We booked this cruise over a year ago and wanted to see the natural scenery of New Zealand. Our cruise took us to Milford, Doubtful and Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Akaroa, Auckland and The Bay of Islands. Embarkation and disembarkation was brilliant and each time we did not spend more than 10 mins. We had a grand suite and an excellent suite attendant. Having a Grand suite did have its advantages and there were several facilities , parties and private dinning areas etc. The breakfast served in the speciality restaurants was super and the choice of breakfast was there for you and served to your table as well. We took the opportunity to request an Asian breakfast and within a short time it was served up to us. The waiters all went the extra mile and the WOW factor was very evident on many occasions. The speciality restaurants were of high quality and the shows on board got better each night. The Captain was very proactive and mingled with the passengers almost very day at some activity or the other. Cruise Director and staff were good and kept everyone on their toes through out the cruise. on the downside some of the cruise excursion were very expensive and did not hear a lot of positive feedback on it. the Internet was expensive but at times was very slow( to be fair during sea days during the crossing from Australia to NZ and back). All up very good resulted in another cruise being booked to Europe this time Read Less

We chose the cruise for the itinerary and just assumed that everything else would be OK, as Royal Caribbean is a known brand name. Unfortunately, not so. The standards of service and food were poor, The quality of the food was acceptable (but by no means notable), but having it served up in pretty much the same way every single day was monotonous in the extreme. We could not wait to get off and have a decent meal. Cabin was smaller than expected, but acceptable. Activities were pretty much zero. There were quite a few quizzes, and luckily both I and my travelling companion love quizzes! Before we boarded we had joked about napkin folding, but it proved to be the most interesting activity on board (not that we went - but it was fun to joke about). Unless you gamble, which is what I guess RC want you to do. Entertainment was not up to much. Read Less

My husband and I have cruised about 175 nights with RCL and have also cruised with Celebrity, NCL, Oceania, and Olympia. We chose this cruise because Australia was on our 'bucket list' and we love the RCL Radiance class ships, including the Brilliance and Jewel. We had been to Sydney 2 years ago so we arrived only 1 day before the cruise. Embarkation and disembarkation went very smoothly. However, this was the first time that the ship's Doctor met with groups of 15 - 20 passengers to emphasize the need for strict adherence to sanitation guidelines before we checked in. We were very fortunate to have a minimum of rain - afternoon rain in Bali - and calm seas for the entire cruise but it was very hot even for Floridians like us. Usually we would have a relaxing breakfast and lunch at the Park Cafe near the Solarium pool. We prefer to eat light so we generally avoid the Windjammer buffet. The Park Cafe beef sandwich with au jus plus potato salad is our favorite boarding-day lunch. We were very satisfied with the menu selections and service in the main dining room, where we had a table for 2 but we also ate at Chops (3x) and Giovanni's (2x). Both had excellent food. Lamb at Chops or Oso Bucco at Giovanni's is our favorite. Service and atmosphere was much better at Chops. We expect a calm, quiet atmosphere when we visit an up-scale restaurant so we were disappointed with both of our experiences at Giovanni's. Our tours and ratings: 1 (regret), 2 (needs improvement), 3 (good), 4 (better), 5 (best) Brisbane Sights & Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (3) The guide narrated the drive through Brisbane but we were on our own at the Sanctuary. There were numerous signs and 'you are here' maps so I guess we really didn't need a guide. Folks who wanted a photo holding a koala were disappointed that there was not enough time. We saw numerous sleeping koalas (it was mid-day) and fed kangaroos. There was also a good variety of other native animals and birds in a zoo environment. Great Barrier Reef (5) We were picked up at the ship & taken directly to a pontoon that had snorkeling equipment (no extra charge), changing rooms and cafeteria (lunch was provided). This was much better than having to first take a tender to shore. A glass bottom boat and viewing area was also available and there was plenty of time to do everything: snorkel, glass bottom boat, and lunch. The water was less clear due to a recent storm but this was still an awesome experience not to be missed. Darwin (2) Our tour to Litchfield Park to see termite mounds, etc. was cancelled because the road washed out so there was no way to get there. We were offered 10% discount but since this was a last minute cancellation, the tours we were interested in were all sold out so we took the shuttle into Darwin where there wasn't much to see or do. We visited the Chinese temple and shopped for gifts. Balinese Way of Life (4) The visit to Penglipuran Village was the highlight of this tour. The guide described customs regarding ancestors, assignment of living areas and garden/livestock areas as we strolled along the walkway of an occupied home. Then at noon, chanting began over the village loud speakers. We had free time at Kehen Temple but this would have been more impressive if the guide had gone with us to explain the various aspects of the temple. Also, visits to the gold, silver, batik and painting galleries could be improved with explanations/demonstrations of how the goods are made and information about the artisans. As it was, these visits were mostly shopping stops. We had a delicious lunch at a very clean restaurant overlooking the volcano (socked in by fog) before fending off vendors on our way back to the bus. We had dressed for the heat and were very chilly at the restaurant. Historic Port Hedland (1) The microphone on the bus didn't work and the guide was so soft spoken that we couldn't hear even though we were sitting in the 3rd row from the front. We were surprised when we were dropped off in town to make our own way back to the ship and had to walk about 5 blocks in the heat to get the ship shuttle. There were not enough buses so we had a long wait. RCL gave us a full refund for this tour. Geraldton (4) Strolling the waterfront walkway with its Emu Egg sculpture and unique rubic cube restrooms is definitely worthwhile. The quality of the Museum exhibits - no entrance fee - was a pleasant surprise. There were informative Enrichment Lectures by Jane Orr: Australia's Most Famous Bushranger; Great Barrier Reef; Australian Flying Doctor Service; Aboriginal Art, Dutch East Indies; Gold, Diamonds, Opals, and Pearls. We enjoyed listening to Sweet Sounds featuring Ievgenila on violin and Dmytro on piano however their repertoire was limited. Another favorite was Kevin Phillip who played guitar, usually in the Pub. Kevin did a great job of engaging his audience. The headliner and production shows were typical of what we have found on most other cruises except for the Allure, which had amazing shows. Read Less

The circumnavigation of Australia and South New Zealand was awesome. Each port was different and offered a lot of variety. So itinerary awesome Dining: Main dining room ok but not great. Some nights I had trouble choosing from the menu. The steak was thin and not very tender. Service good and sometimes great! Windjammer good but inconsistent with offerings particularly for breakfast. Specialty restaurants were very good especially chops. Centrum: There were frequent "seminars" using a very loud mike that you could hear at some distance. Of course it was an effort to sell you something. They need to be moved to a separate room so that the Centrum can be a gathering place where people can chat. The other Centrum programs were fine. The sales seminars disturbed the game playing area, library etc. on all the upper decks. Smoking: The smoke frequently drifted inside particularly on the 11th floor and into the hallway as you entered the Windjammer. The Boardwalk also affected. Disembark: Very slow when tendered. Overall a great cruise but the above issues need to be addressed. Read Less

This cruise was about experiencing a wide range of ports in Australia and New Zealand. The itinerary achieved this goal beautifully. The concierge club provided lots of fun while chatting with fellow cruisers. This carried over as we saw these same people at activities throughout the ship. The fellow cruisers were very friendly resulting in a very pleasant experience. Overall, the staff were very courteous and attentive. The greeters and the servers even at the Windjammer welcomed us personally and were eager to fulfill requests that might occur to us. The Headliner shows were quite good and added to the enjoyment of the cruise. The musician's were of excellent quality throughout the ship. We especially enjoyed performances when they showcased their work in the Colony Club. The pianist in the Schooner Bar was very entertaining making for pleasant listening at the end of the evening. The one negative was insufficient space in the Concierge Club and the Diamond Club for the evening cocktail events. They were very crowded. People would show up as much as an hour in advance in the Concierge Club to obtain seats. Read Less

We chose this cruise for the itinerary. Wanting to see more ports in Australia. We were not disappointed. The Great Barrier Reef was the highlight. So was holding a Joey. The cruise staff was entertaining and friendly. Shout out to Bradley of the cruise staff and shout out to Kevin Philips who entertained us in the pub every night. The cruise director ( Gordon) sang on the last night of the cruise. He was fantastic! I wish he would have sang sooner in the cruise and more often. He has a great voice. The Australian people are so considerate and kind. We met many couples who were also taking the next cruise form Perth back to Sydney. If this cruise is offered again I would highly recommend it for those that want to see the western, northern and eastern past of Australia. Bali was a bonus. Lovely culture. Amazing temples. Read Less

It was part of a package deal with Indian Pacific Rail trip, time in Sydney and able to cruise to home port (Darwin). We have mostly cruised with Princess line and therefore found RC to be lacking in the little things that you miss, like moisturizer, having to ask for soaps, bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Cannot fault cabin steward nor dining room staff in their attendance to their duties. Food was reasonable and with extensive choices and would probably say that the dining areas were considerably larger than some of the Princesses. Attention to the staff's diligence of the prevention of Norovirus must be complemented. Staff were efficient in handling the embarkation in Sydney and disembarkation in Darwin. Poor introduction to Brisbane but this is not the ships fault but maybe Brisbane Port needs to put a little more into the welcome of the larger ships. Highly efficient handling of passengers with tendering at Yorkes Knob. We did not attend too many of the activities as they seemed geared towards the selling of products. Ship also appeared to handle the helicopter evacuation of a passenger efficiently and gave us something to talk about. Read Less

We wanted to see Australia as a continent. I would have prefered to start and stop at Sydney. Embarkation was dreadful as there was only machine for 2200 people to walk thru for security. We waited on line for an hour and a half. Never before has that happened in all our years of cruising. At Port Headland, they did not have enough buses and at a cost of A$25 extra. The wait to get of the ship was over an hour and qued around the 4th deck in hot hallways. You had to pay that in order to exit the port to the city in a couple of the ports. I would not go again and in hindsight would not go after experiencing it myself. The captain was really nice and personable. The Cruise Director (Gordon) was a hoot. Food choices were not alot and were not to my liking. Items as: Escargo was made with cheese on top and room temperature. Horseradish was NOT horseradish (like tapiaoca). Some of the dishes were seasoned (hot) and not to my liking. Steaks were grey no chared. Spa was very disappointing with treatments that were promised were not delivered and products that were sold were not the same as advertized (UV protection when in fact it does not have that). After that experience, I was not going to have any more treatments. Just terrible untruths to sell a product or treatment. I did not trust them after that. I was apollgized to by the Spa manager. Read Less

I only have a few complains One I have is with the room service. When did RCL start charging for room service? Eight dollars a pop for ice tea to be delivered is way out of bounds! I understand how that can be abused, however there needs to be a happy median. The shows mostly started at 6:30, that was too early for us, as we had the dinner seating at 8:00. The next shows time was 8:30. A few jokes were made that for the guests age ( over 70), that by 10:00 most were asleep! The shore excursions were few and far between as we went to some hole in the world places! They should SKIP Port Hedron and spend a night in Perth, which we did not get to see! The lectures on the boat were horrible to non-existent! All she did was read from her screen, and offered nothing else. I remember a time when locals were offered a meal and invited on board to tell their story. For someone visiting Australia for the first time that would have been nice! Read Less

Set sail on 31Jan18 and according to Captain seas were at 6 metres (20 foot) - a lot of peoples sick and for first time I can remember the theatre was half empty - not a lot of people in dining rooms either so more for me treat. Rough seas stayed for 2 days. I was on balcony on deck 7 - I do not recommend it as balcony overlooks canvas awnings covering life boats - decks 8 and 9 seemed better if you wanted to look down at seas. Having been on many cruises now I do not like the layout of Radiance - its nt a bad ship its just that others are better. If you like to attend quizzes then the Schooner bar on deck 6 has limited space. The main theatre is good/fine but second space down aft called colony club is small -again other ships have 2 theatres which I prefer. The cinema is sad - only takes about 100 people and it is a cramped room. The centrum space on deck 4 is also limited for space so many people gather around inside balconies on deck 5 and 6 to watch shows. Again other ships are better laid out. Food was fine in Windjammers and also Cascade restaurant - good but again I've had slightly better. Casino is rubbish - the machines are one's you would have seen in your local pub or RSL some 15 years ago. They are that ancient. Also close to the worst paying machines I've ever experienced. Didn't go to art auctions this time - just cannot see any value in it. If you have travelled with Princess you would be horrified with prices to play Bingo. More expensive , less games and prizes seemed less and certainly didn't accumulate to a big dividend on last day. If you have travelled with RCL before as we had embarkation was very quick - taken to front of lines. Also disembarkation was very smooth and quick. Tenders ran well in Bay of Islands but after starting well in Akaroa it went to hell in a hand basket for about 2 hours - just chaos - not sure why but it meant that was going to be a 20 minute wait turned into an hour and 10 minutes (not happy Jan!) Weather - after first 2 days of rough seas by time we got to Milford Sound weather was good but cool and it stayed that way till Bay of Islands where it rained heavily. Trip back to OZ was smooth seas but not much sun. MiniGolf was fun but didn't see many climbing rock wall. Seemed to be more pressure from some staff to buy things than I have experienced in past. I travelled on Radiance a year ago and prices for games shows and quizzes were better - seemed to be doing things on the cheap this time. Really disappointed there was no Beatles quiz - first time I have experience this in past 14 cruises. Nearly all the Headline acts were of good to high quality. In no particular order there was:- Anthony Laffan - comedian and hypnotist - very good and funny Nathan Foley - singer, dancer, musician - seriously high quality Sam McCool - comedian - very good and funny Johnny Balance - comedian, magician, juggler and balancer - amazing - great act 3 Man Band - might have name wrong but gee they were good - outstanding singers. Paul Martell - impressionist - with wife Jane Scali (ex Johnny Young young talent time - perhaps along with Nathan Foley best act but all listed here were good. Kelly Monteith - comedian - probably not as good as those above but still OK. These you would all pay to see. Diamonds - 3 girl singers - young and shouted into microphones - sang some good songs but missed with many - compared to others listed above were "C" graders. Sadly the production shows were to of the same standard - piano many show - singers didn't sing well together. City of Dreams show - when it finished I said what was that all about. However Tango Buenos Aires show was high quality - dancing outstanding. Costumes were good and sets also good but choreography left something to be desired except in Tango show. Singers were average compared to other production shows I've experienced. The various other acts put on a show called Music Showcase and it was just OK - nothing to rave about although the musicians were outstanding. Health There must have been a bad outbreak of norovirus before we joined as staff handled all foods and were strict about everyone washing for first 3 days of cruise - perfectly understandable. although waiting 5 minutes to get a piece of toast at breakfast was a tad annoying. Movies and TV Selection of movies were current and some shown in main theatre (but repeated too often) - already mentioned cramped cinema. TV was good as I like Say news so could catch up with local politics each day but also other good channels to cater for most tastes. Showed excellent coverage of Super Bowl in Sports Bar. Shops Alcohol prices very competitive but will leave it to others to comment on other shops. Alcohol prices around ship - are just too expensive - you get better prices at your local pub or RSL Quizzes - some of the smartest players I've experienced with high scores always the norm and the odd perfect score. Enrichment lectures - Melva Stone who spoke of her experiences in outback WA was outstanding. Shore Excursions - having been to NZ several times did my own excursions and always much cheaper than ship. Read Less