Royal Caribbean Expands Australia and Asia Cruise Operations

Royal Caribbean is significantly increasing its presence across Australia and Asia with the redeployment of three ships and the introduction of additional itineraries.

The cruise line said the expanded program will bring new sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.

Ovation of the Seas, which had originally been scheduled to operate from Los Angeles during the 2027-28 season, will instead reposition to Australia. The ship will offer cruises from Brisbane, joining Anthem of the Seas, which is scheduled to operate from Sydney.

Voyager of the Seas will also play a larger role in Royal Caribbean’s Australian program, with changes to its previously announced deployment.

Rather than sailing exclusively from Brisbane as originally planned, the Voyager-class vessel will operate itineraries from both Brisbane and Sydney before relocating to Asia in early 2028.

Between January and April 2028, Voyager of the Seas will sail a new selection of cruises departing from Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The itineraries will explore destinations throughout Southeast Asia and the Far East, with calls in Japan, Vietnam and Taiwan. Ports and destinations featured in the program include Ishigaki, Okinawa, Taipei and Danang.

Among the highlights will be a special cruise departing Hong Kong to celebrate Chinese New Year plus a series of Japanese cruises timed to coincide with the country’s popular cherry blossom season.

Royal Caribbean is further strengthening its Asian operations by moving Navigator of the Seas from the USA’s West Coast to Singapore. Beginning in October 2026, the Voyager-class ship is scheduled to operate throughout the year from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

The vessel already had a winter season planned in the region, but its expanded deployment will now include additional two- to five-night Southeast Asian cruises during summer 2027. Sailings from Singapore will feature destinations across Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and other parts of the region.

Reservations for Royal Caribbean’s newly announced cruises will become available in stages.

Bookings for the new Ovation of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas sailings are scheduled to open on Aug. 18, 2026 while passengers interested in the newly announced Voyager of the Seas itineraries will be able to make reservations beginning Aug. 25, 2026.