Exploring Australia's Largest Cruise Ships

what is the biggest cruise ship in australia

Australia is set to welcome some of the world's biggest cruise ships to its shores, with Royal Caribbean announcing the arrival of the Wonder of the Seas in 2022, and Princess Cruises introducing the Crown Princess in October 2024. The Crown Princess will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in Sydney, with a capacity of 3,080 passengers. However, the title of the largest cruise ship to ever visit Australia goes to the Ovation of the Seas, a Quantum-class ship that arrived in December 2016 with 5000 guests and 1500 crew members on board.

Characteristics Values
Name Crown Princess
Owner Princess Cruises
Passenger Capacity 3,080
Suites and Mini-Suites Over 200
Restaurants Sabatini's, Crown Grill and more
Swimming Pools 4
Spa Lotus Spa
Staterooms with Private Balconies Almost 900
Itinerary Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Hobart, Auckland
Year of Arrival 2024
Largest Cruise Ship in Australia Ovation of the Seas
Owner of Ovation of the Seas Royal Caribbean
Passenger Capacity of Ovation of the Seas 5000 guests and 1500 crew

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Crown Princess: largest cruise ship based year-round in Australia

Crown Princess, a 3,080-passenger cruise ship from Princess Cruises, will be the largest cruise ship based year-round in Australia from October 2024. The ship will debut in Sydney, offering 117 departures from two days to 113 nights between October 2024 and September 2025.

The Crown Princess features over 200 suites and mini-suites, with almost 900 staterooms offering private balconies. The ship also boasts a range of dining options, including Sabatini's and Crown Grill, and various entertainment options, such as live performances in the Princess Theatre and Movies Under The Stars. Passengers can also enjoy four swimming pools and the luxurious Lotus Spa.

The Crown Princess will contribute significantly to the Australian economy, with an estimated contribution of $120 million during her first year of sailing. The ship will also provide Australian travellers with more opportunities to experience luxurious cruising.

In addition to the Crown Princess, the Diamond Princess and Royal Princess will also offer departures from seven ports, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Hobart, and Auckland. The Royal Princess will operate the company's first round trip from Hobart, an 18-night voyage to New Zealand departing on November 14, 2024.

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Ovation of the Seas: the largest cruise ship to call Australia home

Ovation of the Seas is a Quantum-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean. It is the largest cruise ship to call Australia home, playing host to 5000 guests and 1500 crew members. The ship arrived in Australia for the peak summer season in December 2016. It is the fifth ship in the Royal Caribbean Australian fleet, joining the Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas in Sydney, and Legend of the Seas in Brisbane.

Ovation of the Seas offers a wide range of dining options, with 17 to 18 onboard restaurants to choose from. These include a multi-sensory venue called Wonderland Imaginative and three restaurants formed in partnership with world-renowned chefs: Jamie Oliver, Michael Schwartz, and Devin Alexander. There are also five complimentary full-service restaurants. The ship also features the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea, the SeaPlex, which includes a roller-skating arena, bumper cars, and basketball.

The ship has 2,090 staterooms, which are 9% bigger on average than those on an Oasis-class ship. There are plenty of family-connected staterooms and new balcony and interior studio staterooms designed specifically for single travellers. The ship also offers a high-tech experience, with high-speed Wi-Fi, a radio frequency 'key' wristband, and the Royal iQ app, which allows guests to manage their onboard holiday.

Ovation of the Seas also has a spectacular retail offering, with brands such as Cartier, Kiehl's, BVLGARI, and Hublot available. The ship is highly technologically advanced, with a new-design hull that incorporates an "Air Lubrication System" to reduce friction and fuel consumption. It also features advanced emissions purification systems that remove more than 97% of sulphur dioxide emissions.

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Onboard experiences: dining, entertainment, and retail

The largest cruise ship in Australia is Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, which arrived in December 2016. The ship can accommodate 5000 guests and 1500 crew members, and it is the most technologically advanced cruise ship in Australia.

Ovation of the Seas offers a wide range of dining options, with 18 distinctive restaurants to choose from. These include a multi-sensory dining venue called Wonderland Imaginative and three restaurants helmed by world-renowned chefs: Jamie Oliver, Michael Schwartz, and Devin Alexander. There are also five complimentary full-service restaurants. The dining venues cater to various preferences, ranging from fun and casual to formal and refined.

For entertainment, the ship features the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea, called the Seaplex. It also has the North Star aerial observatory, which offers panoramic views from 90 meters above the sea. The Two70 venue is a lounge during the day and transforms into a multimedia entertainment space at night. Live entertainment is provided in various areas of the ship, including a theatre with a capacity of 1800 people. The ship also has the Bionic Bar, where you can order cocktails on a tablet and be served by robotic arms.

The retail experience on Ovation of the Seas is showcased in the Royal Esplanade and the Via. Passengers can shop from a range of global luxury brands, including Cartier, Kiehl's, BVLGARI, and Hublot. The ship also has boutiques from brands like Omega.

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Ports and voyages: Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, and more

The Crown Princess, owned by Princess Cruises, is set to become the largest full-time cruise ship in Australia when it arrives in Sydney on 26 October 2024. During its first year, the 113,561-tonne ship will make 78 visits to 21 ports, including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle, Hobart, and Auckland. This will be a record for any Princess ship.

The Crown Princess will offer a range of amenities, including over 200 suites and mini-suites, multiple dining options, four swimming pools, and the Lotus Spa. Almost 900 of its staterooms feature private balconies, allowing passengers to cruise in style.

In June 2025, the Crown Princess will depart from Sydney on the longest world cruise ever made from Australia, a 113-night voyage visiting Africa, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and South America.

Another notable cruise ship in Australia is the Ovation of the Seas, which became the largest cruise ship to call Australia home when it arrived for the 2016/17 peak summer season. The Ovation of the Seas has a guest capacity of 5000 and a crew of 1500. It features the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea and is known for its high level of technology, offering high-speed Wi-Fi and radio-frequency 'key' wristbands.

The Ovation of the Seas has made multiple visits to South Australia, with passengers disembarking at Outer Harbor and exploring onshore destinations such as Adelaide, the Barossa Valley, and the city of Adelaide.

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Cruise lines: Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean

Princess Cruises is introducing the Crown Princess, its new largest cruise ship in Australia, on 26 October. The Crown Princess features over 200 suites and mini-suites, a variety of dining options, four swimming pools, and the Lotus Spa. The ship also offers live entertainment and Movies Under The Stars. Between October 2024 and September 2025, Diamond Princess and Royal Princess will join the Crown Princess, offering 117 departures from two to 113 days from seven ports.

Princess Cruises also offers Alaska cruises that allow passengers to explore Alaska's glaciers, wildlife, and national parks. The cruise line has a range of ships, including Caribbean Princess, Coral Princess, Discovery Princess, Majestic Princess, and Regal Princess, among others. In June, Princess Cruises unveiled its new Captain's Circle Loyalty Accelerator program, offering double cruise credits on all-inclusive Princess Plus and Premier packages.

Royal Caribbean is another major cruise line that offers cruises to various destinations, including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Alaska, Europe, and beyond. Their ships have won awards for world-class dining, entertainment, onboard thrills, and innovation. Royal Caribbean offers a range of cruise rooms, such as connecting staterooms for groups, romantic rooms for couples, and the Ultimate Family Suite with a private game room and in-suite slide.

Frequently asked questions

The Crown Princess, operated by Princess Cruises, will be the largest cruise ship based year-round in Australia from October 2024. It has over 200 suites and mini-suites, four swimming pools, and the Lotus Spa.

The Crown Princess can accommodate 3,080 passengers.

The Crown Princess features Sabatini's and Crown Grill dining options, live entertainment in the Princess Theatre, and Movies Under The Stars. It also offers almost 900 staterooms with private balconies.

Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas, which visited Australia during the 2016/17 summer season, is the largest cruise ship to have ever visited the country. It hosted 5000 guests and 1500 crew members, and was the most technologically advanced ship in Australia at the time.

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