Australia Counts down to Summer ’ s Royal Return
This month marked the countdown to the start of the international cruise season , and making a welcome return is Royal Caribbean . Radiance of the Seas arrived in Sydney on Sunday 8 October 2017 marking not only the first of the company ’ s cruise ships to return to our shores , but also Royal Caribbean ’ s tenth season based down under . RCL Cruises Australia-based ships comprising Royal Caribbean International , Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will offer a selection of 97 cruises available throughout Australia , New Zealand , the South Pacific and Asia during the 2017 / 18 summer season , delivering an injection of AUD $ 198 million to the Australian economy in passenger spend alone .
Joining Radiance of the Seas is Royal Caribbean ’ s groundbreaking Ovation of the Seas , returning for her second and longest SuperCruising season yet , as well as family-favourites Voyager of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas , known as the South Pacific Sisters . Celebrity Solstice will celebrate her sixth season in Australia , arriving in Sydney on 20 October 2017 for her first sampler cruise in three seasons . Meanwhile boutique cruise line , Azamara Club Cruises returns for her third and biggest season down under , when Azamara Journey arrives via Australia ’ s west coast in January , making maiden calls to Adelaide and Perth , as well as a number of regional destinations .
“ You know summer ’ s in the air when the cruise ships return , and as this is our 10th season since the mighty Rhapsody of the Seas first sailed from Sydney , it is particularly special for us at Royal Caribbean – and more importantly , our travel partners and guests , past and present ,” says RCL Cruises managing director , Adam Armstrong . “ The arrival of Rhapsody of the Seas 10 years ago marked a new era in cruising for Australia . Nobody had ever experienced a level of imagination
Photo Tim Ryan
quite like Royal Caribbean ’ s in local waters before , and guests were blown away by features which , once upon a time , could only be found on Royal , like the rock-climbing wall . Ten years ago , our philosophy was to bring the world ’ s most cutting-edge cruise product to Australia ’ s doorstep . Today , we continue this proud tradition of delivering Australians with the world ’ s best holidays at sea – most recently with the all-new Ovation of the Seas . And today , we make a commitment to Australians that they can expect continued excellence in cruising , and even bigger , better , bolder and more modern ships from Royal Caribbean for the next 10 years .”
Global Creative Partnership
Silversea Cruises and renowned photographer Steve McCurry have announced a global creative partnership that will chronicle Silversea ’ s extensive fleet and portfolio expansion designed to take guests to some of the world ’ s most intriguing and remote destinations .
McCurry , one of the foremost photographers of his generation , is best known for his haunting portrait of a green-eyed Afghan refugee girl in National Geographic . A master of visual storytelling , McCurry has travelled the world for four decades capturing vibrant cultures and the human experience . His coloursaturated images have appeared on international magazine and book covers , in major gallery and museum exhibitions , and in permanent and private collections worldwide .
“ Silversea has launched the most ambitious fleet and product expansion in its history , with the goal of unlocking new territories for guests and going deeper ,” said Barbara Muckermann , Chief Marketing Officer at Silversea Cruises . “ Steve McCurry ’ s artistry and storytelling align perfectly with Silversea ’ s immersive experiences , intimate vessels and unforgettable
destinations . He has the ability to capture the authentic beauty of the world , and express it with passion and clarity . We look forward to capturing the emotion and inspiration of global travel through Steve ’ s lens .”
McCurry ’ s art has taken him from war-torn Afghanistan to rural villages in India to the collapse of New York ’ s twin towers on 9 / 11 . Since his iconic Afghan Girl portrait in 1984 , McCurry has published more than a dozen books ; won scores of professional awards , including the Robert Capa Gold Medal for his coverage of the war in
Afghanistan ; shot the last remaining rolls of Kodak ’ s Kodachrome film in a portrait project ; and collaborated with timeless global brands including Valentino , Vacheron Constantin and the Pirelli calendar . “ You ’ re present , in focus ; that ’ s travelling , to me ,” McCurry says . “ It ’ s an urgent need to go and observe this world that we all share .” Even after decades of exploration , McCurry believes he has many more stories to tell . “ There ’ s always room for discovery ,” he says .
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