the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas.

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

Dining

There are nine dining options onboard including a la carte table service at the main dining room and the global flavours of Windjammer, which come at no extra cost. For that special occasion, book into one of the specialty restaurants. Here are some of the highlights.

Giovanni’s Table

Enjoy Tuscan family-style dishes at this rustic Italian restaurant including house focaccia served with marinated artichokes, olives and pesto, fluffy gnocchi and veal osso buco paired with creamy cheese polenta, ripe tomatoes and sautéed greens. Dining here comes at an additional fee which is around US$25.

Chops Grille

Feast on prime cuts of steak at Royal Caribbean’s hallmark Chops Grille where the chefs will hand cut, season and grill each steak to your specifications. Far beyond a typical steakhouse, here you can also treat yourself to Maine lobster and other surf and turf delights. Dining here comes at an additional fee which is around US$35.

Izumi

Sit down for a Japanese-inspired dining experience at Izumi. Sample fresh sashimi and sushi as well as ramen and teriyaki. Dining with little ones? Ask for a kids’ menu, it’s got plenty of smaller-sized versions of Izumi’s delights. Dining here comes at an additional fee which is around US$35, though depending on what is ordered, it can be less.

Bars

There are nine bars and lounges onboard from cocktails at the Solarium to a pint at a traditional English pub. Here are some of the other highlights.

Vintages

Sample wines from the world’s renowned vineyards at Vintages. Perfect for a pre-dinner drink, here you’ll find the perfect drop of malbec, merlot, riesling, pinot grigio and more.

Schooner Bar

Head for nightcap at the nautical-themed Schooner Bar , where perfectly mixed cocktails and live entertainment come together. Be prepared for fun-filled singalongs around the grand piano.

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Viking Crown Lounge

The Viking Crown Lounge is the ultimate spot to soak up panoramic views while sampling your favourite cocktail. After the sun goes down, take to the dance floor and boogie to the band.

Activities and entertainment

By day, hit new highs by scaling 12 metres above deck on the rock climbing wall, then try your skills on a round of mini golf. Lounge poolside, sit back in a bubbly whirlpool and catch a movie, or head to the Vitality at Sea Spa and fitness centre for a treatment or a workout. Come nightfall, be entertained by singers and dancers showcasing their skills in the variety revue, Centre Stage and sing along to modern stage hits in Now and Forever. Keen to turn up the heat? The Tango Buenos Aires show slips into sultry rhythms and heart-racing beats.

Cabins

Brilliance Of The Seas has 1075 staterooms including Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Suites. Suite staterooms offer more space and comfort as well as additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, that is, the best seats in the house. Enjoy an everchanging vista every day in your balcony or ocean view stateroom, or retreat to your interior stateroom, and use the rest of the ship as your loungeroom with a view.

Deck plan

Brilliance of the Seas is made up of 13 decks, on the very top is the ‘Fairways of Brilliance’ mini golf course, the rock climbing wall, and the Viking Crown Lounge.

Itinerary highlights

The five-night Tasmania sailing visits Hobart but the seven-night Tasmania cruise also takes in the New South Wales ports of Newcastle and Eden. Also recommended is the six-night Melbourne and Hobart cruise. There’s also a nine-night Melbourne and Adelaide cruise, an eight-night, 10-night and 11-night South Pacific cruise and an 11-night sojourn taking in the best of Queensland. See the sights of the North and South islands on a 12-night New Zealand cruise itinerary. For a longer voyage, step aboard for the 16-night ‘All-Out Australia and Indonesia’ sailing from Sydney, north to Queensland, Darwin, Indonesia and then down the west coast of Australia, disembarking in Fremantle.

Shore excursion highlights

On New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, you can fly through the sky on a parasailing trip to see the 144 islands from above. Go tandem with the skydiving instructor and take in that magnificent view.

How much does it cost to go on Brilliance of the Seas?

A five-night Tasmania cruise starts at $671 per person, a 12-night New Zealand cruise starts at $1601 per person and the 16-night ‘All-Out Australia and Indonesia’ starts at $5999 per person. (Note: Prices are correct at time of publication. Please check the website for price changes.)

a scenic view of the towering peaks of Milford Sound in New Zealand, Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas — Stare in awe at the towering peaks of Milford Sound in New Zealand.

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas – everything you need to know

For the first time, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas will call Sydney home next cruising season.

Where does Brilliance of the Seas sail from?

Where does Brilliance of the Seas sail to?

Sustainable practices