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Royal Caribbean announces 3 ships for Australia’s 2027 summer

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’s on sale now.

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 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.

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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.
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6 nature-based experiences to prove the Bendigo region comes alive in autumn

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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    A change is as good as a holiday, but never more so than in the Bendigo region when it’s the seasons putting in the transformative work.

    With its gold rush history, opulent architecture and booming food and wine industry, there’s no denying that the Bendigo region is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Visit between March and May, however, and you’ll find the Bendigo in autumn really comes alive. Foliage erupts in a canvas of golden colours and the cooling air makes immersing yourself in nature all the more enticing.

    Need a few ideas to get you started? We’re so glad you asked.

    1. Tackle the bike trails

    Pink Cliffs Reserve
    Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

    Welcome to a region that punches well above its weight when it comes to cycling. This is where hammies are tested on multi-day rides, and first-timers fall in love with the sport on short (and ridiculously pretty) trails.

    The 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail is the headline act, following the old railway line between Bendigo and Heathcote. Cross the Campaspe River at Axedale Recreation Reserve and pause at the Platypus Compass Sculpture and the First Nations mural marking the connection between Djaara and Taungurung Country, with Axedale acting as the perfect halfway stop to refuel at a pub or cafe.

    Pedal a little further Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve to be rewarded with views of sculpted pink clay cliffs and narrow gorges that are perfect for a photo stop. Searching for a different type of reward? The Heatchote Wine Region is full of inviting cellar doors.

    There are plenty of other options in the Bendigo region, from the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track, to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail – both ideal for riders of all abilities. The 3.7 kilometre Little Lake Boort loop is a great family-friendly option.

    Prefer something more adventurous? Spring Gully Mountain Bike Park has been keeping BMX Bandits’ dreams alive for years.

    2. Enjoy the crunch of autumn leaves

    two people having a picnic at Valley of Liquidambers heathcote
    Pack a picnic and head to the Valley of Liquidambers.

    Blinding clusters of crimson, burnt orange and brilliant yellow; here, autumn leaves are crisp confetti of fire and gold. See the magic up close with a slew of parks seemingly dedicated to showcasing Mother Nature’s colour wheel, especially from mid April to early June.

    Pack a picnic for an afternoon at Valley of Liquidambers in Heathcote, where Liquidamber trees transform into a wonderworld of magical foliage. Don’t miss taking a leisurely stroll across the swinging bridge back towards the main street.

    Rosalind Park might be celebrated for its annual tulip display come springtime, but it’s hard to compete with the theatre of autumn. Here, many trees date back to the 1800s, and there’s no better place for a romantic stroll than along the elms, oak and Queensland Kauri that dominate this park.

    Head straight to Lake Weeroona, where an ornamental lake begs for a leisurely lap around its edges, either on foot, or with pedal power.

    3. Immerse yourself in First Nations culture

    woman exploring Kooyoora State Park with guides
    Explore Kooyoora State Park on a cultural tour.

    Its ‘Mountain of Light’ (Guyura in the Dja Dja Wurrung language) title is impressive, but so too is Kooyoora State Park’s rugged landscape of granite outcrops, rocky ridgelines and wide-open skies.

    While there’s nothing to suggest you couldn’t explore Kooyoora’s walking tracks on your own, the best way to understand the 40,000 years of history behind its natural wonders is to book a 2.5-hour Kooyoora Cultural Tour with Dumawul Tours.

    Led by Djaara cultural guides, expect a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, before engaging storytelling rewinds the clock to reveal the deep cultural significance of the land, its flora, fauna and its continuing connection to Country.

    Keen to stay a little longer? Consider staying overnight at the campground and committing to the park’s wealth of walking trails, such as the 5.3-kilometre hike from the camping ground to the lookout on the Long Rock Walking Track.

    4. Splash in the region’s waterways

    Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail
    Paddle through Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Water babies rejoice: the Bendigo region offers a wealth of waterways to explore.

    Flowing 392-kilometres from the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River, the best way to enjoy Loddon River is with a stop at Bridgewater. Here you can swim in the natural infinity pool or tackle the all-abilities, five-kilometre Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail before browsing the cute stores in town. Hungry? Grab a bite at Bridgewater Hotel.

    Lake Eppalock is popular for water activities, but don’t miss a visit to Little Lake Boort and Big Lake Boort. Birders, in particular, will love the former, thanks to the large variety of bird species that nest in the boardwalk area surrounding the lake.

    Meanwhile, Big Lake Boort is celebrated for its significant Indigenous history and over 400 scarred trees, and offers an opportunity to spot birds and go canoing.

    Meanwhile, watersports and recreational activities at Crusoe Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Bendigo, are the order of the day. Take a walk to the picnic spots of No. 7 Park nearby, and maybe even camp there for the night.

    5. View epic lookouts

    customers at Peregrine Ridge
    Spend time at Peregrine Ridge.

    Sometimes a holiday requires a phenomenal spot on which to perch as you survey your temporary kingdom below. The Bendigo region, happily, doesn’t do anything by halves.

    Located in Heathcote-Graytown National Park, Viewing Rock Lookout – a rocky outcrop offering spectacular views over Heathcote and surrounds – remains a popular choice. Take the hour-long Viewing Rock Circuit Walk and try your hand at gold prospecting nearby.

    Prefer the romance of sunrise or sunset? Pyramid Hill, a stunning granite hill rising 187-metres above sea level, is the place to be (preferably with a coffee and a bagel)

    Over in Terrick Terrick National Park, a walk to the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of woodlands, farms and open-sky plains. Pack lunch – and perhaps a tent – as picnic tables and camping are available.

    Carve out time for Peregrine Ridge, a vineyard situated at the eastern side of Mt Camel Range with an elevation ranging from 250-290 metres. Be rewarded with delicious wine and a cellar door which offers floor-to-ceiling views.

    6. Enjoy the Bendigo region’s parks and gardens

    Rosalind Park in bendigo
    Stroll through Bendigo’s best gardens. (Image: Visit Vic)

    Rosalind Park, located right in the centre of town, is considered Bendigo’s backyard and rightly so. Home to the Bendigo Easter Festival, it’s just as popular year-round for its sixty acres of rolling lawns, towering elms, fernery and winding paths – not to mention the playground which has plenty of little fans of its own. A short drive away, Bendigo Botanic Gardens – established in 1857 – offers a more tranquil space for deep-level nature immersion.

    Those who favour something a little more formal, cottage-style Canterbury Park Gardens – famous for its dahlias in autumn – delivers.  Stroll through its meticulously maintained ornamental gardens before checking out Lake Tom Thumb and Lake Neangar nearby.

    Time to start planning your adventure to the Bendigo Region, visit bendigoregion.com.au.

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